VISCHIO is a fascinating inclusion in the line-up for the Bet365 Morebattle Hurdle at Kelso today.

Emmet Mullins’ mare was very good last time in winning the Paddy and Maureen Mullins Mares’ Handicap Hurdle on the second day of the Dublin Racing Festival, ridden to victory by the trainer’s cousin Danny.

Memorably, it was the first time that the Mullins name had been added to the roll of honour of the race named after the trainer’s and the rider’s grandfather and grandmother since the inauguration of the race in 2018, with the advent of the Dublin Racing Festival.

That brought Vischio’s record when her rider started the race with his feet out of the irons to two from two.

It is difficult to know how important Danny Mullins is to Vischio, but she is quirky and it is probable that he is important all right.

She was a talented mare for Dick Donohoe, she won a listed race at the Curragh under Gary Carroll at the end of the 2023 flat season, and she won a handicap hurdle at Punchestown last November under Danny Mullins on her final run for Dick Donohoe.

She probably put up the best performance of her hurdling career to date last time, and there is every chance that she will step forward again today.

But the Irish handicapper raised her by 10lb for her Leopardstown win, and the British handicapper has added another 4lb. Despite that, she is short for today’s contest, she is high-profile, she is fashionable.

Lots in his favour

Favour And Fortune has lots in his favour, and, by contrast, he looks over-priced.

Alan King’s horse was a high-class novice hurdler last season. He did best of the British-trained horses in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, and he followed up by winning the Scottish Champion Hurdle at Ayr off a mark of 138.

Well beaten in the Ladbrokes Hurdle at Ascot’s Long Walk Hurdle meeting just before Christmas on his debut this season, he took a big step forward last time in the William Hill Hurdle at Newbury, when he finished fourth behind Joyeuse.

Held up out the back early on that day, he travelled well into the home straight, and he made good progress on the far side to move up in behind the leaders on the run to the second last flight.

He couldn’t get to the winner, and Navajo Indy stayed on past him on the run-in to take third place, but he still finished a good fourth.

The handicapper left him on his mark of 140 for that run and, a second-season hurdler who has run just eight times over hurdles, that is a mark that he has the potential to surpass now.

The drying ground is in his favour, he is two for three on good or good to soft ground, and, importantly, there should be a strong pace on here, which should suit his hold-up style of running ideally. He could run a big race.

Premier Novices’ Hurdle

Alan King could also be on the mark in the Grade 2 Bet365 Premier Novices’ Hurdle 35 minutes earlier with Castle Carrock.

An impressive winner of his bumper at Ayr in November on his only run for Nicky Richards, he was bought for £100,000 at the Tattersalls Cheltenham November Sale two days later.

He faced a stiff task on his debut over hurdles at Sandown five weeks ago, his first run for Alan King, in taking on Diva Luna, winner of the Grade 2 mares’ bumper at Aintree last April and a game winner of her maiden hurdle at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day.

But he won well. He travelled well into his race, moved up on the outside of the favourite on the run to the final flight and, despite making a mistake there, stayed on gamely up the run-in on the soft ground to win, going away, by almost four lengths.

The first two finished nicely ahead of the third horse, the 122-rated Kap Vert, who was in turn miles clear of the rest, and the winning time was over eight seconds faster than the time that Casa Loupi clocked in winning the handicap hurdle 35 minutes later.

Step forward

He handled the soft ground well that day, but he won his bumper on good ground. He seems to be adaptable in terms of ground conditions and, from the family of Dun Doire, he could take another step forward today.

The field is replete with progressive individuals. Vanderpoel is a point-to-point winner and is two for two over hurdles, and Chart Topper is a really interesting contender from the Willie Mullins yard, having won a novices’ hurdle at Wetherby at the end of January on his first trip abroad, while Dedicated Hero stayed on well to win the Grade 2 Rossington Main Novices’ Hurdle at Haydock last time.

That said, Castle Carrock showed a really likeable attitude on his most recent run in beating a talented rival in a good time, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him take another significant step forward today.

Recommended:

Castle Carrock, 2.55 Kelso, 7/2 (generally), 1pt win

Favour And Fortune, 3.30 Kelso, 6/1 (generally), 1pt each-way