15:00 Kelso

Monday 20 April 2026

All14:0014:3015:0015:3016:0016:3017:0017:35

Royal Caledonian Hunt Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:00 | Winning time: 5m 19.82s

Old Gregorian^t⁵¹

Age: 7| Weight: 12-2| J: D R Fox| T: L Russell & M Scudamore| OR: 122| C

9/1

Came home alone when making a winning chase debut at Wetherby in October. Didn't enjoy the best of runs when last of 4 here back from a 5-month break in February and remains open to improvement in this sphere. Form figures over hurdles at this course read 1123.

Form: 263D-14

Special Rate^p1,t⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-13| J: Danny McMenamin| T: H Burns| OR: 119| BF| C

11/2

Multiple winner for Phil Kirby in 2023/2024, including twice at this course, and made the frame on a few occasions over fences for Lizzie Quinlan last spring. Largely creditable efforts in defeat for present connections and while his losing run continues to mount, he should be on the premises.

Form: 362343

Breizh River^p,t²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Harry Reed| T: T Davidson| OR: 118| C

9/2

Resumed winning ways (in first-time tongue tie) on third run for present yard at Musselburgh on New Year's Day and followed that with a good second over 17f here. Probably paid the price for trying to lie up with the strong gallop at Carlisle last time but looks vulnerable here all the same.

Form: 333125

Jet Legs^v⁶⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Ryan Mania| T: M Todhunter| OR: 113| C

15/2

Successful off this mark at Hexham last spring and went close on return at Carlisle in October, a race he may well have won but for a mistake 2 out. However, errors in the jumping department have become a trend this season and others come into this with more appealing credentials.

Form: 13-3666

Garde Des Champs^p,t¹⁷⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-7| J: Alan Doyle⁽³⁾| T: L Russell & M Scudamore| OR: 113

28/1

Returned to form with a bang sporting this headgear combination for the first time at Perth (2m, good to firm) last summer. Followed that with a near-miss at the same course but he was below par when last seen in the autumn and his yard may have a better chance of success here with Old Gregorian.

Form: 412344

Joecooker^p,t³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: R Menzies| OR: 112

4/1

Winning hurdler who has been placed in 3 of his half-a-dozen starts over fences, most recently finishing a creditable third of 10 in first-time cheekpieces (retained) over this C&D last month. 1 lb lower now and should have a part to play.

Form: 432543

Looking Splendid¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Dylan Johnston| T: Gary Rutherford| OR: 106| CD

2/1

Hit the ground running this season, bagging handicap hurdles here and at Carlisle in October. Looks destined for even better in this sphere judged on his clear-cut C&D chase debut success back from a break 18 days ago. 9 lb rise may not be enough to stop him in his tracks.

Form: 3-11361

Kay Tara Tara^p,t³²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: Toby Wynne| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 101

20/1

Ended time with Alan King under a cloud in 2024 but there were better signs on first 2 starts for this yard in November of that year. Entitled to come on for last month's chase debut at Ludlow where she was returning from a 16-month absence and she's bred for this game.

Form: 2P/952-4

Non-Runners

Carrigeen Castle²⁶

Weight: 11-0| Age: 10

T: Micky Hammond J: C O'Farrell

Forecasts

Looking Splendid (2/1), Joecooker (4/1), Breizh River (9/2), Special Rate (11/2), Carrigeen Castle (6/1), Jet Legs (15/2), Old Gregorian (9/1), Kay Tara Tara (20/1), Garde Des Champs (28/1)

LOOKING SPLENDID produced a sure-footed round of jumping when scoring on his first run in this sphere over C&D recently and, on that evidence, this 9 lb higher mark may well be within his reach. Old Gregorian's record over hurdles here is compelling and he is better than he was able to show on his first chase start at this course last time. Like the selection he is open to improvement over fences and rates the main danger ahead of Carrigeen Castle and Joecooker.