First race meeting in six months at Kelso

The Lambourn trainer, who has saddled two winners from just four previous course runners, is represented by likely favourite Chapmanshype in the featured Great Welfare Auction Handicap Hurdle.

Kelso managing director Jonathan Garratt said: “It will be great to see horses back on the track again at Kelso with such strong, competitive fields. “We really appreciate the support of all the owners and trainers and, when crowds return, we would love to reward them with enhanced prize money.”

Already an impressive scorer at Fontwell this summer, top-weight Chapmanshype faces 11 rivals in the £15,000 contest, staged behind closed doors over a trip of nearly 2m 5f.

Former champion conditional rider Gavin Sheehan, whose own Kelso record is three wins from just six mounts, is again on board the 142-rated Berkshire raider.

Among the opposition to Chapmanshype are Langholm’s James Ewart-trained Westland Row, ridden by dual Scottish Borders National-winning jockey Rachael McDonald, of Selkirk, and Push The Tempo, a first-ever runner at Kelso for Newport trainer Robert Stephens.

The bumper eight-race card begins with division one of the Radio Borders Cash For Kids Handicap Hurdle.

Chinwag, trained in Wiltshire by Neil Mulholland, was in good form prior to lockdown and bids to give jockey Robbie Dunne a first course strike on just his fourth Kelso ride.

Brian Hughes, crowned top jockey for the first time in the spring, has six mounts at the track where he rode nine winners during his 2019-20 championship campaign.