Dave Nevison's Saturday tips: 20-1 chance among four bets

Sandy Thomson’s lightly-raced gelding is definitely one of the least exposed in this competitive field and can land a decent Saturday prize. 

Thomson targets Kelso probably more than any other trainer, and doesn’t often leave a meeting without a winner. 

I Am Max has run very good races to finish second in two decent handicaps recently and even though he has gone up 5lb for his excellent Haydock effort, he still looks as though he can win off this mark on only his fifth outing over hurdles.

He is improving with each run and has not finished out of the frame over hurdles, so looks pretty solid. Ryan Mania gets on well with him, too.

Not many in this 11-runner field arrive here in the best of form, and the admiral Saint Segal is an easy pick on his consistency alone. 

Jane Williams’ seven-year-old has already run at Newbury three times this season, and scored here in December plus ran well to finish third in the BetVictor Greatwood Gold Cup when last seen. 

Williams has her string in good form and although Saint Segal has gone up 10lb since his last victory, he might have landed in a race that is not as competitive as it possibly might have been for the prize money on offer. 

Fergal O’Brien may have had a Cheltenham to forget, but is a trainer who is rarely out of form and has had five winners since the Festival plus his yard looks to be firing on all cylinders again.

Siog Geal (bright fairy in Gaelic) was quite an expensive purchase at £80k and has been consistent in all her runs so far, but appears ready for this step up in trip. 

The slightly slower pace may well enable her to jump a little better than she did when beaten at even money last time out, too, and the rival she beat on her hurdling debut, Surrey Belle, has got top weight in the valuable mares' race at Kelso on Saturday, live on Racing TV.

I have no doubt Siog Geal is well handicapped off a 5lb lower rating than Surrey Belle, and I think the selection can start to live up to her strong bumper form now she steps up in trip. 

The last and only time Sunset Hill raced at Kelso, she won by more than 20 lengths, so clearly acts well at this track. 

She has been competitive and consistent in several runs since, including when highly tried, and Susan Corbett’s mare may well be overlooked in this valuable mares' race. 

All her form this season has come over longer trips, but she certainly looks to have found a race that will be run at a strong pace, and I believe that is likely to bring out the best in her.

I am happy to take a chance on this six-year-old each-way at the odds on offer (20-1).