Horse Racing: Small fields could favour a Nichols double at Kelso

RACING fan Graeme Johnston (@GraemeJ_83) picks out his best bets from a busy Saturday card.

15:25 Kelso | Racing UK

Kelso stages a very good card on Saturday and this Grade 2 novice has attracted five very good young horses. We have Grade 1 form on offer and it's good to see top trainers supporting this race.

Mount Mews (9/4 BetVictor) is a very promising novice and is unbeaten in two visits to the track. He is four from five in total and was an impressive winner last time out.

He is stepping up in grade here and this may be a step too far at this stage in his career. However, I think he will make a very good chaser and is one to keep an eye on next season.

Chalonnial (11/4 Ladbrokes) won a good maiden on debut before stepping up to Grade 1 level when he was third in the Torworth Hurdle. He's been given a break since then and remains of interest. He is likely to continue improving however I suspect he may need this before his spring campaign.

I'm backing Capitaine (9/4 Ladbrokes) and it's a case of last chance saloon for this horse. The highest rated of these so far, he has run some very good races but was disappointing last week when favourite for the Dovecote. That was a good race and if he settles better here he is the one to beat on Saturday afternoon.

The concern is a small field won't suit but he may not be fresh after his race last week and I'm prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt at tempting odds.

16:00 Kelso | Racing UK

The Premier Chase over just shy of three miles is a valuable chase for the track and they will be disappointed it's only got five runners. Impressive Ascot winner and handicap veteran Tenor Nivernais (8/11 Ladbrokes) is looking to make it a quick double and is a short price favourite to do so.

Tenor Nivernais is a favourite of mine and has ran some mighty races in Cheltenham handicaps down the years. Every now and then he throws in a performance that almost defies belief and he did that two weeks ago at Ascot when destroying a good field.

That wasn't the first time he's ran his rivals ragged at that track and he's not certain to repeat that here. He obviously must be respected however he is a short price and I'm in no rush to back him here.

Le Mercurey (2/1 Paddy Power) is his market rival and at three years younger is a little less exposed. He finished behind the favourite two starts ago but there isn't much between them in general.

He has ran behind some top horses this season so far and I feel small fields suit him and his three victories in the UK have come in fields of six or less.

I think he can complete a quick double for Paul Nichols in this.