Trainer Ruth Jefferson is one of the many northern trainers supporting Kelso’s big fixture tomorrow, when the Scottish course hosts day two of the Racing Post Go North weekend. 

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Last year her talented mare, Lavida Adiva won the Ladbrokes-sponsored Mares’ Hurdle at the meeting. Since then, that horse has gone on to greater things, finishing second earlier this month in the Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. 

Tomorrow Jefferson runs her eight-year-old gelding CAPTAIN BUTLER in the BetWright Handicap Hurdle (1.30 p.m.) and, although this horse will never be in the class of Lavida Adiva, he is no back number. 

He was a close fifth to Brentford Hope at Haydock last time out, beaten under five lengths when outpaced from two furlongs out. Today’s much longer trip and the 2 lbs drop in his ratings to a mark of 118 are in his favour in a highly competitive 16-runner race.  

Captain Butler, who is lightly raced, would probably prefer the ground to be softer but he has winning Kelso form and also winning form on good ground from a race at Newcastle three years ago. Back him 1 point each way at 10-1 with bet365 or........

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