Kelso
Left handed, generally flat, with the hurdles course separate to the chase one and around a furlong shorter in length. The position of the final obstacle on both tracks was placed closer to the winning post from October 2012, negating the previous 2f run to the line, ensuring there is less emphasis on stamina than previously. It's true to say that conditions can get gruelling in mid-winter, but on anything other than soft/heavy ground it's a track which is essentially sharp in character.
The Borders track of Kelso used to be a real test of jumping and stamina, but their home-built traditional fences, and the layout of them, was changed a few years ago. This was to place less of an emphasis on stamina, and to position the fences in less tricky parts of the track. It’s now a fair test for all. A separate hurdle track in the back straight makes things pretty sharp there, whilst the chase course swings a bit wider before re-adjoining the course proper up the home straight. Fences come quickly at you down the back and still claim a few victims as horses often get slightly on their forehand on the slight downhill.