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.
Sean Bowen, who has a narrow lead over Harry Skelton in the 2024-25 jump jockeys’ championship, has two mounts on the opening card of Kelso’s first fixture of the autumn on Wednesday.
The Welshman, unlucky not to have won his first title last season due to injury, has ridden thirteen winners from 47 previous rides at the Borders venue returning a strike-rate of nearly 30 per-cent.
Bowen is first in action on Baron De Midleton in the £25,000 feature race, Paul Ferguson’s Jumpers To Follow Handicap Hurdle over 2m 5f.
Trained by in Malton by Brian Ellison, the gelding reverts to hurdles after a disappointing effort over fences at Bangor earlier this month.
Three-time champion Brian Hughes, who has ridden more winners at Kelso (125) than anyone else, is on board Nayati for Donald McCain.
Bowen’s other ride is on The King Of May, another Ellison raider, who lines up for the RBC Brewin Dolphin Handicap Chase (Go North Monet’s Garden Series Qualifier).
This time his partner arrives in better form having scored last time at Cartmel during the summer.
Lucinda Russell-trained Jem In Em could be an interesting rival as this winning bumper and hurdle victor makes his debut over fences.
The card begins with Go Go Chicago, Intense Approach and Kandor all boasting last-time out winning for ahead of the Borders Carers Centre Novices’ Hurdle.