Timeform Morebattle Hurdle

Off time: 14:25 | Winning time: 4m 50.50s

Cyrus Darius⁵⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: B S Hughes| T: Ruth Jefferson| OR: 142| BF| CD

5/2

Very talented hurdler who hasn't quite made the grade over fences after an injury punctuated career. Stamped his class over his rivals when winning this by 7L in 2017, but this looks a stronger renewal, and he has a penalty to carry.

Form: 419-143

Better Getalong⁴⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: R D Day| T: N G Richards| OR: 138| C

9/4

Progressive novice over 2m on testing ground. Dispatched inferior rivals at short odds at Ayr early last month, and whilst this rates as a much sterner test (stamina also to prove), his trainer is no stranger to success in this race.

Form: 110-131

Chti Balko³²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: W T Kennedy| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 135

6/4

Solid handicapper who was a 6L winner over 2m at Haydock (heavy) on his penultimate start in December. Probably not so sharp over 2m here latest, finishing three places behind Katgary, and still to prove definitively that he's up to this level.

Form: 19-3415

Katgary^b³²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Craig Nichol| T: Miss P Robson| OR: 136| D

10/1

Not won since June 2016 (2m4f good to firm), but impossible to knock his recent efforts, running a sound race in the Grade 1 Fighting Fifth at Newcastle in November (fourth), and edged out by a neck by Mirsaale here last month (2m).

Form: 434442

Non-Runners

Dame Rose¹⁹

Weight: 11-0| Age: 5

T: R Hobson J: J J Burke

Forecasts

Chti Balko (6/4), Better Getalong (9/4), Dame Rose (9/4), Cyrus Darius (5/2), Katgary (10/1)

The gorgeous Cyrus Darius defends his Morebattle Hurdle crown, with a swathe of best wishes and goodwill cheering him on for a poignant success for all connected with the Jefferson family. However, he has a penalty to carry this time around, and was perhaps flattered by the manner of that victory given the fact that smooth travelling Born Survivor was a late faller in 2017. Nicky Richards has enjoyed recent success in this race with Duke of Navan (2013) and Glingerburn (2015), and he throws the improving Better Getalong in at the deep end, whilst Katgary is tough to knock (but quite probably not good enough) despite some fine recent non-winning efforts. Therefore, the selection is the sole mare in the line up DAME ROSE. She revels in hock deep conditions, and demonstrated her touch of class when winning a Listed contest at Newbury in December. She has had legitimate excuses the past twice (2m4f trip in the Challow at Newbury, and simply meeting rock-solid rivals at Doncaster), but she should cope with this 2m2f trip at a sharp track like Kelso, and can follow in the footsteps of another smashing mare Marello (winner of the race in 1998).