As the countdown to the Cheltenham Festival continues, this weekend sees the Scottish Borders track of Kelso stage its biggest meeting of the season. Of Kelso’s three annual races rated at Listed level or above, two feature on Saturday afternoon’s excellent eight-race card. The Listed bet365 Premier Chase and the Grade 2 Premier Novices’ Hurdle take top billing from a class perspective, but the day’s big betting heat arrives in the shape of the Morebattle Hurdle.
With £120,000 in prize money up for grabs, the Morebattle Hurdle trumps the preceding Listed and Grade 2 events in terms of value and is regularly the richest hurdle contest of the Scottish racing season. Previous winners include Baring Bingham Novices’ Hurdle champ Peddlers Cross, and Nicky Henderson’s Arkle Chase hero Simonsig. Also hailing from the Henderson operation, Zaynar suffered one of the most surprising defeats in British racing history when turned over at odds of 1/14 in 2010.
Looking ahead to the 2026 edition, 22 runners remain in contention. Included in an intriguing cast of challengers is a locally trained star bidding to become the second three-time winner in the history of the race.
Rhapsody to Leave Whillans Ecstatic Once Again
The Morebattle Hurdle is no stranger to a repeat winner. The Gordon Richards-trained Jinxy Jack was the first to do the double when winning in 1990 and 1991. Not satisfied with that, Jinxy Jack etched his name into Kelso legend with further wins in 1992 and 1993. His effort to make it five in a row came up short when he finished third in the 1994 edition, which had quite rightly been renamed in his honour.
Cyrus Darius became the second dual winner when coming home in front in 2017 and 2018. He has since been joined by the 2024 and 2025 champ. Based only 20 miles up the road at the Hawick yard of Ewan Whillans, Cracking Rhapsody returns for a third shot at the prize in 2026.
Back to Form at his Favourite Track?
On his 2025/26 form, it is hard to make a case for Cracking Rhapsody. Three starts in the current campaign have produced three defeats by a combined distance of 71 lengths. However, none of those outings came at Kelso. Ahead of his Morebattle Hurdle defence, Cracking Rhapsody’s career form figures at his local track read 6-2-1-1-1-1-1.
Lining up off a mark of 119 in 2024, he came home more than four lengths clear of the field. A new rating of 132 appeared to make life tougher ahead of the 2025 edition. Cracking Rhapsody coped admirably, hitting the front after the last to score by just over a length.
He’s up to 136 this year, but suggested he may rate higher yet when mastering Kabral Di Mathan in the Grade 2 Scottish Champion Hurdle on his final start of 2025/26. With regular partner Craig Nichol in the saddle, this course specialist sits second in the market before the final declarations.
Irish Raider is No Joke
The bookmakers rarely take any chances with Irish-trained runners in UK handicaps. Such is the case ahead of the 2026 Morebattle Hurdle, with the Charles Byrnes-trained I Started A Joke topping both the weights and the betting market.
I Started A Joke’s Hurdling Form
| Date | Race | Course | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24th Sep 2025 | Maiden | Listowel | 4th |
| 6th Dec 2025 | Maiden | Navan | 3rd |
| 28th Dec 2025 | Maiden | Limerick | 4th |
| 11th Jan 2026 | Maiden | Punchestown | 1st |
| 1st Feb 2026 | Handicap (Listed) | Leopardstown | 2nd |
Lightly raced for a seven-year-old, the Soldier Of Fortune gelding will be making only his sixth start over hurdles, and first in a handicap, if he takes up this engagement. Deemed classy enough to take a shot at the 2025 Champion Bumper, he has since finished in the first four in five big-field hurdles in his homeland. Highlights include a romp at Punchestown by eight and a half lengths, and a solid second in a Listed handicap at Leopardstown last time. A mark of 138 and a 12 stone burden make life tough, but he wouldn’t be the first Irish handicapper to prove a notch above the home team.
Hamlet A Popular Play with Punters
In the week before the race, the only other horse available to back at a single-figure price is the James Owen representative Hamlet’s Night. Formerly based with Andre Fabre and Daniel and Claire Kubler, this Roxholme Racing runner has found a new level of consistency since joining Owen in July 2025. In five starts over hurdles for his current trainer, the five-year-old boasts form figures of 2-1-1-2-2, with that latest runner-up effort to Rubaud in the Grade 2 Elite Hurdle reading particularly well.
Hamlet’s Night’s Hurdling Form
| Date | Race | Course | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23rd Aug 2025 | Novice Race | Cartmel | 2nd |
| 6th Sep 2025 | Maiden | Stratford | 1st |
| 23rd Sep 2025 | Novice Race | Warwick | 1st |
| 25th Oct 2025 | Hurdle | Cheltenham | 2nd |
| 8th Nov 2025 | Elite Hurdle (Grade 2) | Wincanton | 2nd |
| 18th Feb 2026 | Handicap | Kempton | 1st |
Hamlet’s Night also has the services of Champion Jockey Sean Bowen in the saddle. Having ridden I Started A Joke last time out – ironically finishing second to a horse by the name of Bowensonfire – Bowen has been booked to partner a horse on whom he has won twice already this season.
Others to note from towards the head of the market include Tom Dascombe’s Windsor winner Hot Fuss and Quaviste, from the yard of champion trainer-elect Dan Skelton. At higher prices, Spectacularsunrise, Dedicated Hero, and Caballa De Guerra need to step up on recent efforts, but all boast a win over the course and distance on their CV.
As ever, the Morebattle Hurdle looks set to be a compelling addition to the ITV Racing menu. Tune in at 3:30 pm on Saturday to discover if the hat-trick seeking Cracking Rhapsody can fend off his rivals.