NEWS

John Smith's Top Kelso Sponsorship

Racing resumes at Kelso on Friday 20^th March when John Smiths sponsor two £20,000 races at the track. 

The seven race competitive card starts with the first race at 2.20pm and this is sponsored by Border Facilities.  Adam Pringle of Harlow Hill provides mobile toilets for all outside events and also has an amazing converted double decker bus that can hold up to 40 people for a corporate event.  Adam’s generous sponsorship is to raise awareness and funds for the Oncology unit at Wansbeck Hospital.  He will be on hand to present the trophies in what is a very competitive maiden hurdle.  Andrew Parker may introduce Angus’s Antics, an interesting newcomer who is a half-brother to 2006 Credit Call Cup winner Brer Bear.  Top-rated of those with more experience is Donald McCain’s Gilsland.

Doug Scott Head of Sponsorship for Scottish and Newcastle will be on hand to do the presentations for the John Smith’s races the first of which is a Novice Chase.  John Smith’s have signed up for a further year with Aintree for the Grand National showpiece event and their presence at Kelso is huge endorsment of the facilities and the racing at the Borders track.  In this Novice Chase Lucy Horner an amateur that is improving with every ride and she has been booked by Kahlil Burke for her recent Taunton winner Raysrock. Len Lungo has been waiting for the right opening for Skippers Brig, who will cross the landmark after which he was named on the way up the A7 for his first trip to Kelso.

The second £20,000 race that John Smith’s are sponsoring is a Handicap Chase which has attracted a real quality entry.  All John Smith’s pub’s have the right to discounted entry and the exclusive use of the No Nonsense Bar at the racecourse.  Recent course winner Bold Ransom could turn out again under a 7lb penalty for Keith Reveley. Crack hunter chaser Natiain may use this meeting as a stepping stone for a crack at Scottish National.

Mr and Mrs Ivan Straker sponsor the “One Off” Caverton Chase, Ivan will always be remembered as the person who saved the Grand National when it looked as if it was heading for extinction by persuading Seagrams to come in and pick up the sponsorship.  He also nearly won the race himself and has owned some very good horses over the year’s notable Paris Pike.  Ivan and his wife Tizzy will be on hand to do the presentations after the race.  James Halliday is a young claimer that is making a name for himself and he is set to partner his February Ayr winner Polar Gunner for Malton-based Malcolm Jefferson. John Quinn struck the only blow for the north at Cheltenham with Character Building and he is represented by dual purpose performer Master Nimbus.

Dennis Coppola the well known Edinburgh business man has very generously sponsored the second maiden hurdle and has put his two grand children forward in the name of the race and they will be at the racecourse to judge the best turned out and do the honours.  In this race there is a massive entry of 47 and surely Len Lungo holds the key with a choice from his trio comprising Triggerman, Legion D’Honneur and Mamba.  Langholm’s James Ewart has pencilled in Sirkeel and Best Lover, a beaten odds-on chance at the last meeting at Kelso.

Ian Macleod Distillers have agreed to sponsor the 3m3f handicap hurdle and under their blended Scotch whiskey title Isle of Skye.  Isle of Skye is the exclusive franchise whiskey at Kelso and Glengoyne (in the same ownership) is the franchise malt whiskey at the racecourse.  The winner of their race will receive a personalised bottle of 21 year old Glengoyne single Highland Malt which is a much sought after trophy.  Run over a marathon 3m 3f and last week’s Hexham hero Kings Guard could shoulder a 7lb penalty for Hawick’s Alistair Whillans. Nick Alexander’s Miss Colima is set to make her handicap debut on her first start since November.

That great character Norman Orde known affectionately as “Tie on Tour” of Lyntown Private Hire (East Lothian) has generously agreed to sponsor the bumper which is the last race on the card at 5.40pm.  Norman is famous for his exotic ties and runs a highly respected car hire business from his base in East Lothian.  This could be a milestone race for Rose Dobbin as she may saddle her first runner as a trainer having entered both Kinharvie and Mountskip from her yard just over the border in Northumberland.  King Penda cost E115,000 and Nicky Richards may give him his debut in what looks another hot bumper here.

The racecourse are also hosting the Borders General Hospital Charity Lunch to launch the 21st Birthday Appeal to raise funds to provide essential extra overnight accomodation for relatives and careersof very ill patients.  

The very popular Pavilion Packages in the marquee are still available for Ladies Day on Sunday 29th March with the first 150 ladies through the gate receiving a goody bag.  There is also a best dressed lady competition and most stylish hat competition with magnificent prizes on offer.  For details please call 01668 280 800.

For more information:
Richard Landale: 01668 281041
Jen Young or Trish Spours: 01668 280800 

NEXT RACE MEETING:    Sunday 29th March     Gates Open: 12.10am  First Race: 2.10pm