Along with Sandown, the borders venue is one of just two UK racecourses that the Irishman has never ridden a winner and he has been quite successful at most of the tracks in his native country as well.

Dunne, whose three previous mounts at Kelso have resulted in two seconds and a third, said:

“I rode my first winner at Musselburgh earlier this season and I’m pretty sure there are only four tracks in Ireland - Kilbeggan, Killarney, Thurles and Tralee - I’ve still to tick off.”

Venetia Williams-trained Quick Wave, who faces seven rivals in the Edinburgh Gin Limited Handicap Chase, is Dunne’s only ride on the eight-race behind-closed-doors card.

The Herefordshire raider has been raised 7lb for his romp at Catterick a fortnight ago.

Among the opposition is Sandy Thomson’s Duc De Grissay who was disputing the lead when unseating his rider at the final fence in December’s Scottish Borders National.

Vintage Clouds, placed at two Cheltenham Festivals and third in the 2018 Scottish Grand National, reappears under top-weight following wind surgery for Yorkshire trainer Sue Smith.

Dan and Harry Skelton, who both enjoyed two winners at Kelso, team up with Protektorat in the Cheltenham Gold At timeform.com Novices’ Chase.

Co-owned by Sir Alex Ferguson, the gelding was runner-up in Grade 2 company at Wincanton last month.