The calm after the Aintree storms descends upon us today with this afternoon's fences at Kelso minuscule in comparison to the likes of Bechers Brook and the Canal Turn jumped by those in the Grand National on Saturday at Aintree. Nevertheless, there's excellent jump racing and an excellent field of 11 declared for the opening 2m 2f Novices' Hurdle. Pauline Robeson's Sharp Rise has plied his trade over the larger obstacles and reverts back to hurdling after seeing his mark creep up to 135 after two excellent handicap chasses successes at Sedgefield earlier in the campaign. He is respected but preference on this occasion lies with Our Thomas (2.10) under Brian Harding. Tim Easterby's 4-y-o should relish this afternoon's sounder surface and was progressive prior to finishing down the field in last month's Fred Winter at the Cheltenham Festival.
Recent Kelso scorer Lowandbehold (2.40) shouldn't be inconvenienced by the drop back in trip and is a confident selection to give weight and a beating to his five rivals in the handicap chase over an extended two miles. The 9-y-o was second over course and distance on his seasonal debut, before reversing the form with Superior Command stepped up in trip, and must remain competitive from just a 4lb higher mark.
Nine go to post for the feature Handicap Chase over three and a quarter miles with Harry the Viking (3.40) a fascinating runner dropping down in grade to 0-125 company for the first time in 18 months. The selection has been second in two similar contests over course and distance, second to terrific chaser Lie Forrit in January 2015 and similarly chasing home subsequent Grand National runner-up The Last Samuri 12 months ago. That latter effort was from a 7lb higher mark and on that form and his preferred better ground he must go close.
Kumbeshwar (5.10) was once upon a time rated in the high 140s with former handler Alan King and must go close in his first foray into 0-115 company for Lucinda Russell and Dominic Fox in the closing Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle. The selection has been dropped 20lb by the handicapper since joining the yard two years and despite failing to get his head in front for new connections has been a runner-up three times and deserves to get his head in front this afternoon.
Monday racing at Windsor means the flat season is slowly but surely coming into stride and after a terrific start made with his juveniles Mark Johnston can land the curtain-raiser to the season with Poet's Society (1.50) under James Doyle. The yard have already had four 2-y-o winners this term and this beautifully-bred son of Poe t's Voice looks another primed to make a winning debut.
The pair can complete doubles with Furiant (2.20) in the 3-y-o Handicap over an extended six furlongs. The selection bookended last year's campaign with wins at Musselburgh and Catterick and showed he had retained plenty of ability when second on his seasonal debut under when finishing second behind Agueroo under Silvestre de Sousa last month at Lingfield. It's best to put a line through his effort last time out at Southwell when never going on the fibresand and should prove much better on his return to the turf.
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