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.
SIR CHAUVELIN, an evergreen eleven-year-old, is after a fourth course success in the Stay At Hampton By Hilton Hamilton Park Handicap on Saturday evening.
Trained by Jim Goldie, he is a two-time winner of the Braveheart Handicap (2016 & 2017) and also landed the 2016 Buttonhook Handicap at the South Lanarkshire venue.
Last season he was only pipped by a neck by stable companion Wickywickywheels in the £100,000 Lanark Silver Bell before sustaining an injury after his third at Newcastle in November.
Locally-born Paul Muir has the second of her two mounts aboard Mike Smith-trained Royal Countess, a winner at Ayr in May for the 3lb claimer.
“He’s been some servant for the yard over the years,” said Goldie, who also saddles recent course and distance scorer Two Auld Pals. “This will be his 80th race and he’s won six on turf, four on the all-weather and four over hurdles.”
Sir Chauvelin is set to shoulder top-weight and his rivals include Michael Bell’s Newmarket raider Ibrahimovic and Circuit Breaker, trained by Ralph Becket, who will be making his debut in handicap company.
Astapor, an all-the-way shock 200-1 winner at Hamilton Park last June, will be sent off a much shorter price in the Jordan Electrics Handicap.
Trained in Lancashire by John Riches, his win seven days ago at Carlisle was his third of the following victories at Catterick in April and May.
The action gets underway with Karl Burke-trained Indication Spirit bidding to follow up her Musselburgh maiden strike in the John And Margaret McCluskey Memorial Celebrations EBF Restricted Novices Stakes.