Horse Racing Tips: Rhys Williams' NAP is a hunter chaser at Kelso

Doubts over jumping of rivals

Kelso 16:45: Takethepunishment 1pt win 13/8

Another small field for the Buccleuch Cup this year and there are doubts over the jumping of the two main rivals to the favourite.

Alone No More finished fourth in the race last year and did well to get so close to the winner considering how poorly he jumped for much of the race. He also tends to edge to the right at fences which isn't ideal on this left-handed track.

Frankies Fire beat Takethepunishment in a point at Hexham and has continued to run well in points this season with the slightly smaller fences in that sphere suiting her. Her jumping has been an issue under rules in the past and there have been signs in points that her jumping may not hold up over the bigger fences under rules.

While if this was a point I would be backing Frankies Fire at the current prices, the concerns over her jumping make me think that Takethepunishment should be shorter at the front of the market than is currently the case.

While he was beaten by Frankies Fire at Hexham, that rival was given a very smart ride with Lyall Hodgins attacking at the end of the back straight and tightening up Takethepunishment turning up the hill which forced Nick Orpwood to take back from his inside position. He could never quite get back to her but was closing at the line.

Takethepunishment followed that with a smooth success at Friars Haugh over Coole Hall, who has since run well in a handicap chase. Takethepunishment was beaten at the same track on his latest start but I think the testing ground was against him as he seemed to have the opposition in trouble before finding little from between the final two fences.

Depending on what tactics they choose to use on Alone No More, it's possible that Nick Orpwood could find himself controlling the pace and able to put pressure on the jumping of his main rivals.

While there is always the unknown over whether a horse will transfer their point form to racing under rules I don't see a reason why Takethepunishment shouldn't be able to do that and any 6/4 or bigger appeals.