The BetWright Beeswing Mares' Hurdle at Kelso

What's this? The Beeswing at Kelso? I've always associated the race with Newcastle - on the Flat - at the end of July.

Lavida Adiva won the inaugural Kelso running last year; the Beeswing in question was a broodmare from the 1830s.

I have passed through Beeswing - a long, thin village - on countless occasions, riding the A711 when visiting family. In days gone by, when the kids were small and the speed limit 50 mph, we used to play this game. 

On the approach to the village all occupants of the vehicle, irrespective of age, were obliged to take one single, deep breath and then, while travelling through, make a buzzing noise similar to that of a bee - without stopping or taking another breath.

A significant challenge - not as difficult as picking the winner of a 20 odd runner handicap at Cheltenham, or the winner of a Listed mares' hurdle at Kelso for that matter, but a challenge nonetheless; Grandpa practically passed out on one occasion, so we always made sure we had a bottle of water to hand after that unfortunate episode. 

The secret was to start buzzing softly, quietly but, of course, the kids could never resist. There were times minor deceptions took place: 'Are you still buzzing, Mum? I can't hear you...'  uttered under the breath while still maintaining your own buzzing noise - that sort of thing, but they hadn't invented VAR in those days so alleged transgressions proved very difficult to prove. When we had passed through the village, a loud, united shout, a great exhalation, took place, completely filling the vehicle.

And then, one day, Dumfries & Galloway council reduced the speed limit to 40 mph - and Grandpa said he wasn't going to play any more...

Nine have been declared for the second running of the Beeswing Mares' Hurdle (1.00 Kelso); the going is described as good to soft, soft in places.

Without making too much of a song and dance about it, Hollygrove Cha Cha was allowed her own way out in front in a four runner Listed mares' hurdle at Warwick last time over two miles five; when her rivals closed in approaching the home turn she quickly put the race to bed in a manner that suggested a step up to three miles should be no problem. 

That said, the ground was heavy at Warwick and the second and third, Jubilee Alpha and La Pinsonniere - third behind Intosomethinggood at Kempton last weekend - have shown better form on better ground. 

On official ratings she's the best horse in this race but still has to concede weight to her rivals and the drying conditions here won't be ideal.

Just over 12 months ago, conceding five pounds, Irish raider World Of Fortunes beat Star Walking more than four lengths in a Listed mares' novices' hurdle at Doncaster. 

In December, back at the Yorkshire track, the chestnut mare was less impressive when fourth behind Lavida Adiva - that one went on to finish fourth in the Yorkshire Rose in February (Rockola Vogue sixth) and then second behind Supremely West in the Pertemps Final at this year's Cheltenham Festival. 

Last time, over a shorter trip, World Of Fortunes dropped to last three out but stayed on stoutly to be beaten under a length by Graiine A Croi in a Grade 3 event at Punchestown.

On her penultimate start Listentoyourheart beat East India Express a neck at Windsor on New Year's Day with 7/2 favourite Wellington Arch fading out of contention at the last, beaten over 15 lengths in ninth; since then the O'Neills' runner has finished second behind Tutti Quanti in the William Hill Hurdle at Newbury and then won a competitive handicap hurdle at Uttoxeter last Saturday. 

Listentoyourheart raced prominently at Ascot five weeks ago but faded into seventh behind Fiercely Proud; underfoot conditions should suit but there's a question mark about the step up in trip.

In November Rockola Vogue gave Star Walking nine pounds and a one and threequarters length beating in an Ascot mares' handicap; on occasions she has shown a tendency to jump out right. Over Christmas Star Walking, owned by the Noel Fehily Racing Syndicate, beat Holly Hartingo a head on good ground at Kempton off a mark of 116.

Sunset Marquesa fell in the Mares' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival nine days ago; her profile suggests she may prefer racing right-handed. 

She jumped left in a mares' maiden at Uttoxeter (November 2024); in the past 15 months she has raced left-handed three times, falling twice - at Newbury and Cheltenham - and stumbling at the penultimate flight at Ffos Las before beating Followango easily.

I've followed Tankardstown Diva quite closely since she moved to Tom Ellis' yard in Rugby in the summer and started racing over a trip around the three mile mark. 

The grey first came to my attention when she was declared to run at Ludlow's second October meeting, having won at Market Rasen nine days earlier off a mark of 96, Jack Andrews claiming three. 

Having watched a replay of that race at Market Rasen, where her hurdling caught the eye, I fancied her to beat favourite Prince De Juilley in a Class 5 handicap hurdle at the Shropshire track and she did so with the minimum of fuss on ground described as good.

A tentative foray over fences followed but didn't flourish; she finished within two and a half lengths of Molto Bene at Huntingdon but the wheels came off at Fakenham just before Christmas when she took a crashing fall four out.

Reverting to the smaller obstacles, Tom Ellis' charge has since won a Class 4 handicap at Plumpton off 110 and then back at Ludlow she looked particularly slick at her hurdles when beating Masked Dance (121), Magical Maggie (117) and Love Of Neymore (119) - the last-named had finished third behind Ma Shantou at Cheltenham on New Year's Day and then fourth behind Go To War, Doughmore Bay and Lud'or in a Class 2 handicap at Windsor.

She has been raised nine pounds to 124 for that last win at Ludlow - a mark 28 pounds higher than the one she won off at Ludlow in October; since joining Tom Ellis she is 4-4 when racing over hurdles and a trip of around three miles.  

On official ratings Pitwood Road has a bit to find with the principals and Starlyte quite a bit more.

In a Straight from the Stable article [RP Weekender 31.12.25-04.01.26] handler Nicky Richards said of Pitwood Road:

"She won nicely on her debut for us...at Carlisle in mid-December off a mark of 105. She jumped well and enjoyed the soft ground. I liked the way she battled on strongly to the line and it'll be interesting to see how far she goes up the handicap ladder."

Starlyte won a Class 2 handicap hurdle at this meeting last year over two miles five off a mark of 102. She hasn't really shown much form since and is now rated 96.

Hollygrove Cha Cha and World Of Fortunes dominate the market; of the pair slight preference is for the latter as the former seems to relish soft / heavy ground. 

I don't know if there's further improvement to come from Tankardstown Diva - and there will need to be for her to be competitive here - but at 11/1 I'm going to take the chance.

Tankardstown Diva is the each-way suggestion, currently 11/1 generally with layers paying three places.