Borders horse trainer scoops major prize at Kelso races

The victory also provided winning jockey Brian Hughes with the third leg of a 346-1 four-timer.

An entry in the Scottish National at Ayr is now on the cards.

Sandy said: “I’ve always thought he was a decent horse but he has his own way of jumping and he wasn’t suited by us having to make a late change of jockey last time as Brian Hughes and Danny Cook know him best.”

The Lambden-based trainer added: “The soft ground doesn’t really suit him, but they went so slowly today that it didn’t matter.

“He’s a horse that does best fresh and we might wait until Ayr next month.

“We’ll give him an entry in the Scottish National and there’s a novices’ handicap on the same day.”

Kelso owner John Stenhouse celebrated another victory at his local track when Reivers Lad posted a second successive success to land the opening Terry Frame Joiners novices’ hurdle race.

Reivers Lad – held in high regard by Cumbrian trainer Nicky Richards - produced another impressive display, leading from pillar to post, to take the spoils by eight lengths.

“He is an exciting horse and he's won even better than we could have expected,” enthused the winning owner. “I can’t wait for him to go chasing next year.”

The win also provided a victorious comeback for jockey Brian Harding, who has been sidelined through injury since the beginning of the year, after a crashing fall at Musselburgh.

Brian Hughes was the man to follow thereafter, beginning his victory trail riding Clan Legend to head the Cyril Alexander Memorial novice chase.

It was a fitting win for Leslie trainer Nick Alexander, whose family sponsor the race.

“We won this with Jet Master and I’m delighted to have won it again,” he said.

“Clan Legend loves the ground and the tongue strap we fitted him with for the first time was a big help.

“It’s also very, very special to win father’s memorial race 25 years after he died with the last foal out of the last horse he bred,” he added.

Hughes then rode Mount Mews to a runaway victory in the feature £38,000 totescoop6 Premier novices’ hurdle race.

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