WITH a total of £96,500 prize money on offer, the meeting at Kelso on Saturday 28th February is sure to be very competitive.

Racing starts at 1.55 with the gates opening at 12 o clock with the two Totepool sponsored races as a highlight of the day. Adam Smith, the Totepool Marketing Executive, will represent Fred Done and Totepool and do the best turned out and presentations after the two Tote Races.

The Premier Hurdle at 3pm is always won by a good horse so it's nice to see top trainers such as Nigel Twiston-Davies, Venetia Williams, champion trainer Paul Nicholls, Dan Skelton and Donald McCain with entries. One horse that has been targeted at the Grade 2 race is Karl Burke-trained filly Intense Tango, the winner of a similar event at Doncaster last time. Nicky Richards has also pencilled in his recent Morebattle Hurdle hero Glingerburn.

The totepool Premier Steeple Chase attracts Grand National entry Baileys Concerto, who has won five times this term, is a possible according to his Cumbrian trainer Dianne Sayer. Carlito Brigante, who would be a first Grand National runner for Karen McLintock, hasn't raced since his long distance chase success at Kelso in October.

The Cyril Alexander Memorial Novice Chase is a regular feature of this day and is run in memory of that great sportsman, Cyril Alexander. The family have continued with his love of racing and hunting with the third generation represented by Lucy and Kit who are riding so incredibly well for their father who is having an exceptionally good season as a trainer from their base at Kinneston. Aye Well has been in great form for Selkirk trainer and is on a hat-trick following easy wins at Wetherby and Ayr. Cango scored nicely at Ayr last month for his Northumberland trainer Michael Smith.

Terry Frame is a regular supporter of Kelso and the highly respected Kelso joiner sponsors the first Race on the card which is a Novice Hurdle. John Quinn likes sending his Malton raiders to the Borders and Arthurs Secret was a comfortable winner at Musselburgh last week. Recent Newcastle winner Doctor Phoenix, also an entry in the Premier Hurdle, would be a rare Kelso runner for ex-jockey David Dennis.

Another regular in Garry Mansell of Premier Traffic Management, a very successful Edinburgh business who sponsors the very competitive Handicap Chase run over 2m 5f. Douglas Julian, also a possible for the last, was a first winner under Rules for new Galashiels trainer Katie Scott since she took out an open licence when he landed the hunters' chase at Kelso's last meeting. Lucinda Russell's Present Lodger bids to extend his winning sequence to four after strikes at Musselburgh, Newcastle and Ayr.

Robin Lees of the Newcastle Arms has generously agreed to sponsor under the name of one of his portfolio of Hotels and pubs, the Newcastle Arms in Coldstream. The Thompson family from Alnwick are well represented in this with Victor double-handed with Señor Alco and Tommy Steel while son Mark may saddle War On John Anderson, the Award Winning Butcher, from North Berwick has also agreed to continue with his sponsorship and has backed the potentially very competitive Hunter Chase. Bollin Fiona has been second on three of her four starts this season for her Hawick trainer Donald Whillans.

Dun To Perfection, trained at Otterburn by Susan Corbett, has been second and third on his two previous visits to Kelso.

Dedicated television screens will show the whole of the Scotland match at Murrayfield where they are 1-6 to beat Italy.