Nap of the Day: Wolfburg is the one to beat in Kelso’s feature

Monday marks the start of a big week in the racing calendar, with star miler Field Of Gold likely to make his return in a Group 2 at Sandown on Friday and Britain’s National Hunt season comes to a conclusion with the bet365 Gold Cup card on Saturday. There’s plenty going on before then, however, and Kelso’s card on Monday features an intriguing Class 3 handicap chase.

Our expert has selected their best bet of the day and the horse in question runs in Kelso’s feature race at 15:30. In very good form recently, the Sandy Thomson-trained runner was a winner last time out and looks well set to follow up. Read on for Monday's Nap of the Day.

15:30 Kelso Odds

Kelso’s feature race is the Class 3 Reg And Betty Tweedie Handicap Chase, which will be run over a trip just shy of three miles. A field of seven has been declared and the most interesting of them is the Thomson-trained WOLFBURG.

Patrick Wadge takes the ride on the seven-year-old, who has made the frame in all but one of his five chase starts this season. Clearly fences have brought out the best in him and he looks very capable of winning more races before the handicapper catches up.

His first victory came in a Catterick maiden hurdle back in February 2024 and the next three horses home have all won since, providing a strong boost to the form. Making the switch to handicaps after that, he was unable to win again in four more starts over hurdles.

Connections decided to step Wolfburg up in trip for his second chase start at Wetherby on Boxing Day and he produced a much improved display to win by just under 10 lengths. The handicapper didn’t overreact and Thomson’s gelding went on to place in his next two runs.

Wolfburg was an impressive winner of a series final at Carlisle last month and he had plenty in hand, seeing his race out well to score by nine lengths.

Life will be harder off an 11lb higher mark this time around but it could be wise to keep the faith for the time being.

Of the others, George Bewley’s Red Happy could be a significant danger, as he completed a hat-trick when last seen, but that was almost 400 days ago and he’s entitled to need the run.

Hudson De Grugy, meanwhile, was a winner on his penultimate start but struggled last time out, and Lucinda Russell and Michael Scudamore’s Cadell has a poor completion record but can’t be ruled out on the evidence of his course and distance success in November.

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