Daily Betting Advice / Timeform / 17 February 2011 /

After a successful time of things at Musselburgh yesterday we're staying North of the border for today's card at Kelso.

13:40 - Priceless Art (four from six) and Jukebox Melody (two from three) both bring over handsome bumper records to the opening novice hurdle and the former is quite a warm favourite as things stand, but he's unproven under testing conditions let alone obstacles, so it's safer to take the established aptitude of Bogside and Music of The Moor. The former took well to hurdles when third to Waldvogel at Musselburgh last month (pair split by subsequent winner Aikman) and should be in the thick of things once again, whilst Music of The Moor translated his fairly useful Flat form at the first time of asking when winning a heavy-ground juvenile at Sandown before his race ended early with a slipped saddle at Newcastle a fortnight ago.

14:10 - It's easy to imagine Circus Clown going about things with ease in the subsequent handicap hurdle after he took a marked step forward at Ayr on his first start for Jim Goldie, but that only came five days ago, and there's always a chance this second quick run back from a break could prove all too much. Therefore, side with Willie Hall to confirm the promise of his second to Soll at Newcastle, the step back in trip liable to draw more out of him on this handicap debut. It wasn't much of a race in which Quacity was runner-up last time, and he was well positioned the way things went to boot, whilst Texas Holdem is best under less testing conditions so even if the booking of Peter Carberry adds to his appeal, both are resisted and we'll bank on Willie Hall.

14:40 - The yard of John Wade has been resurgent in recent times, and even if he's had more seconds than winners in the last month or so, he's got a stand-out chance of bagging another race with Always Right in the handicap chase at 14:40. A useful pointer, he went on to make his mark in a couple of hunters and was a good second to Or de Grugy on his reappearance in October. A bit too free on that occasion, he should be suited by the drop back in trip and clearly possesses the potential to do better that is missing amongst the others. Or de Grugy reopposes but he's rather lost his way since, and it falls to Lockstown to play our supporting role. It was something of a non-event he won at Newcastle earlier in the month (fallers gave him nothing to beat), but he remains on the same mark and is best treated as if at the top of his game, whilst there's always a chance the addition of cheekpieces could give him extra zip.

15:15 - The Timeform Festival Trial Novices' Chase is probably only a realistic trial for such as the Scottish National 'Festival', but more pertinently it's a tricky race to solve for our more pressing purposes. Too tricky in fact, so take the four that count; namely, Alfie Flits, Premier Sagas, Thumbs Up and King O'The Gypsies.

15:50 - Zaynar was infamously turned over at odds of 14/1-on in the Morebattle last season, but don't expect any such shocks this time around. Peddlers Cross will have no trouble sweeping aside the motley crew who oppose him today before having his sights fixed on Cheltenham.

16:25 - It's a tricky hunter which concludes today's placepot, with the pair who possess established previous form - General Striker and Rimsky - doing little of late to suggest they're capable of getting close to those levels nowadays. Luksar won a maiden hunter around here in April 2009, but he ran as if amiss on his sole start last season and was a comfortably-held third to Quotica de Poyans in a weak point on his return last month. Optimistic Harry has it all to do judged on ratings, but this isn't the sort of race where figures are the be-all and end-all, his recent point success of greater relevance, and he's selected alongside Quotica de Poyans. The latter is comfortably the likeliest winner and has company on the perm just in case his jumping isn't as assured as when winning over course and distance last March (has fallen twice since, but easily won a members' point last month to confirm his well-being).

Selections

13:40 - 1,14
14:10 - 7
14:40 - 4,8
15:15 - 1,2,3,4
15:50 - 1
16:25 - 2,3

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