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.
Nells Son, ridden by Danny McMenamin, was an impressive winner of the £12,500 feature race at Kelso on Sunday.
The well-backed 8-11 favourite, was given a positive ride as he came home twelve-lengths ahead of Go Boy in the KOSB Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase.
“He doesn’t have to be ridden like that but he enjoyed himself out there today,” said winning trainer Nicky Richards. “He won the Grade 2 hurdle here last spring and I thought he was the class horse in the race.
“We will sit down with his owners, who also bred him, and see where we go next. He stays a bit further but we wouldn’t to run him anywhere if the ground got a bit too lively.”
Sandy Forster, based just a few miles from the track, struck in the Rubstic Handicap Chase with Lewis Stones-ridden Duty Calls.
The race is named after the locally trained hero who landed the 1979 Grand National and his trainer John Leadbetter was on hand to help with the presentation to the winning connections.
Shoeshine Boy, racing off bottom-weight for Craig Nichol, followed his Ayr success for Hawick trainer Donald Whillans in the Bruce Farms Handicap Hurdle.
Lucinda Russell and Derek Fox warmed up nicely for Cheltenham when Myretown landed the Racing TV 100% Profits Returned To Racing Maiden Hurdle.
The odds-on favourite carries the same colours as Ahoy Senor, who goes for the Ryanair Chase on Thursday.