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.
MAURICE BARNES, the man who rode Scotland’s first Grand National winner, Rubstic in 1979, landed the feature race on Kelso’s Bicentenary fixture yesterday.
Now a trainer based in Cumbria, he was responsible for Tommy Dawson-ridden Saint Arvans, an emphatic scorer of the Ashleybank Investments Reg And Betty Tweedie Handicap Chase.
“We’ve been wanting this ground and he’s enjoyed the step up in trip,” Barnes said. “He’s won at two an two and a half miles but it’s three miles for him now and we’ll be keeping him on the go now.
“We should be quite busy as our horses seem to like the spring and summer. They’re been running into from recently so we’ve plenty to look forward to.”
Bruce Lynn and Nick Alexander teamed up for a double with Atlantic Dancer and Hierachy.
The former, owned by the jockey’s family, impressed in the Manners Le Garcon D’Or Mares’ Handicap Hurdle while Hierachy also made all in division one of the 200 Years Of Racing Open National Hunt Flat Race.
Lynn said: “Atlantic Dancer is very straightforward and she is in great form. She may go chasing but that could be be her for this season now. She’s a very good jumper and won with a bit in hand today.”