Cheltenham Festival Bonus at Stake in Kelso's Morebattle Hurdle

Image credits: Photograph: Ian Hodgson/PA

The £100,000 bonus on offer for winning the Morebattle Hurdle at Kelso and a subsequent race at the Cheltenham Festival has made the event one of the most competitive and interesting in the lead-up to the National Hunt meeting. Several top trainers, including Emmet Mullins and Alan King, have horses competing in the event, which is already the richest handicap hurdle in Scotland. Mullins, who won the bonus with The Shunter in 2021, is relying on the mare Vischio, who has been well-backed in the early betting but may not be brilliantly handicapped. Vischio's last two runs were off 111 and 119, and she is now a stone higher in the ratings, which may make her less appealing to bettors at around 5-1.

Other horses, such as Tellherthename and Alnilam, have similar profiles at better odds, but they are potential front-runners in a field packed with pace. Alan King's Favour And Fortune, who is entered in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham, could benefit if the leaders go off too fast. He ran an eye-catching race to finish fourth in Newbury's ultra-competitive William Hill Hurdle last time and will race off the same mark on Saturday. Favour And Fortune had enough class to finish sixth in last year's Supreme Novice Hurdle, and his experience and ability make him a contender in the Morebattle Hurdle. The pace of the race will be crucial, and if the leaders do go off too fast, Favour And Fortune could be the one to benefit.

In other racing news, the bet365 Premier Novices' Hurdle at Kelso is a Grade 2 event that seems to be going from strength to strength, with several highly promising horses in the field. The Willie Mullins-trained Chart Topper would not be a surprise winner, but Henry Daly's Laganhill is an interesting contender at 10/1. Laganhill has massively impressed with his debut and follow-up win at Bangor, and his breeding suggests he could have a major future. He's very nicely bred, being out of a half-sister to the high-class hurdler/chaser Wishfull Thinking, and the additional couple of furlongs around Kelso will pose no fears whatsoever. The Haydock form has been boosted so emphatically by runner-up Glynn Brae, who has gone on to win a couple of novice races at Fontwell by an aggregate of 31 lengths.

At Doncaster, the Virgin Bet Grimthorpe Handicap Chase sees the return of Twig, who is running to meet the qualification criteria for the Grand National. He's not badly handicapped on last year's Cheltenham peak when runner-up in the Ultima, and regular rider Beau Morgan claiming 5lb could make a difference. Earlier on at Doncaster, the Virgin Bet Every Saturday Money Back Handicap Chase looks quite an open affair, although the obvious one is Gabriel's Getaway. However, Editeur Du Gite might just be able to rediscover his mojo with a relatively soft lead and underfoot conditions to suit. He's come down a total of 18lb since the start of the campaign, and prior to his last couple of efforts, he was competing in the Paddy Power Gold Cup off a mark of 154.

In the BetVictor Greatwood Gold Cup Handicap Chase at Newbury, Tedley is an interesting contender at 20/1. He's 9lb better off for a length and three-quarter second to Vincenzo at Windsor earlier in the season, and stepping back up in trip and returning to handicap company should play more to his strengths. Tedley didn't have much go his way when fifth at Ascot in January, but he's still only six and is clearly about as tough as they come. With 5lb claimer Jamie Brace doing well for the yard this season, Tedley looks the type to give it a good crack at long odds. The racing world is eagerly awaiting the outcome of these events, and the results will have a significant impact on the Cheltenham Festival and the Grand National.