Hopes rise for Kelso meeting

KELSO are hopeful of staging today's meeting, which is due to feature Zaynar in the Victor Chandler Morebattle Hurdle.

The ante-post favourite for the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle is the star on an eight-race card which is subject to a 7am inspection. "It was -4C overnight. It's a nice sunny day and that should pull the frost out of the ground today," said clerk of the course Anthea Morshead yesterday. "As long as that is the case, we would have a reasonable chance.

"There's -4C forecast tonight then it should get up to 4C or 5C with some sunshine. As long as we get to a point where we are raceable today, then we would have a good chance of racing tomorrow."

Racing did go ahead at Musselburgh yesterday but only after the course passed three inspections. Orsippus made the most of JCB Triumph Hurdle favourite Carlito Brigante's absence to fly the flag for Michael Smith's Newcastle yard with a thumping victory in the Country Refreshments At Musselburgh Racecourse Juvenile Novices' Handicap Hurdle.

Brian Toomey's mount travelled with a degree of purpose and the 4-1 chance quickly settled matters when winging the penultimate flight en route to a 12-length win.

Howard Johnson's yard has stuttered in recent weeks but Caravel and Doeslessthanme hinted a revival is on the cards with a 1-2 for the stable in the Scottish Racing Your Better Bet Handicap Hurdle.

The County Durham trainer has only had a smattering of winners since the Festive period, including Tidal Bay in the Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham, and Caravel (7-1) ended an 11-day barren spell. The Graham Wylie-owned pair had the race to themselves through the final couple of furlongs and only a neck separated them.

Grandad Bill bit off more than he could chew at the East Lothian venue just over a week ago and appreciated the lesser task in the Country Refreshments Handicap Hurdle, Jim Goldie's 15-2 chance holding off Simple Jim.

Meanwhile, past winners Kauto Star and Denman head 19 acceptors for the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup following the first scratchings deadline. Defending champion Big Buck's is one of 24 possibles for the Ladbrokes World Hurdle following the latest forfeit stage, but Binocular has been ruled out of the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle due to a muscle problem.