UPDATE 10.15am

Kelso – changed to soft ground after the first

I’ve had a further look at the three ITV races at Kelso, as conditions don’t look to be too bad here.

That said, alarm bells always ring in my ears when courses don’t provide going stick readings (as they have failed to do at this stage), and they have had 21mm of rain in the last 36 hours.

It could be grimmer than advertised. And we now have eight non-runners on the card.

Indeed, they changed the going to soft after the first – how often does this happen, eh?

Going stick update at 10.30am

Stop press – the going stick reading landed at 10.30am.

It is 5.4, from 5.8 on Saturday.

2.05pm Kelso – 4/1 Raceview Road could be the answer to the marathon test

I thought Raceview Road could well be the answer to the Scottish Borders National at 2.05pm as in-form, lightly-raced 6yo course winner, but this 4m+ test is a mile further than he has gone before and the trainer form is an unknown.

Given that, I can just about let him pass me by at a top-priced 4s, although that price is coming under pressure as I file this.

You do get the impression this 4m trip will suit him given his run-style but it’s a bit of a guess-up and the 4s is tight enough.

2.40pm Kelso – Traprain Law is a decent price at 7/2

Traprain Law looks a fair price at [7/2] with two firms.

He likes to go forward but I would anticipate Patrick Wadge letting Matata and Gunsight Ridge get on with it, and sit behind them.

He is ground-versatile, he should strip fitter for a reappearance run over 2m4f at Carlisle (his first attempt over the trip) and the return to his optimum distance is an obvious plus.

He has course form figures of 21211 and the recent rain is also in his favour.

Bet of the day so far

The [7/2] is a very fair bet, and probably the most attractive on a very quiet punting day so far.

AKBets’ [10/3] is acceptable, too.

3.15pm Kelso – 18/1 Coqolino is definitely on the big side

Not a race I had a strong view about, though Coqolino looks a bit too big at 16s, including with AKBets.

In fact, he has just gone 18s in four places, as I file this.

This point-to-point winner is unproven over this trip under Rules but, that doubt aside, I thought he had enough going for him here, especially if he can dictate a tempo to his liking from the front.

I’m a fan of Ben Haslam and he is no stranger to banging in a big-priced winner for JP.

Leaving Huntingdon alone

I am happy to leave Huntingdon alone after another look at the ITV races yielded  Rafael Nada (l).

If they get the 50mph winds and rain, as forecast, it could the Brothers Grimm out there.

In fact, I may watch some egg chasing, with a bottle of red, instead. It’s good to have a day off from the racing grind.

Good luck.

**********************************

Huntingdon has turned soft and more rain and wind is coming – already 13 NRs

Having looked at the ITV racing on Sunday, nothing whatsoever appeals as a bet.

And if I am not betting, I am not tipping.

Huntingdon may have passed a 7.30am inspection on Sunday morning but the meeting has already seen 13 non-runners (eight due to travel) and I imagine there will be more.

There is rain due all day there and 50 mile an hour winds – it is going to be pretty foul there and they “will continue to monitor conditions” – so it is not for me. Or for a fair few of the horses, I’ll wager.

Or not wager.

Hopefully, the weather eases off and all five go to post in the Peterborough, as it is a very good race.

The ground has already eased further to soft as at a 8.55am, and we have four non-runners in the 3pm, bringing the ITV field down to just seven.

We also have top class fare at Cork, and some fair racing at Kelso, but I’ll have a day off in the conditions.

For now, anyway.

I’ll keep looking – we may get a better handle on the likely fields later in the morning when all the non-runners are through – and post an update if I see anything.

All stats and information are below.

Good luck.

STATS AND INFORMATION

GOING/WEATHER

KELSO

Going – Soft

Going stick reading – 5.4

Weather:  2.4mm Sunday, 20-25mph gusting winds

HUNTINGDON

Going:  Soft (as 8.55am update)

Going stick reading – Chase: 5.0 (Sun 6am); Hurdle: 5.6 (Friday 8am) – bizarrely hurdle course not updated on Sunday

Weather: 9.2mm Sunday

Course update: “Strong winds to continue during the morning (max 50mph) before slowing reducing during the afternoon. Fast moving showers / spells of rain possible throughout the day”

CORK

Going – “Soft. , Yielding to Soft in places (Hurdle), Yielding, Yielding to soft in places (Chase). Following a dry & breezy day. Mainly dry forecast”

FIRST-TIME HEADGEAR

Jamie Snowden cheekpieces 2-34 since 2016 – Jack Sprat, 3pm Huntingdon

Anthony Honeyball blinkers 2-12 since 2009 – Proper Twelve, 3pm Huntingdon

Paul Robson cheekpieces 0-4 since 2021 – Cannock Park, 12.25pm Kelso

Lucinda Russell cheekpieces 2-46 since 2016 – Your Own Story and Haute Estime, 2.05pm Kelso

Neil King hood 1-25 since 2013 – Unparked, 3.35pm Huntingdon

BEHIND THE HANDICAPPER

2.40pm Kelso: Gua Da Large (6lb)

3.15pm Kelso: Dream Boy (2lb), Dunnet Head (4lb)

PACE MAPS

1.50pm Huntingdon: Ginny’s Destiny, Protektorat?, Djelo?, Nickle Back, Minella Drama

2.05pm Kelso: Your Own Story, Bretney, Jet Legs?

2.25pm Huntingdon: No obvious, definitive pace; maybe Bluegrass?

2.40pm Kelso: Matata, Gunsight Ridge, Traprain Law

3.00pm Huntingdon:  Lyrical Genius

3.15pm Kelso: Dunnet Head?, Coqolino? (two other prominent racers)

3.35pm Huntingdon: None have made it before (obvious very limited evidence to go on)

TRAINERFORM (manually done; ITV races only) – updated 12.40pm Sunday

TRAINER IN FOCUS: KIM BAILEY (again…)

None have been bigger than 7-2, but Bailey has had six recent winners and has had 22 scorers at a strike rate of 22 per cent this season.

He ended last term with a whimper, with just seven winners from December to April, so that is a very welcome recent run of form.

Mind you, his last four runners have been beaten at 5-6, 5-2. 3-1 and 10-3, to add some balance.

Guerlain De Vaux is due to make his debut for the yard in the 3pm at Huntingdon.

Venetia Williams continues in good form too, as does Stuart Edmunds.

Good: Henry Daly, Nigel Twiston-Davies, Ben Haslam, Dan Skelton, Venetia Williams, Paul Nicholls, Stuart Edmunds, Kim Bailey

Fair:  Gavin Cromwell, Lucinda Russell, Nick Alexander, Nicky Richards, Olly Murphy (borderline good), Iain Jardine, Donald McCain, Emma Lavelle, Jamie Snowden, Hobbs and White, Nicky Henderson, Warren Greatrex, Pam Sly, Anthony Honeyball, Nigel Hawke (borderline moderate maybe), Fergal O’Brien, Sandy Thomson and Ewan Whillans (both already had winners on Sunday)

Moderate:  Stuart Coltherd, Peter Niven, R Mike Smith (small sample), Ben Brookhouse

Don’t Know: Susan Corbett, Martin Todhunter, Peter and Michael Bowen (few runners), George Bewley, Ann Hamilton, Sarah Humphrey, Sheila Lewis, Neil King