Stamina required at Kelso

Of the two British racecourses staging racing today, Kelso has by far the bettr card, with the Scottish Borders National over 4 miles at 15.30 CET the main feature. Obviously stamina will be at a premium here, and the three that make most appeal are Ballyfitz (Nigel Twiston-Davies/ David England), Eyre Square (Keith and James Reveley) and Beamazed (Malcolm Jefferson/ Brian Harding), all of whom were noted staying on atrongly last time out over slightly shorter distances. The 2 3/4 mile handicap chase half an hour earlier is arguably a better race. Always Right (John Wade/ Reveley) was third in this year´s Scottish National, while Merigo (Andrew Parker/ Timmy Murphy) won that race last year, while Nicky Richard´s pair Skippers Brig (Brian Harding) and Premier Sagas (Dougie Costello) also deserve respect. However the likeliest winner is Take the Breeze, a rare runner here for champion Paul Nicholls with the trainer´s nephew Harry Derham aboard. Local trainer Willie Amos has ent ered his one time smart staying hurdler in the novice chase at 14.00, and if he is anywhere near his old form he can score on his chasing debut in receipt of a stone from the in-form The Panama Kid (Jefferson/ Harry Haynes), who has won his last 3 races, two of them over this CD.

At Warwick, El Mondo (Nicky Henderson/ Tony McCoy), a dual winner in France but coming off a break of two years, can take the beginners chase at 14.10. Tony McCoy can also take the maiden hurdle at 15.10 on the same trainer´s Tour d´Argent, and also has a chance on Jonjo O´Neill´s Factotum in the handicap hurdle at 16.10. who has been out of form but has been dropped significantly in the weights.