Horse co-owned by football legend Alex Ferguson among runners at Kelso Races this week

Boanas, based at Mary Reveley’s old stables at Saltburn in Cleveland, said: “He’s a lovely horse and we’ve always liked him.

"He improved with every run last year, including when winning at Kelso and Ayr. It was a shame he fell at Haydock before Christmas, but he should love the ground and we know he acts on the track.”

Potential opposition for the Teesside raider might come in the shape of My Old Gold, ridden by champion jockey Brian Hughes, and Another Venture, representing the all-conquering Kim Bailey and David Bass partnership.

Jonniesofa, trained by Rose Dobbin, could bring a bit of back class to the race as he was a grade-two winner over hurdles and landed a handicap chase at Carlisle in December for his Northumberland connections.

Trainer Dan Skelton and his brother, jockey Harry, completed a treble at their local venue Warwick on Monday and the siblings looks set to team up in several races.

Arguably their most interesting entry is Protektorat in the Cheltenham Gold At Timeform.com Novices’ Chase.

Co-owned by ex-football manager Alex Ferguson, he was runner-up in grade-two company at Wincanton in early January.

You don’t see the Skeltons too often at Kelso, but when you do, they don’t normally return home to England empty-handed.

Dan has a strike-rate of of two winners from eight runners and Harry has ridden two winners in seven rides.

Harry’s wife Bridget Andrews, a Cheltenham Festival-winning jockey, has been booked for the ride on Kalabaloo in the RacingTV.com Open Hunters’ Chase.

Due to Covid-19 restrictions, all horses competing in hunter chases currently must be ridden by professionals and Bridget has previously ridden one winner from her previous three mounts at Kelso.