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.
Last season’s champion conditional Patrick Wadge has his first ride as a fully-fledged jockey in the opening race at Ayr.
The Gretna-born pilot, who rode out of his claim at Kelso on Saturday, partners Kandor for his boss Lucinda Russell in the Livescore Bet Best Odds Daily Novices’ Handicap Chase.
And, just a couple of days before he lost his 3lb allowance, he was down in London where Zara Tindall presented him with the inaugural Caledonian Spirit Award at a gala dinner.
Wadge said: “It wasn’t before time that I lost my claim and I’m delighted it was on Starlyte, a horse trained by Lucinda. It was also a great honour to pick such a prestigious award – I didn’t have the easiest of starts in racing so it just goes to show what determination and persistence can do.”
Kandor, who makes his debut over fences, is equipped with a first-time tongue-tie as he returns from a wind operation.
The feature race on the card is the £15,000 Virgin Bet Daily Extra Places Handicap Chase, in which Nick Alexander is represented by Artic Row.
Artic Row is due a change of luck as he was a non-runner at Kelso on Saturday because of unsuitable ground and unseated his jockey at the first on his autumn return at Hexham last month.
Craig Nichol, champion conditional rider in 2015-16, partners Follow Charlie for Mike Smith in the Livescore Bet Daily Price Boosts Handicap Hurdle.
The gelding supplied the Ayrshire trainer’s son Ben with his first winner when scoring over course and distance in January but Smith junior is unable to ride on this occasion as he is riding at Bangor for his new employers Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero.