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.
Minella Youngy opened his account over fences in the Borders Carers Centre Handicap Chase at Kelso on Tuesday evening.
Ridden by Craig Nichol and trained by Iain Jardine, he saw off Getaway Jewel by five-lengths in what was a qualifier for the Go North One Man Series Final next spring.
“I rode him when he was third at Cartmel last time but they got racing a long way from home,” said the winning jockey. “Iain has also given him a couple of spins of hurdles and he should continue to go right way as this was just his third run in a chase.”
Lucinda Russell struck with Caithness, an all-the-way scorer in the Nicol Celebration Maiden Hurdle under Derek Fox.
“He wasn’t broken in until he was five and can be a little bit wild,” Russell said. “He’s got the size of a chaser and he jumps well so that will be his game one day.”
The first race of the autumn at the borders venue went to Jonjo O’Neill-trained Judicial Law, who landed the RBC Brewin Dolphin Handicap Hurdle, which is a qualifier for next year’s Challenger Stayers Hurdle Series Final.
“He’s been a great horse for the yard and that’s my fifth win on him,” said winning jockey Jonjo O’Neill junior. The cheekpieces helped today and he’ll be kept on the go until the ground gets too soft.”
Three-time champion jockey Brian Hughes took the opening William Hill Bookmakers Novices’ Hurdle with Donald McCain-trained 1-6 favourite Clody Lane.