Khrisma all set for Kelso final

Nicky Henderson is aiming for quick compensation with Khrisma in the BetWright Herring Queen Series Final Mares’ Novices’ Handicap Hurdle at Kelso.

The County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival had been her aim but the JP McManus-owned mare missed the cut and now she carries top weight in a race worth almost £100,000.

Henderson said: “Khrisma is in a race worth a lot of money but to be fair the plan for her had been the County Hurdle and she got balloted out.

“The nice thing is this race is only worth ten grand less at £100,000.

“She was always going to have top weight in a race like this, there was never any doubt about that, but it’s the right place for her to be.”

Henderson also has a capable second string to his bow in the shape of Diamonds Galore.

“To be fair we also run Diamonds Galore and she was always going to run in this with Khrisma supposedly going to Cheltenham,” he said.

“I feel a bit sorry for Diamonds Galore in a way but they are two good mares and it’s a good place for her to be. She can probably go on from there as well.”

Dan Skelton is another trainer sending two to the Borders track for the race, where he runs First Candidate and Belle Le Grand.

“Belle Le Grand is going back left-handed. This trip on nice ground is all positive. She has a reasonable handicap mark, and I think she should run well,” said the Ladbrokes ambassador.

“First Candidate has just improved throughout the year. She’s maybe one that wants slower ground, but this is a valuable race and she’s qualified for it. We thought we would take it in. But like I said, she has done nothing but improve through the season.”

In the opening Listed contest, the BetWright Beeswing Mares’ Hurdle, Jamie Snowden’s Hollygrove Cha Cha sets the standard after her successful return to hurdles last time out.

Snowden said: “We were campaigning mainly over fences at the beginning of the season and she was a good third in the Listed race before winning at Exeter, but her jumping went to pot at Windsor and we switched back to hurdles at Warwick and she went and won very nicely.

“The plan is to go up in trip which looks tailor-made for her, we just hope for a bit of rain for her.

“If it all works out well we could potentially think about a trip to Aintree on the back of that. I’m sure stamina will be her thing and hopefully a step up in trip will be in her favour.

“She’s a wonderful mare and she was beaten at Cheltenham over two miles on good ground last year, but apart from that she has been a darling and a pleasure to have on the team. Winning Listed and graded races isn’t easy and she’s a talented mare we’re lucky to have.”

One of her major rivals will be Skelton’s Listentoyourheart.

“The step up to three miles should be a positive as I think she is bred to stay. We will see her do something slightly different and this time of year isn’t a problem for her with the nice ground underfoot and the sun on her back,” said the man on the verge of being champion trainer for the first time.