By Gordon Brown

 

ATTENDANCES at Scottish racecourses rose by over 7,500 in 2019 while we also saw the highest average daily attendance since 2015.

Nearly 279,000 people enjoyed a meeting on the Flat or over jumps in Scotland last year which proved again that a day out at the races is still a very popular pastime for all age groups.

So far the new decade has started well for trainers north of the border with Alistair Whillans, Jim Goldie, Stuart Coltherd, Sandy Thomson, Keith Dalgleish, Alison Hamilton, Lucinda Russell, James Ewart and Nick Alexander all among the winners already in 2020.

Several are represented at Kelso on Sunday as the borders venue states its first action in January.

Aloomomo catches the eye as in the 2m 5f handicap hurdle  he bids to build on his debut for Sandy Thomson at Doncaster in mid-December. Formerly trained by Warren Greatrex, he shaped quite well and is some 30lbs below the mark he achieved over fences at his peak in 2016 when he was a fourth-placed favourite for a race at the Cheltenham Festival.

Watch out too for Nick Alexander’s Elvis Mail in the 2m handicap hurdle. A two-time winner at the track, he disappointed in a Listed event at Newbury’s big winter festival in late November and Nick explained that the poor run was due to the gelding not eating while he was away from home.

A busy end to next week also features racing at Musselburgh on Friday followed by a decent Sunday card at Ayr 48 hours later.

 

 

• We are delighted to be supporting Heart Research UK’s Heart of Scotland Appeal prize draw. We have donated a fantastic prize. Please follow this link, https://heartofscotland.org.uk/prizedraw to buy your raffle tickets. Draw will take place on 20th January. #heartofscotland

 

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