NEWS

Strong Friday card at Kelso

Racing returns to the Border track with racing on Friday 21^st November with the first race of the afternoon at 12.15pm. 

The feature race of the day is the Ashleybank Investment’s Reg Tweedie Novice Chase which is a race run in memory of the previous Chairman of the Course, Reg Tweedie.  Douglas Tweedie son of Reg hopes to be present to make the presentations.  The race is very generously sponsored by David Stevenson of Ashleybank Investments who has been a tremendous supporter of the Border track and all Scottish racing.  He recently had a winner at his local Carlisle track.  Cavers Glen comes fresh from success at Carlisle and would be a popular local success for Alistair Whillans.  Chris Grant – trained Ngong Hills is on the hat-trick trail and two wins at Wetherby and he’s also entered in the 3.00pm.

Well known Jedburgh timber frame builders, Oregon Homes generously supported the Beginners Chase to honour John Merry and his family will be on hand to enjoy the full atmosphere of the day.  Ferdy Murphy’s horses have been needing a run under their belt this season so Naiad Du Misselot will strip a lot fitter having just run at Haydock.  Peter Monteith thinks the world of Quicuyo and he should also come on for his recent chasing debut at Carlisle.

The Introductory Hurdle which is the opening race of the day carries £10,000 prize tag and is sponsored by Lilburn Estates.  Duncan and Sarah Davidson will make the presentations to the winning connections.  In the Introductory Hurdle the most interesting entry is Howard Johnson’s Presenting Forever, who cost £370,000 and whose dam is from the same family as Andy Pandy, The Bajan Bandit and Belmont King. Len Lungo’s string is beginning to fire and All Out For Seven may try to build on a promising effort at Newcastle recently.

The Coppola family have been great supporters of the Border track, Dennis and the family sponsor a race in honour of Louis.  They have horses with Peter Monteith who will be going out of his way to try and win this race.  The biggest entry of 39 has come for this and it will be interesting to see if Alan Swinbank declares Alfie Flits as he also hold entries at Aintree and Haydock over the weekend.  Signalman just failed to land a gamble for his hurdling debut at Newcastle last week and Peter Monteith may be temped to go for a quite recovery mission.

Another very loyal supporter is Dougie Stevenson of Scotdisc who is probably Scotland’s best known recording studio based in Kilsyth Glasgow.  Dougie always has an array of stars as his guests and is usually able to persuade one of them and it is very often Sydney Devine to give a short rendition after the presentation of the awards for his race.   Wilf Storey-trained Mister Pete hasn’t raced over hurdles since winning at Kelso exactly a year ago but he’s fit from some sound efforts on the Flat.  Cartmel-based Jimmy Moffatt has enjoyed a fruitful autumn and he’s expecting recent Sedgefield third Risk Runner to pay his way.

The Royal Bank of Scotland who have been the racecourse’s Bankers for a considerable number of years, sponsor the 3m 1f Handicap Chase and Ewan Morton of the Commercial Centre will be on hand to do the presentations.  Richard Landale, Managing Director, said “I am terribly grateful to Ewan and the Royal Bank for sticking with us when commercial conditions are so difficult.  We have had a magnificent working relationship with the Royal Bank over a long time and I am very grateful to them”  In their race Catch The Perk would be a most fitting winner of this as Lucinda Russell won last year’s race with the ill-fated Strong Resolve. Bellaney Jewell is unbeaten in two previous visits to Kelso and John Quinn’s mare is well worth a second look.

The Irish Racing Annual sponsor the last race on the card at 3.35pm – a two mile six handicap hurdle.  Jane Doe was a 12-length winner for Harriet Graham at Newcastle last week and the mare should go close again under a 7lb penalty. Tension Point was a winner last week at Sedgefield under Lucy Horner and the combination may also bid to defy a penalty. 

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

NEXT RACE MEETING:    Sunday 7th December     Gates Open: 10.20am  First Race: 12.20pm