BetWright Beeswing Mares' Hurdle: runner-by-runner guide and tip

The BetWright Beeswing Mares' Hurdle kicks off a brilliant card at Kelso on Saturday, live on Racing TV and Racing TV Extra, with BetWright also sponsoring three other races on the card, including the £100,000 BetWright Herring Queen Series Final Mares' Novices' Handicap Hurdle.

The recent warmer weather means officials have been forced to water to maintain good to soft ground, and 5mm of water is set to be applied to the entire track on Thursday, while more selective watering may follow on Friday.

Nine runners have been declared for the opening Listed contest, which is a fascinating contest on paper and features multiple Graded and Listed winners. It's no surprise the £40,000 prize has attracted a strong field, and it's recent Warwick winner Hollygrove Cha Cha who heads the betting at a best-priced 5-2.

Will she have the winning moves and slide to success on Saturday? Our man Harry Allwood shares his views on each runner below plus reveals his verdict. 

For more Saturday tips, make sure you check out the tips section on racingtv.com.

Trainer: Jamie Snowden. Jockey: Gavin Sheehan. BetWright odds: 

Produced some strong form over hurdles last season, including when scoring at Grade Two level, and after three outings over fences this season, she reverted back to hurdles in style when storming to success at Warwick last time out. 

She dictated from the front there, and while she is unlikely to secure an uncontested lead again here, she isn't reliant on front running. That also looked a decent race on paper, despite only four runners, and she's now rated 140, which makes her the one to beat on ratings.

Based on her finishing effort at Warwick, the step up to an extended three miles should not be a hinderance (she's also a half-sister to a 2m7f winner), although Jamie Snowden's charge may prefer more give underfoot as she has been beaten just once from seven starts on soft/heavy ground, and appears to relish testing ground.

Trainer: Dan Skelton. Jockey: Tristan Durrell. BetWright odds:

Enjoyed a productive campaign last season, with a below-par effort in a hot handicap hurdle at Aintree (when sent off a fancied contender having attracted support) on her final outing her only blip. 

Returned to top form on her third start this season when landing a valuable handicap at Windsor following two promising efforts in defeat. She also showed a brilliant attitude there, and kept finding under pressure, which hints she may relish stepping up to this new trip, despite her pedigree suggesting otherwise. 

Her latest effort, when seventh at Ascot, is best excused as she was pestered for the lead throughout, and did too much too soon before fading.

Another career-best effort, and a return to form, will be required here, but the form of her Windsor victory is strong, and she fared creditably when fourth in a Grade Two at this track last year.

Trainer: James Kenny. Jockey: Jordan Gainford. BetWright odds:

The sole Irish raider in the field who brings some strong form to the table having won twice at Listed level plus was narrowly denied in a Grade Three last time out. 

That effort at Punchestown was, arguably, a career-best effort, and a return to form following her below-par performance at Doncaster in February, where she had no obvious excuse. 

Has scored twice over three miles, and has produced some of her best efforts on good/good to soft ground. It was also noteworthy her regular headgear was dispatched when last seen, and she's without cheekpieces again here. 

Looks to hold strong claims, and is one of the highest-rated contenders in the field. Jordan Gainford, who has guided World Of Fortunes to success three times, has ridden one winner from two rides at Kelso, and heads over for the ride, which is another positive.

Trainer: Nicky Richards. Jockey: Danny McMenamin. BetWright odds:

Returned to form on her first start for Nicky Richards when scoring (and impressing with her attitude under pressure) at Carlisle in December, and was only headed near the finish when failing to defy a 7lb higher mark the following month.

Both of those efforts were on testing ground, although she has won on good to soft, and her new handler, who has been operating at a strike-rate of 27 per cent in the past fortnight, at the time of writing, clearly has her in rude health.

Whether that's good enough for her to be competitive up in grade here is questionable, however, and the leading contenders have stronger form, so needs a few to underperform to go close.

Trainer: David Killahena & Graeme McPherson. Jockey: David Bass. BetWright odds:

This consistent performer has progressed again this season and recorded back-to-back victories in handicaps (both on good ground) at the beginning of her campaign before finishing third when bidding to defy a rating of 127.

She relished the step up to almost three miles at Ascot in November, and the form of that race has been franked. 

Has not been seen to best effect on her past two outings, and maybe that is due to a left-handed track? The RaceiQ data shows she gained over 12 lengths en route to victory at Ascot, but only gained around 2.5 lengths on each of her recent starts at Doncaster. 

She did gain almost 12 lengths (and clocked a RaceiQ Jump Index score of 8.2/10) when scoring at Bangor in October, but that was in a much weaker contest, and she has a tendency to jump right. 

First-time cheekpieces didn't appear to make a huge difference in a Grade Two last time, but they are persevered with, and she will need to raise her game to strike here. 

Trainer: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore. Jockey: BetWright odds:

Probably has her own parking space at Kelso having run at the track 14 times, and was successful on three of those occasions. 

She did win a decent prize here 12 months ago, although has not matched that form since, and her rating continues to plummet (she is now 6lb below her last winning mark).

Eagle-eyed viewers may have spotted her staying on late over what is probably an inadequate trip now on her return from an absence last time out, and that effort hinted this nine-year-old may be of interest in a low-grade handicap off an attractive mark this year. 

A leap of faith is required to support her here, though, and it will be a shock if she's involved in the finish based on her efforts over the past 12 months.

Trainer: Harry Fry. Jockey: Bryan Carver. BetWright odds:

In-form trainer Harry Fry, who has recorded four winners from eight runners in the past fortnight, sends just one runner to Kelso on Saturday, and Star Walking is Bryan Carver's only ride. That has to be noteworthy, and a pointer that a decent effort is expected.

This mare chased home Rockola Vogue, who had the benefit of race fitness, at Ascot in November, which was also her first start since a wind op, and justified favouritism with a gutsy success last time out when pulling nicely clear with the runner-up.

That rival has let the form down since, but was progressive prior to that, while the third ran another solid race in defeat next time out. 

A wind op has clearly made a big difference to Fry's charge, and quicker ground has also been favourable this season. 

She has already attracted some market support, which is no surprise, and the likelihood of further progress gives her an each-way squeak. 

Trainer: Joe Tizzard. Jockey: Brendan Powell. BetWright odds:

Has been kept busy this season plus has produced some notable efforts, including when a close third in a Grade Two at Ascot in January. She was also not beaten far when fourth behind three higher-rated rivals at Sandown prior to that, and those pieces of form give her a chance.

It's likely she would have been outclassed when departing mid-way through the Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival last week, and returns to calmer waters now. 

This will also be her first outing over further than an extended 2m4f, and if this strong-traveller stays this new trip, then a case can definitely be made for her. That is her biggest question mark, though, as her recent performances don't necessarily suggest she's crying out for an extra four furlongs, and this is a quick turnaround following her recent fall.

Trainer: Tom Ellis. Jockey: Jack Andrews. BetWright odds:

She's had eight starts already this season, but this consistent seven-year-old arrives here following a career-best effort when successful in a 0-125 handicap over three miles at Ludlow in February.

The strong-travelling mare was given a patient ride there and looked the winner a long way from home plus won with a bit to spare. 

She's four from five over 2m7f-plus since joining her new yard, who have clearly found the key to her given she was rated 25lb lower when joining Tom Ellis last year.

Ground conditions will not be a hinderance, and while this is another step up the ladder, she may have further progress on the horizon, so can't easily be discounted.

As mentioned, a fascinating contest on paper, and not the easiest puzzle to solve. Hollygrove Cha Cha, Sunset Marquesa andListentoyourheart are among those with the strongest form, but all have question marks next to them for various reasons. The most solid option therefore appears to be Irish raider WORLD OF FORTUNES who is proven over this trip and will enjoy these conditions. 

She was narrowly denied in a Grade Three last time out and is one of the highest-rated contenders in the field. I also doubt connections are travelling over from Ireland just for a holiday, and she's a dual Listed winner already.