Major Bell, who ran well in defeat at Wetherby 11 days ago, can rule the roost in the feature race at Kelso tomorrow.

The Alistair Whillans-trained 10-year-old bids for the Peter and Gillian Allan Outside Caterers Handicap Chase over an extended two and a three-quarter miles, and will have the services of Brian Harding.

Ironically, Harding was aboard the winner, Profluent, when Major Bell finished third at Wetherby on his latest start under Russ Garrity.

The selection, though, turned in a solid effort that day over two and half miles, a trip which seems an absolute minimum for Major Bell nowadays.

A previous winner over tomorrow's course and distance, he promises to take all the beating.

Hoh Explorer gets the vote in the Scotdisc Music Novices' Hurdle.

Jason Callaghan's mount showed some fair form in this type of company last season and, with little to beat tomorrow, the four-year-old will not get many better opportunities to open his winning account.

Rossel, who has been in unstoppable form recently, can extend his winning sequence to four in the Queens Hotel Kelso Handicap Hurdle.

Peter Montieth's gelding gained his latest success over this course and distance 11 days ago when he justified favouritism by an emphatic eight lengths at the main expense of Norman Conquest.

He will be hard to beat again tomorrow with experienced claimer Calvin McCormack in the saddle.

Accomplished Norton rider Eddie Callaghan has been booked to partner Mr Sloan in the Langholm Dyeing Company Conditional Jockeys' Novices' Handicap Hurdle, and the hint should be taken.

Mr Sloan, trained by Jim Goldie, ran a good race over this course and distance last month to finish second to The Last Waltz, when carrying no less than 15lb more than his official handicap weight. Able to race off his correct mark this time, he is worthy of attention.

At Newbury, the Tom Masson Trophy Handicap Hurdle takes pride of place, having attracted a highly-talented field.

Nap selection Red Curate appeals as the most likely winner, this Graham McCourt-trained gelding having gone from strength to strength over hurdles as a novice last season. He has the scope to make further progress this winter and looks capable of using this race as a stepping stone to bigger and better targets.

Executive King, winner of both his races this season, can complete a hat-trick under Tony McCoy in the Lionel Vick Memorial Novices' Handicap Chase.

The improving seven-year-old followed up an easy Market Rasen success with a pillar-to-post win at Kempton recently with McCoy in the saddle both times.

Paul Nicholls, who saddled an amazing seven winners from ten runners last Saturday, has his horses in sensational from, and Nearly An Eye can be another success story for the Somerset handler in the Winterbourne Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Chase.

Tomorrow's Tips

KELSO

1.10 Hoh Explorer

1.40 Ardrina

2.10 Rossel

2.40 Major Bell

3.10 Mr Sloan

3.40 Briar's Delight

NEWBURY

1.20 Albermarle

1.50 Executive King

2.20 Red Curate (NAP)

2.50 Saxon Duke

3.20 Nearly An Eye

3.50 Hidebound

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.