Today's runners at Kelso

First up, we run Shades of Midnight in the extended 2m novice hurdle. This'll be his third run over timber, and all being well should qualify for a handicap mark afterwards.
He wore a tongue tie on his last run (and does so again today), and improved a bit for that, which was a fine run when 5th to Go Conquer over course and distance. He's facing even softer ground today, and the obvious ones are Lucinda's listed hurdle winner Thorpe and long distance raider Vinnie Red from Evan Williams' yard. Sandy's Chain of Beacons peformed at a creditable level in bumpers and can't be discounted either.

Following that, by about an hour, Snapping Turtle attempts to give weight all round to his rivals in the 3m 3f handicap hurdle. He's stayed 3m 1f well on his last 2 efforts, but the main worry is the testing ground. Although by the mud loving Turtle Island, we've always thought Snapping Turtle ran his best races on better ground. Anyway, he's shown good recent form on the track, so we're letting the gelding take his chance.
If he handles the ground, he should be in the four, if he copes with top weight.

There you go, suitably pessimistic......

Snapping Turtle