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.
Big River bids to become the winningmost Kelso horse in modern day history in the 125 Years Of Bruce Farms Scottish Borders National.
With eight course strikes to his name – including in the £50,000 four-miler twelve months ago – Lucinda Russell’s sprightly gelding, currently holds the record jointly with Whaat Fettle and Davy Blake.
Big River becomes a teenager in a few weeks times and Miss Russell said: “Despite being well into the veteran stage of his career, he appeared as good as ever last season. Gaining the record outright is his main aim of the campaign along with defending his Borders National crown.”
Also featuring among the line-up is Breaking The Ice for Appleby trainer George Bewley who said: “It’s a race that we have targeted with him as he won three chases in-a-row at Kelso last year including one on this same card.”
In-form locally-based Sandy Thomson – a four-time winning Borders National trainer – has three runners.
They include The Ferry Master, who was fourth in the 2021 Scottish Grand National and Flower Of Scotland, carrying the colours of 2020 Borders National-winning owner Ray Green.
Selkirk raider Grand Voyage is the likely favourite for the Paris Pike Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase.
Trained by Stuart Coltherd, he built on an encouraging debut over fences to score nicely at Ayr 25 days ago.
And Grade 1 hurdles winner Cornerstone Lad is among a decent turn-out for the 2m 1f handicap chase in which Cedar Hill tries a for fifth success at the borders venue.