By Ben Morgan
Richards should Nab some Kelso prize money
I think it’s fair to say NAB WOOD has more to offer off a mark of 124 and Nicky Richards will be more than hopeful he can pick up his fair share of the pot in the 2.20 on Saturday.
He impressed me last season when seeing off the highly rated Choose A Copper here at Kelso and he then backed that up with a cosy success off 114 also here at Kelso.
Not suited by how the race panned out on his return over the same C&D, he ran a good race at Ayr when just touched off over shorter.
An early unseat last time was unfortunate but he arrives here, in my eyes, still on the up.
He will have to cope with the drop in trip and faster ground but hopefully Sean Quinlan can monitor the pace and place him accordingly ready for the run for home.
It isn’t that deep a race and I will be more than hopeful he can be involved in the finish.
The only way is up for Laganhill
Henry Daly makes the long journey north on Saturday with unbeaten novice LAGANHILL for the Premier Novices Hurdle.
Clearly, he has had his fair share of problems as he only made it to the track a few days before his 7th birthday but that inexperience certainly doesn’t show on the track.
He has looked the ultimate professional in two starts to date and the form of both races is strong. His dead eye jumping is what has set him apart so far in his career and if he continues to jump like that I think he can scale the ladder quite quickly.
The extra 2f on Saturday should bring about further improvement and at 10/1 I think he is a belting each way bet.
Fortune to favour better ground
Good ground and a dry weather forecast means Alan King’s dreams have come true as he bids to win a big handicap hurdle with FAVOUR AND FORTUNE.
Last year’s Scottish Champion Hurdle hero, ran a fine race in the Betfair Hurdle on ground far softer than ideal, finishing 4th.
He was given plenty to do, probably too much,up the straight and conceding 17lbs to the winner will probably prove in time that he was facing an impossible task.
The form has a strong look to it and I anticipate it to work out well.
The better ground here will see the selection in a much better light and a repeat of his Newbury will be more than good enough here despite top weight. A very confident each way play at 7/1.
Connor to Paint the perfect picture
The Greatwood Gold Cup at Newbury looks like a competitive race on paper and I have plenty of respect for the market leaders.
However, my eye has been drawn to PAINT THE DREAM at a bigger price as he bids to regain his crown, 3 years after hosing up here off 145.
He went onto scale the handicap after that, all the way to a mark of 160 in January 2023.
A nasty injury led to a long absence but he has returned this Winter looking a shadow of his former self.
However, those sub standard performances have led to the handicapper dropping him to a mark of 135, 25lbs below his best and 10lb below the mark he coasted home off here 3 years ago.
Admittedly, he probably isn’t the same horse as he was 3 years ago but his handicap mark isn’t what it is 3 years ago so he has been compensated for that drop in ability.
Shrewd connections would have undoubtedly targeted this race and I think he will be a value bet Saturday morning when all the attention is drawn to the ‘sexier’ market leaders.
READ MORE: Ben Morgan’s Cheltenham Festival Tips – Monty’s star to outshine Galopin Des Champs in Gold cup
Kelso
2.20 – Nab Wood
2.55 – Laganhill
3.30 – Favour And Fortune
Newbury
3.45 – Paint The Dream
