Cuban Cigar backed to take on hot favourite at Kelso for Lucinda Russell

Early support has come in for Cuban Cigar as he bids to take on short-priced favourite Genuflex in the opening contest at Kelso on Saturday.

The four-year-old was backed into 5-2 (from 4) to land the bet365 Juvenile Hurdle after finishing fifth in a hotly contested Haydock contest in his stable debut for Lucinda Russell.

Cuban Cigar still holds an entry for the JCB Triumph Hurdle and could get Russell off to a flying start on Saturday at Kelso, where she is the leading trainer this season.

Kelso 1.00: bet365 Juvenile Hurdle full card and betting

Russell fields five entries across Kelso's card headlined by Borders National winner Big River, who carries an exemplary record at the track with eight wins from 11 starts and is a 7-1 shot for Listed success in the bet365 Premier Chase (2.40).

Also gathering market support at Kelso on Saturday morning is Bold Endeavour as he bids to hand trainer Laura Morgan the first Graded success of her career.

The six-year-old has been backed into 5-1 (from 8) to extend his unbeaten streak under rules to four after storming to a 12-length victory in his last outing at Wetherby in January.

Bold Endeavour: backed into 6-1 on Saturday to land Laura Morgan's first Graded winCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Rated 133, Bold Endeavour steps up into Graded company for the first time in the Grade 2 bet365 Premier Novices' Hurdle (1.32) and could land Morgan a memorable first Graded victory, with the trainer enjoying a strong run of form with five winners from her last 12 runners.

The novice hurdler will have take on rivals proven in Graded company, with 11-4 favourite North Lodge claiming Grade 2 success on Cheltenham Trials day and second-favourite Richmond Lake finishing second to Jonbon in January's Rossington Main.

Market movers

Doncaster
2.20 Gazette Bourgeoise 11-2 (from 11), So I Said 7-1 (from 12)
2.55 Cheddleton 5-2 (from 4)

Kelso
1.00 Cuban Cigar 5-2 (from 4), Johnny Bloom 11-1 (from 25)
1.32 Bold Endeavour 5-1 (from 8)
2.05 Kaizer 11-2 (from 8)
4.25 Fourth Of July 10-1 (from 14)

Newbury
2.27 Punctuation 11-8 (from 9-4)
4.47 Collectors Item 5-1 (from 9), Samourai One 8-1 (from 12)

Barney Roy out of Meydan Group 1 test

Four-time Group 1 winner Barney Roy will miss his bid to regain the Group 1 Jebel Hatta in Meydan (3.30) after he was found to be lame on Saturday morning.

Winner of the 1m1f turf contest in 2020, the Godolphin runner was a 3-1 second favourite to claim success from market-leader Lord Glitters, who beat Barney Roy in his last start in Bahrain.

Barney Roy has claimed international success with Group 1 victories in Germany, Dubai and the 2017 St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Barney Roy: will miss the Meydan Group 1 contest due to lamenessCredit: Edward Whitaker

Godolphin and trainer Charlie Appleby are still represented in the Jebel Hatta by Zakouski and Highland Avenue.

Non-runners

Aso is one of three runners to miss Newbury's meeting after he was declared a non-runner this morning due to an infection.

The popular 12-year-old chaser was a 10-3 favourite to land Newbury's veteran chase (1.15) for trainer Venetia Williams. His absence leaves Kauto Riko, last seen finishing fourth behind Chantry House in the Cotswold Chase, clear at the head of the market for the opening contest.

Doncaster

1.45 9. Hurricane Ali (going)
2.20 5. Holly Hartingo (going)
2.55 5. Return Ticket (going), 6. Gaelik Coast (going), 7. Fanzio (bruised foot)
3.30 7. Powerstown Park (going)
4.05 3. Copper Coin (going), 4. Risk And Roll (going), 9. Big Bad Bear (going)
4.40 2. Silver Flyer (going)
5.15 2. Carlo Du Berlais (going), 6. Pembroke (going)

Kelso

2.05 5. Hart Of Steel (going), 8. Native Fighter (going)
3.15 9. Alqamar (going)
3.43 5. Glentruan (not eaten up)
4.25 5. Six One Nine (going)

Newbury

1.15 1 Aso (infection)
3.37 8 Nietzsche (going)
4.47 3 Captain Destiny (lame)

Going latest: Kelso hit with overnight frost ahead of Morebattle

The latest update on ground conditions at Kelso faced a delay on Saturday morning after overnight frost covered the track.

Conditions are soft, heavy in places for the seven-card feature that includes the bet365 Morebattle Hurdle (3.15), but clerk of the course Matthew Taylor had to wait to walk the course at 9.30am before issuing a morning update to the going.

"It's only a light frost and the sun is already out, so there's no concerns," Taylor said. "I just didn't want to be too punchy and take the heavy out and when the frost melts it's still there. The track is in great nick with all fresh lines, and it's a lovely sunny day, so we're all quite excited now."

Conditions at Doncaster, which hosts the Virgin Bet Grimthorpe Handicap Chase (3.30) remain soft this morning, while the going at Newbury is now soft, good to soft in places ahead of the Grade 3 BetVictor Greatwood Gold Cup Handicap Chase (1.50), which headlines Newbury's Saturday card.

Read more:

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