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.
DIANNE SAYER enjoyed a one-two in the feature race at Kelso as well-backed Iolani, ridden by Conor O’Farrell, led home stable companion Frightened Rabbit.
The Cumbrian raiders were separated by two and a quarter lengths in the £16,000 Weatherbys Hamilton Handicap Hurdle.
Sayer, who is based just outside Penrith, said: “Iolani won today but it could have different for ‘Rabbit’ as he was badly hampered by a loose horse between the last two flights. It’s great that we have benefitted from someone else’s misfortune but that’s racing for you and it’s nice to do so well in a Class 2 race.”
Due to two horses slipping up, both were unharmed, the next race was delayed by almost 35 minutes while sanding of the track took place.
Hawick-based former jockey Paul Robson saddled a winner with his first runner as a trainer when Flamboyant Joyaux took the Racing Welfare Handicap Chase under Ryan Mania.
Along with his father, Robson runs a funeral director business although he is keen to increase the number of jumps horses he has in training.
He said: “I’ve taken over the training side from my father and we have a secret weapon in a gallop, which is over seven-furlongs long. Our main income comes from the funeral business but racing is my passion and hopefully we can expand that side of things.”