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.
Mack The Man bids to enhance his excellent record for new connections in the feature race on ladies day at Kelso.
The Kinneston raider faces seven rivals in the £20,000 handicap hurdle as the borders venue brings down the curtain on its spring campaign.
Trainer Nick Alexander said: “He’s been in great form since he came to us and it’s all down to my amateur rider son Kit. He sourced him in the first place and rides him all the time.
“He’s enjoyed coming back in trip and has won twice over two miles at Musselburgh and then at Perth last week. They get on well together so hopefully he’ll run another big race.”
Well Educated turns out quickly again under a penalty after scoring at Hexham on Tuesday evening while Ewan Whillans’ veteran Cracking Destiny reverts to hurdles for the first time in over three years.
Stuart Coltherd-trained Hidden Commander, ridden by son Sam, has a score to settle from last year in the 2m 5f handicap chase.
“I dislocated my shoulder on the run-in in this same race so I couldn’t ride him out properly and we were still only beaten by half a length,” the Selkirk jockey said. “We would definitely have won that day and I’m back firing on all cylinders after an operation to tighten things up.”
The legendary ‘Red Rum’ colours are sported by Donald McCain’s Blueberry Wine in the opening novices’ hurdle.
It’s a race in which the favourite has landed six of the last ten renewals with McCain scoring twelve months ago with a 1-6 hot-pot.