NEWS

  

KELSO’S RICHEST RACE DAY- FEATURING THE JOHN SMITHS SCOTTISH BORDER NATIONAL

 

John Smiths, World famous sponsors of the Aintree Grand National have kindly agreed for the second year running to sponsor the highlight of the Kelso winter racing calendar, the John Smiths Scottish Border National -which will be the richest race ever staged at Kelso with £40,000 prize fund. This promises to be a great day out for all John Smiths guests as they have Top Scottish darts player and 6th rated in the World, Roy Montgomery to challenge anyone in their box to play him during the afternoon. 

John Smiths’ Regional Sales Director Alasdair Moore states:

“John Smiths get tremendous brand awareness from their National Hunt racing sponsorship, we are delighted to sponsor Kelso’s feature race of the season and the spin off for John Smiths is huge”.

The John Smiths Scottish Border National will be the fifth race on a very competitive seven race card staged at Kelso on Sunday 6th December with the first race off at 12.20pm – Gates will open at 10.20am. 

As ever The John Smiths Scottish Borders National has attracted a very competitive field for this 4 mile feature at Kelso.  Garleton has been in great form for Sue Smith and gained his fourth win for the Bingley trainer at Kelso’s most recent meeting. Fresh from winning the jumps trainer ‘Magic Moment’ at last week’s star-studded Variety Club dinner, Andrew Parker intends running his ‘award horse’ Merigo for Ray Green. Kate Walton’s Morgan Be, second to Merigo in last season’s Eider Chase, may have a chance for revenge. Alan Mactaggart’s Carlisle specialist Royal Mackintosh along with Keith Reveley’s Bold Ransom add spice to a thrilling looking marathon which has also attracted notable entries from the Southern trainers Tom George, Jonjo O Neill, Nigel Twiston Davis, David Pipe, and Nick Williams. 

The first race off at 12.20pm is the Glendale Engineering Mares Novice Hurdle, which has been generously sponsored by Gordon and Graeme Wilson of Glendale Engineering. Glendale Engineering has successfully transferred their engineering business from agricultural buildings, to impressive supermarkets across the North of England.  This burgeoning business, based in Wooler, goes from strength to strength, and has been rewarded with a competitive Novice Hurdle. With plenty of Irish interest including entries from James Lambe, Stuart Crawford and Gordon Elliott, It may be Scotch Corner-based trainer Alan Swinbank who holds the key -as he has entered Go On Be A Lady, Knockaveen and Last Of The Bunch in this opening contest.

Along with the Scottish Borders National, John Smiths are involved in the sponsorship of two other races on the Borders National Card. The second race is sponsored jointly with Major and Mrs Ivan Straker to commemorate their wonderful chaser Paris Pike. A 3 time winner at the Kelso track, Paris Pike was also the winner of the Scottish Grand National in 2000.  Lisa Fleming of Heineken UK Ltd will be on hand on the day to make the presentations jointly, with Ivan and Tizzy Straker. This Competitive event has attracted George Charlton’s Knockara Beau, a stand out as he bids to add a Kelso chase success to his course wins in bumper and hurdling company. Two possible rivals are Ann Hamilton’s Musselburgh third Doodlebop and David Pipe’s Qulinton. 

The Scarth family have been extremely loyal, regular supporters of the Border track, and again sponsor a Memorial Race for their father Eric.  This highly respected building firm from Haltwhistle are great National Hunt supporters and have been rewarded with a classy Memorial Champion Chase. Donald McCain’s Cloudy Lane fell at the first on his only previous visit to Kelso in February, and this reappearance will no doubt see him back on the road to Aintree in April. Peter Monteith is keen to run dual Kelso scorer Cast Iron Casey, while Nicky Richards has yet to decide on Money Trix, who has big entries over the Christmas period. 

Kelso’s head groundsman Brian Meikle, who is so highly respected in the racing world, has a race kindly sponsored by Lilburn Estates to celebrate his fiftieth birthday.  Duncan Davidson, owner of Lilburn Estates and a Director of Kelso Racecourse sadly will not be present on the day, but his daughter, trainer Rose Dobbin and her husband Tony, will be on hand to make the presentations and show the course’s appreciation to Brian and Gillian Meikle, for their unstinting work in keeping Kelso racecourse at the forefront of National Hunt tracks in the North of England and Scotland. Follow On could make his first appearance at Kelso for Maurice Barnes as he drops back to two miles, while Cassius has already finished second twice at the Borders track this autumn for his Hawick trainer Bruce Mactaggart may prove competitive.  

The penultimate 2 mile Novice Hurdle high quality entry, Rangers fans will be keen to see how the Alan Brown-trained Ibrox performs on his hurdling debut while Intersky Charm, a three times winner on the Flat, could have his first run for Sue Bradburne. 

The concluding John Smiths sponsored seventh race off at 3.20pm has attracted Berwick Law, a highly-rated bumper winner when with Len Lungo, who is now with Pauline Robson and, like a few of these, has several engagements over the next day or two.

As always Kelso Races offer a range of superb hospitality packages starting from as little as £50 per head. Enjoy a relaxing lunch followed by 7 thrilling National Hunt races, If you are interested in making the most out of your days racing contact the Racing Office on 01668 280 800 for further information and bookings.

 

For Further Information:

Richard Landale :      01668 281041

Louise Grey :             01668 280800

Next Race Meeting: Wednesday 13^th January 2010