KELSO REVIEW - Sunday 4th December

by Bill Harvey

 

 

Reveleys’ Borders National Glory and Lie Forrit Stars for Amos

 

 

Eyre Square (6-1) gave the Reveley family a fifth Scottish Borders National triumph since 1997 as the John Wade-owned eight-year-old won the John Smith’s-sponsored four-mile showcase on an unforgettable afternoon’s jumping action at Kelso on Sunday 4 December.

 

James Reveley, riding Eyre Square for his father Keith, beat the gallant Ann Hamilton-trained runner-up Lockstown by a head in a thrilling finale to the £25,000 showpiece with Nicky Richards’ Mister Marker third in the 12-strong field

 

Mary Reveley, trainer of the inaugural Borders National winner Seven Towers, was thrilled to witness her 22-year-old grandson James’s victory and said: “I’m very proud of him. He’s a very good rider over fences.”

 

Reveley also starred on the John Wade-trained Always Right (9-4 fav) in the Monteith Memorial Champion Chase, beating the game Skippers Brig in surely one of the best steeplechases ever staged at Kelso.

 

Willie Amos’s stable star Lie Forrit, on his first start since March 2010, received the loudest cheer of the afternoon after winning the John Smith’s Paris Pike Novices’ Chase on his fencing debut under a supremely-confident Campbell Gillies.

 

“The dream lives on. He jumped super and he was as fit as I could get him,” said a relieved Amos after Lie Forrit (11-8 fav) sealed a memorable 20-1 brace for the Hawick yard and Gillies with Eurohunter winning the novices’ hurdle at odds of 8-1.

 

Lady Bluesky (5-1) clinched a Hawick hat-trick in front of a 2500 crowd as Lady Bluesky (5-1) lifted the Kevin Oliver Christmas Handicap Hurdle for Alistair and Ewan Whillans in game fashion.

 

Super Ally (3-1) was given a superb Timmy Murphy ride to gain his third Kelso victory this season for Andrew Parker and Ray and Anita Green in the novices’ handicap hurdle.