Kelso Placepot tips: Tom Segal's perm for the £50,000 guaranteed pool

Lucinda Russell and Michael Scudamore have made a good start to the jumps season and that run should continue at Kelso, where they have plenty of runners who should hit the frame at least.

Winning pointer Conman John showed more than enough in bumpers to suggest he can win better races than the 2m5f novice hurdle (1.58) that kicks off the card. Russell and Scudamore make things tricky by saddling five in the 2m novice hurdle (3.13) but Triple Crown Ted is bred to be good and showed up well in two bumpers last season. He looks the best of them.

Wal Buck's is unexposed compared with his rivals in the 3m2f handicap chase (3.43) and looks another good chance for Russell and Scudamore. There's a possibility he'll need the run on his comeback, however, and so the veteran Ashtown Lad goes in as well, having shown up well for a long way in a better race than this at Uttoxeter in July.  

Asa was on a roll before tipping up at Catterick last season and can get her career back on track in the 2m5f handicap hurdle (2.33). She goes in along with Starlyte (another for Russell and Scudamore), who has three wins at Kelso and should be much fitter than when well beaten over course and distance last time. 

The feature 2m1f handicap chase (4.18) is really competitive and a case can be made for all six runners. Malystic was back in winning form over course and distance last month and is the obvious one, but Tommy's Oscar won this race off a 4lb higher mark in 2023 and will have been targeted at the race again. 

The final race (4.53) is not a good contest and nothing makes much appeal. It might be worth chancing Red Ned, who showed more than enough in his bumper season to suggest he can win better races than this one. Be The Difference has won three times off similar marks and has a recent run, so he goes in as well. 

Kelso Placepot perm

1.58
3 Conman John

2.33
3 Asa
5 Starlyte

3.13
8 Triple Crown Ted

3.43
3 Wal Buck's
4 Ashtown Lad

4.18
1 Tommy's Oscar
4 Malystic

4.53
7 Be The Difference
8 Red Ned

1 x 2 x 1 x 2 x 2 x 2 = 16 lines

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