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.
Paul Robson gained the biggest win of his training career when Breizh River took the £40,000 feature race at Kelso.
Ridden by Sean Quinlan, he got the better of Malystic by a head in a pulsating finish to the Ray And Anita Green Chasing 500 Winners Handicap Chase.
“I’m absolutely delighted with that and Sean said he had plenty left as he was flicking his ears back and forward,” said Robson after also saddling the first winner from his base at the Northumberland yard formally occupied by Rose Dobbin.
“It’s great that the owners entrusted me with this horse and, providing he is sound in the morning, we have earmarked him for a 2m 4f chase at Cheltenham next month as we think that is the trip that will suit him. He can be a fragile horse so, after that, you probably won’t see him again until the spring.”
The colours of the sponsors were due to be carried by Traprain Law, who was withdrawn fifteen minutes before the race time when he was 11/4 favourite.
Locally-based father-and-son combination Stuart and Sam Coltherd, teamed up to land the Parks UK Handicap Chase with Universal Folly.
The Selkirk raider built on a recent return-to-form third at Perth to foil a gamble on 15/8 favourite Brandy McQueen by a comfortable five-and-a-half lengths
Champion jockey Harry Cobden made a rare trip to the borders and he was successful aboard Jumping Susie for John McConnell in the Welcome To Family Day Novices’ Hurdle.
Sent off at 6/5 the mare saw off hot-favourite Step Out by thirteen-lengths.
Cobden was also on odds-on chance Yokkell, who was pipped by a nose by 20/1 outsider Samwise in the Remembering Paula Greig Novices’ Hurdle.