bet365 Morebattle Hurdle: five runners for your shortlist

Danny Archer picked 11/2 winner Our Power in his Coral Trophy preview last week and has turned his attentions to Saturday's £100,000 bet365 Morebattle Hurdle from Kelso. Enjoy the track's big raceday of the year live on Racing TV!

The £100,000 bet365 Morebattle Hurdle is the highlight of the season at Kelso and some star names adorn the recent honours board for the two-mile event, including Peddlers Cross (2011), Simonsig (2012), Top Notch (2016), dual scorer Cyrus Darius (2017 and 2018) and The Shunter (2021).

The latter memorably picked up a £100,000 bonus when scoring at the Cheltenham Festival just two weeks later and that big-money carrot is again up for grabs if the winning horse can follow up at Prestbury Park.

A final field of 16 has been declared. Here are five who look sure to play a leading role.

Paddy's Pick 5: play the £25,000 game for free

MCTIGUE

Trainer: Emmet Mullins bet365 odds: 4/1

Emmet Mullins and owner Paul Byrne landed the £100,000 bonus with The Shunter in 2021 and they have a fascinating contender here in the shape of Mctigue.

Bidding to become the first four-year-old to land the race, he was rated 98 on the Flat for Jim Bolger but caught the eye on his second hurdling start when powering to victory in a Grade Two event at Auteuil.

Well-beaten in his last two starts, latterly behind Lossiemouth at Leopardstown in December, a rating of 142 is certainly on the high side and this will be no easy task against some proven handicappers.

COLONEL MUSTARD

Trainer: Lorna Fowler bet365 odds: 5/1

Lorna Fowler is no stranger to Kelso and she is relishing her return to the track on Saturday with Colonel Mustard.

Beaten behind Hollow Games and El Fabiolo in a brace of novice chase efforts this term, connections have decided to switch to hurdles to take advantage of the £100,000 bonus on offer for any horse who wins the Morebattle and then follows up in any race at the Cheltenham Festival.

Third in the County Hurdle last term, he arguably remains well-handicapped off 143 and, despite having to shoulder top-weight, will serve it up to hot favourite Mctigue.

L’EAU DU SUD

Trainer: Dan Skelton bet365 odds: 11/2

Team Skelton have yet to add the Morebattle to their list of big-race successes but have a live contender in the shape of L’Eau Du Sud.

Part-owned by Sir Alex Ferguson, he looked in need of the run on British debut at Haydock but caught the eye in defeat at Kempton on his latest start. Held up, he travelled strongly into contention entering the home straight before his run flattened out close home.

The majority of his French form came on testing ground, so it will be interesting to see how he copes with slightly quicker conditions here.

TEDDY BLUE

Trainer: Gary Moore bet365 odds: 6/1

Gary Moore has never had a runner at Kelso, but Teddy Blue has live claims of giving him a perfect first visit to the track.

Clearly talented, his jumping has at times been a cause for concern but there was stacks to like about his third in the Betfair Hurdle last time out. His jumping was much slicker, but he was keen in the early stages which ultimately put paid to his chances close home.

However, he showed at Newbury that he has the make-up to be competitive in a valuable big-field handicap and, given he has been dropped 3lb for that effort, has to rate as a big player.

CORMIER

Trainer: Brian Ellison: bet365 odds: 8/1

Cormier bids to become just the third horse to win successive runnings of the Morebattle Hurdle and he is only 2lb higher now than when successful 12 months ago.

He failed to complete the Kelso-Cheltenham double when seventh in the County last spring but has been kept busy since, winning on the Flat at Chester in July before struggling in two chase starts so far this year.

A sixth-placed effort in the Greatwood at Cheltenham earlier this season was far from a disgrace and it would be folly to overlook him given he arguably remains well-handicapped.

Danny's verdict

This is a wide-open contest with the Irish raiders adding further spice to the race. Teddy Blue commands all sorts of respect based on his Betfair Hurdle third, whilst defending champion Cormier could still be well-handicapped.

However, COLONEL MUSTARD gets the vote for Lorna Fowler. He was a fine third in the County Hurdle last season and connections clearly fancy a tilt at the Kelso-Cheltenham double. This will be no easy feat off top-weight, but he has plenty of class and could prove too strong for his rivals.