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.
Tadhg O’Shea is looking forward to being reunited with Jim Goldie’s Wickywickywheels on Hamilton Park’s opening card of the year on Sunday.
The pair, who scooped the £100,000 Lanark Silver Bell last August, team up again in a competitive renewal of the Patersons of Greenoakhill Buttonhook Handicap.
“It was a great performance last summer and that was her fifth win at a track she loves,” said O’Shea, who is unbeaten on three rides on Jimmy Long’s home-bred mare. “She should be in good form after running at Musselburgh over Easter as she was competing in decent company during the winter in Dubai.”
One of the market principals is Roger Varian’s lightly-raced Postileo, who carries the colours sported to Glasgow Sakes victory by Postponed and Defoe.
Proceedings get underway with Adrian Nicholls-trained Burj Malinka bidding to repeat his win in the Les Hoey MBE Dreammaker Foundation Handicap after scrambling home by a nose twelve months ago.
The most valuable race at the family day fixture is the £40,000 novice stakes with another of Varian’s raiders Tajalla, appearing for the first time since his impressive debut strike at the Craven Meeting last spring.
His main threat appears to be Kevin Ryan’s November Newcastle winner Silent Words under Danny Tudhope.
Wetherby runner-up Obama Army (3.50) and recent Bath scorer Hiromichi (4.23) are the first runners at Hamilton Park for fledging trainer Jack Channon and apprentice George Bass.
To mark the King’s Coronation, free admission is being offered to anyone named Charles providing they can produce suitable photographic ID.