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.
BRIAN HUGHES stole show at Musselburgh’s opening jumps card of the autumn with a stunning 285/1 five-timer.
His first four winners were trained by his great ally Donald McCain and the Irishman is well on the way to regaining the championship crown he won in 2019/20.
Hughes, said: “This course seem to suit Donald’s horses. Front runners tend to do well here but you also need to travel well as it’s not all about just going out and making the running.”
Minella Plus, at evens, started the Hughes bandwagon rolling before Morraman (3/1), Gaelik Coast (2/1) Constancio (7/4) and Rebecca Menzies-trained Kopa Kilana (100/30) completed his rout.
He added: “Musselburgh has been good to me through the years and I had a five-timer here a few seasons ago. Minella Plus was my 100th winner at the track and only Sedgefield and Hexham have given me more.
“I’ll be doing my best to be champion again but there is a long old way to go yet and you need a lot of luck on your side.”
Eagle Ridge, ridden by champion conditional Danny McMenamin, recorded his fourth course win in the 2m 4f handicap chase.
Winning trainer Nick Alexander said: “Ideally he prefers a bit further but the softer ground helped. He was pretty fit for his first run of the season and we’re already looking at another race back here for him later on.”
Hawick’s Craig Nichol was on the mark with Some Reign for in-form Rose Dobbin in the £20,000 feature chase.
Dobbin said: “Craig did brilliantly as he got a dead-leg mounting the horse out on the track and was so sore he could hardly jump off him in the winners’ enclosure.”