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.
LOCALLY-trained Wheelbahri was a popular winner as Scotland’s final racing action of the year took place in front of a big crowd at Kelso on Thursday.
Stuart Coltherd’s Selkirk raider, ridden for the first time by Ross Chapman, saw off Jetoile by a length in the Visit Kelso In 2023 Handicap Chase.
Chapman said: “He’s really tough to handle that testing ground and cope with the stiff headwind. I got the mount as Stuart’s son Sam was riding down at Doncaster and it was a lovely spare to come in for.”
Other Scottish success arrived in the shape of Lucinda Russell’s De Legislator and Sandy Thomson-trained Carcaci Castle.
De Legislator also made all the running to land the SPG Fire & Security Novices’ Hurdle under Derek Fox from the hot-favourite Imperial Merlin.
“He’s a lovely prospect,” Russell said. “We got both him and our Boxing Day Newcastle winner Snake Roll from the same point to point after the finished first and second.”
Carcaci Castle is now unbeaten in two starts for Thomson after his win for Ryan Mania in the Subscribe To Racing TV Novices’ Hurdle.
The Greenlaw trainer said: “He again showed a tendency to lug to his left but he is a lovely horse to look forward to and a chaser of the future.”