But Gold Cup hero Long Run won’t be amongst them.

The 2011 Cheltenham hero won last year’s Ivan Straker Memorial Chase following a thrilling duel with Knockara Beau.

But Long Run is currently sidelined through injury and won’t be defending his title.

Ivan, who the race is named after, was a hugely influential director of Kelso Races for many years as well as playing a huge part in saving the Grand National.

A spokeswoman for Kelso Races told us: “Ivan Straker will be long remembered for his huge effort to save the Grand National, which was honoured by a presentation from the Aintree Executive to Tizzy at last year’s National meeting.

“This is the second year that the Ivan Straker Memorial has been staged at Kelso and Ivan’s widow, Tizzy, has very kindly made this race possible. “It will be very hard to better the first running when the epic battle between Long Run and Knockara Beau delighted the crowd at Kelso. “Some southern trainers are considering having entries but Long Run is still on the easy list after a minor injury sustained in the summer after a race in France.” Although the Ivan Straker Memorial Chase will certainly attract a few of the big jumpers, the Timeform Morebattle Hurdle is sure to bring some of the speed merchants north.

Last year’s winner Runswick Royal has developed into a decent chaser while 2012 winner Simonsig landed the Arkle Chase just a few weeks after his Kelso triumph.

Nicky Richards is aiming his fast-improving youngster Glingerburn at the race - he and his late father Gordon have a great record with their Cumbrian raiders with Duke Of Navan their last winner in 2013.

Sandy Thomson is also hoping to use this as a comeback for his Greenlaw stable star Seeyouatmidnight who holds an entry in the World Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

The Monteith family have very kindly agreed to carry their sponsorship forward from the lost meeting in December and are sponsoring the Interactive Race. This is a new initiative introduced by the BHA to try and help to reduce the number of small fields and it means that the local trainers can put in suggestions for the type of race that is to be staged so it is down to them to choose a race and hopefully it will be well supported. At the time of going to print the type of race was not known although Nicky Richards has indicated he is entering Streams Of Whiskey, I’m The Man, Tutchec and Mister Marker.

Another initiative introduced by the BHA is the reduction in race numbers on some cards and therefore this meeting will only be a six race fixture.

Kelso Racecourse has one of the strongest and most enthusiastic membership and twenty four annual members have clubbed together to sponsor the Novice Hurdle.