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.
Ardera Cross, trained in the Clyde Valley by William Young and ridden by Derek Fox, has his eye on a slice of history at Ayr on Monday.
The fixture is subject to a 7am inspection due to the overnight threat of snow and frost.
Having just turned fourteen, Ardera Cross has recorded nine victories at the track, which sees him the joint all-time record-holder with now-retired The Bajan Bandit.
The bargain £1,000 purchase faces six rivals in the Ayrshire Wedding Show 2nd February Handicap Chase, which is a qualifier for the Go North One Man Series.
Since leaving Dan Skelton to join Young in the spring of 2019, Ardera Cross has appeared 80 times for his new connections winning them 14 races and amassing £123,393 in prize money along the way.
Back in November both Skelton and his jockey brother Harry made a point of giving their ex-stablemate a pat on the neck in the paddock before also congratulating Young on his achievements.
Rivals to Ardera Cross include top-weight Tommy Combats, a event Hexham winner for Cumbrian trainer Martin Todhunter, and Raffles Wonder and Heeztheboy, who weren’t far behind in third and fourth that day.