Gordon Brown – Race Reporter
Gordon has a wealth of experience of racing through his background in the written and broadcast media. His current principle role is reporting and supporting the scene in Scotland on Racing TV and relaying the latest news with Scottish angles.
Evaluation, trained by Lucinda Russell, was an impressive winner on his jumps debut as Ayr staged its final action of the year.
Ridden by Derek Fox, the well-backed 4/9 favourite quickened up nicely from the last to land the Virgin Bet Novices’ Hurdle by seven and a half lengths.
“He’s a pretty decent horse on the Flat as he showed when finishing second in the Northumberland Plate this year,” Russell said. “I’d say we will have a lot of fun with him over hurdles and you could see how potent his Flat speed was there as he put the race to bed on the run-in.”
Castle Carrock won by even further as he careered home by 16-lengths in the Livescore Bet Open National Hunt Flat Race for Jedburgh owner Rob Bewley, whose jockey son Callum, currently sidelined with hand and leg injuries, was present to see the victory.
Winning trainer Nicky Richards said: “He’s a smart one going by that and, as you know, Rob likes to sell on his horses. He got £100,000 for Bury Parade back in 2012 and you wouldn’t be surprised if this fellow also fetched a six-figure amount.”