By Bill Harvey

Richards & Condon Seal Hat-Tricks At Kelso

Nicky Richards and stable jockey Davy Condon celebrated 191-1 hat-tricks for the famous Greystoke yard in front of a 3500 crowd at Kelso on Saturday 8 November.

Merrydown (6-4 fav) and Grand Theatre (6-1), both owned by Pat & Joe Sloan from Templepatrick in Northern Ireland, won the two divisions of the ‘national hunt’ novices’ hurdle in impressive style and Run To Space (10-1) sealed a memorable first-ever visit to Kelso for Condon in the 2m 1f novices’ handicap chase.

Richards said of Irishman Condon (24) : “Davy has a great attitude and he rides very well. He’s settled in really well at Greystoke and is a great asset to the yard.”

Peter Monteith and Ryan Mania clinched 28-1 doubles as Jordan’s Light (5-4 fav) won the novices’ selling hurdle and Twelve Paces (12-1) lifted the handicap hurdle.

Mania (19), a rising star of the northern jumps scene, won by 15 lengths and 11 lengths respectively for Monteith’s Rosewell stable.

Nigel Twiston-Davies enjoys a tremendous strike-rate at Kelso and Hello Bud (3-1 fav) romped to a 19 length victory on his debut for the Cotswolds yard under David England in the £10,000 Premier Traffic Management Handicap Chase.

Donald McCain’s mare Rosie All Over (6-1) battled gamely to lift the 3m 1f novices’ handicap chase under Jason Maguire.

Haddington teenager Campbell Gillies rode Oleolat, backed from 7-1 to 9-2,  to win the conditional jockeys’ handicap hurdle for Hawick trainer Willie Amos.