Who To Follow At Kelso On Saturday - 05/03/22

James Mackie | @jamesmackieee

Fri 04 Mar 2022 11.09

Kelso 15:15

Autumn Evening

J: Sean O'Keeffe

T: Mrs John Harrington

N/A

Age: 5

Weight: 11-6

OR: 147

Days: 27

The Class 2 Morebattle Handicap Hurdle over two miles is the pinnacle of Kelso's meeting on Saturday with 12 runners heading to post for glory.

We have sided with the Irish raider for Jessica Harrington with Autumn Evening looking to land a value prize across the Irish sea on his British debut.

The five year old has been a fairly consistent horse this term, winning over two miles in September at Listowel before a game second at Gowran in heavy ground.

Having a little blip in his two runs after that when unseating his rider and running no race in a big fielded handicap at Fairyhouse when Harrington's horses weren't running well, he bounced back to form next time out.

Back at Fairyhouse on soft ground he beat some smart runners in a good event including Indigo Breeze and Top Moon and then last time out gave his best run of the season.

Looking to likely winner when turning for home at the Dublin Racing Festival Autumn Evening ran a stormer to finish third in the 27 runner Liffey Handicap Hurdle.

He has gone up 9lb for that run to a mark of 147 but only being five years old he should still be improving and can go close in this.

Form: 1U813View

Date	Course	Distance	Type	Weight	Position
22/09/22	LIS	12	Sft	8-5	2
28/07/22	GAL	16	Gd	11-8	7
26/06/22	CUR	12	Y/Sft	9-0	9
05/03/22	KEL	16	Sft	11-6	8
06/02/22	LEO	16	Y/Sft	11-4	3

Donald McCain has had a fantastic season to date and at Kelso on Saturday can extend that run with a handful of superb runners set to go to post.

In the second race of the day he fields Richmond Lake who has the best form in the race and will appreciate stepping back up slightly in trip.

In the handicap hurdle he employs a handy 7lb claimer to ride Hart Of Steel giving the seven year old a big chance to land a hat-trick.

Heartbreak Kid is also seeking a hat-trick having won well at Sedgefield and Uttoxeter recently and off 6lb higher has to be taken seriously.

McCain heads into the meeting sporting a 24% strike rate having landed nine winners from 38 rides over the last two weeks.

Brian Hughes looks to be taking back his champion jockey status this year managing close to 170 winners already for the season and at Kelso on Saturday he has some big chances to add to that.

In the Grade Two Premier Novices' Hurdle he sits on the likeable Richmond Lake who has done very little wrong and having finished second to Jonbon last time out has leading form claims.

In the next race he again rides for Trevor Hemmings on Famous Bridge for Nicky Richards with the six year old having a big chance if jumping better.

Other big rides for the champion jockey elect comes from Nuts Well in the Listed Premier Chase, Severance in the Morebattle and Heartbreak Kid in the Limited Handicap Chase.

Hughes heads into the meeting sporting a 23% strike rate having landed 10 winners from 44 rides over the last two weeks.

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