Harry Fry hopes Chalonnial is Premier league class at Kelso

Harry Fry is expecting to see a "more professional" Chalonnial in the totescoop6 Premier Kelso Novices' Hurdle on Saturday.The five-year-old impressed on his hurdling debut at Bangor in November before being thrown in at the deep end in the Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown in January.While he was ultimately no match for the impressive Finian's Oscar, Chalonnial was not disgraced in finishing third. "He ran a good race in the Tolworth considering it was only his second start over hurdles," said the Seaborough-based trainer. "He was a bit green and babyish and hopefully, with another run under his belt, he'll be a bit more professional. "He's won and run well on slow ground before, so that's not a worry, and stepping up a couple of furlongs should suit him."He's in the Neptune at Cheltenham, but this has always been the plan."Chalonnial is reopposed by Tolworth runner-up Capitaine, who is turned out by Paul Nicholls just a week after he was beaten into fourth when favourite for the Dovecote Novices' Hurdle at Kempton. Mount Mews has also been declared by Malcolm Jefferson. The six-year-old has won a bumper and a novice hurdle at this venue and bolted up on his latest appearance at Doncaster. Jefferson said: "He was good at Doncaster and we're looking forward to running him. "I'd prefer it if the ground was a bit better, but it will be the same for them all.It's a good race and we'll find out where we stand." Mount Mews holds entries in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle and the Neptune at the Cheltenham Festival, but is unlikely to take up either engagement. "I don't think that will happen. We entered him, but my thinking was we'd go Kelso-Aintree and Brian (Hughes, jockey) thinks the same," Jefferson added. Fairlee Grey and Mirsaale complete the five-strong line-up. The main supporting race at the Borders track is the totepoolliveinfo.com Premier Chase, in which Tenor Nivernais takes top billing. The 10-year-old is comfortably the highest-rated runner after turning what looked a competitive Ascot handicap into a procession a fortnight ago. Trainer Venetia Williams said: "If he's improved as much as the handicapper thinks he has, then he should be the one to beat. "It's difficult to envisage that he has improved that much at his age, but we'll see. "It's nice race for him." The Nicholls-trained Le Mercurey bids to build upon his fine effort when chasing home Cheltenham Gold Cup favourite Native River in the Denman Chase at Newbury, while Nicky Richards is hopingBernardelli can pick up a share of the prize-money. "He's not a bad horse, he's 140-rated," said Richards. "It's tough in handicaps and this is a tough old race on ratings. We're only going to pick up the crumbs. "He seems very well and we'll see how we get on."The plan is to go to Haydock for the Challenger final in about six weeks' time. It's good prize-money and he's qualified for it." Lowanbehold and Seldom Inn make up the field.