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.
SANDY THOMSON has his eye on the feature event at Kelso on Saturday as he bids to land the £20,000 contest for the second year running.
On the corresponding card twelve months ago, the Greenlaw handler saddled a stunning 1,079-1 four-timer, which included the success of Sirwilliamwallace in the Paxtons For Kverneland Machinery & Genuine Spares Wishing Well Handicap Chase.
This time his local yard is represented by Massini Man, third on his reappearance at Carlisle last month to One Mill Harbour, who boosted the form with a comfortable follow-up at Hexham yesterday.
Opposition to Massini Man includes Lucinda Russell’s recent Hexham winner Return Fire and Paul Robson-trained Just Don’t Know with Nick Alexander double-handed with Up Helly Aa King and Ned Tanner.
In the Watch Racing TV Free For 31 Days Handicap Hurdle, Thomson also runs Pavlik, who hasn’t been seen in action since bringing up the final leg of his trainer’s four-timer last November.
He could be an interesting contender on just his fifth start over timber from a 5lbhigher mark with Donald Whillans’ Shoestring Boy rated one of his main threats.
The fixture gets underway with unbeaten point-to-pointer Cadell attempting to build on last month’s course jumps debut success in the racingtv.com/freetrial Novices’ Hurdle for his Lanarkshire owner Ronnie Bartlett.