Kelso, Wednesday 6 May 2026 — Tips & Selections

Kelso, Wednesday 6 May 2026 — Tips & Selections

Kelso on good ground in May is a proper test of a chaser or hurdler, and today's eight-race card throws up three races worth focusing on. The going description is straightforward good, which immediately points you toward horses proven on a sound surface. Trainer form is a key angle today, with Susan Corbett's yard running at a red-hot 2/6 over the last fortnight. Take note.

1:55 — Strawmax Novices' Hurdle (2m5f)

Selection: Dartmouth Castle (8/15 Bet365, 1/2 Coral, 1/2 Ladbrokes)

Three runners, and this is essentially a match. Donald McCain's Dartmouth Castle is short enough that a win-only bet is the only sensible approach. He won a Sedgefield bumper last May on good to firm, then graduated to hurdles and bolted up at Sedgefield last time on good ground, making all and being left clear two out. That style of racing suits Kelso's galloping track well, and the step up to 2m5f is a logical progression for a horse that stayed the 2m4f strongly. The McCain yard is 1/10 over the past 14 days, which is modest, but this horse is clearly their big hope on the day and the form franks itself.

Kashchei is an exposed Irish raider whose best form has come on soft or heavy, and the good going today is a significant negative. Rupert The Prince is interesting with the visor back on and a longer trip, but he disappointed on hurdles debut at Newcastle and the step up to this level looks too sharp right now. Dartmouth Castle wins this.

2:55 — Every Race Live On Racing TV Handicap Hurdle (2m6½f)

Selection: Kilmore Rock (3/1 William Hill, 11/4 Bet365, 4.3 Betfair Exchange)

This is the standout race of the day and the angles are very clear. Kilmore Rock won this exact race last year, and he arrived back at Kelso over the course and distance two weeks ago and beat Jericoacoara comfortably, recording one of his best runs in a long time. Blinkers were applied for the first time that day and the combination of headgear and the return to his favourite venue worked perfectly. He goes up 6lb for that win, which is fair, but the confidence in the yard is the bigger story here. Susan Corbett is running at 2/6 over the past 14 days, which is outstanding strike rate for any jumps trainer. When a horse has course form, a course win already on the board this season, and comes from a yard visibly in form, you get on.

Jericoacoara at 7/2 is the obvious danger and has the C&D form to advertise. He was beaten by today's selection last time and now meets him on 6lb worse terms, which makes him a tough sell at a shorter price than the gap in their recent running might suggest. Rememberthename is respected after getting off the mark here last month, but this is a considerably tougher assignment off a 5lb penalty. Kilmore Rock is the play.

4:32 — Bedmax Handicap Chase (2m1f, 7 runners)

Selection: Flash Du Pistolet Each-Way (10/3 Bet365, 10/3 William Hill, 10/3 Coral)

This is a wide-open handicap chase and the value calculation here is interesting. Stuart Coltherd's Flash Du Pistolet holds a course and distance win from March 2025 on good/good to soft, which is directly relevant today. He then ran a below-par race for much of the season but came back to something like his best when finishing second at Hexham last time on good ground. The key point is that his two chase wins have come on sound surfaces, and good ground at Kelso today puts him right back in his element.

Singapore Trip heads the market on the back of two consecutive wins at Wetherby and Market Rasen, and Alice Stevens has been riding him well. The concern is a 10lb rise in the handicap, which is a steep climb for an eight-year-old who had not won in some time before this run of form. Tanking Along is another solid each-way option after his placed effort at Ayr, but he was 8lb out of the handicap that day and the weight burden remains. Glory And Honour showed solid form at Newcastle last time and Sam England's yard at 1/15 is cold, so tread carefully there. Flash Du Pistolet at around 10/3 each-way with course form on the relevant going is the selection. Three places at 1/5 the odds in a seven-runner field makes each-way viable at this price.

Today's NAP