Horse racing: Greenlaw trained Neptune Equester dies at Kelso

The local favourite passed away on the course after finishing runner-up to the Paul Nicholls trained Unioniste in the Ivan Straker Memorial chase midway through the meeting.

Shades of Midnight delighted Hawick connections when romping home 26 lengths clear for a convincing win at Kelso’s first meeting of 2016 on Thursday.

Trained by Donald Whillans and ridden by son Callum, the progressive stayer cruised clear of runner-up Kind of Easy, trained by Donald’s brother, Alistair.

In the colours of the locally-based Potassium Partnership, who also bred him, the gelding was the impressive victor of the Kelso Annual Members’ handicap hurdle race.

There was a further Hawick victory in the P & G Allan Catering Open Hunters’ Chase, when 25-1 chance Durban Gold provided Bonchester Bridge-based Di Walton with a first success under Rules.

The successful pointer, purchased at Doncaster Sales, won in the hands of Mindrum jockey Nick Orpwood.

“I thought she would run well but I didn´t think she would win,” admitted Di.

“The weight made a big difference as she was getting more than a stone from some of them,” she added.

Fife trainer Nick Alexander saddled Road to Gold to win the opening Kelso Annual Members novice hurdle race.

The 3-1 chance, owned by Judy Douglas Miller, scored by five lengths for the trainer’s daughter, Lucy.

Rocking Blues cruised home for a wide margin success in the Border Hotel Kirk Yetholm handicap chase – his third victory at the track.

Under a capable ride by Lorcan Murtagh, the gelding romped home 20 lengths clear, for Alnwick trainer Rose Dobbin.

Lorcan – godson of the trainer’s husband and former Grand National winning jockey Tony Dobbin – is now just one win short of losing his 10lbs claim.

“He´s in the Eider so we´ll think about that,” said Tony.

Feature race of a valuable £87,000 card was the Timeform Morebattle hurdle, where Nicky Henderson’s Champion Hurdle prospect Top Notch showed his class cruising home for a comfortable 12-length victory.

The concluding Racing UK in HD Next Month bumper went to Richard Johnson on the John Quinn-trained Lady Beaufort.

RESULTS

1.20 – ROAD TO GOLD (L Alexander) 3-1; 2, Western Rules 5-4 fav; 3, Water Sprite 15-8. Seven ran. N Alexander, Kinneston.

1.55 – ROCKING BLUES (L Murtagh) 7-4 fav; 2, Carrigdhoun 9-4; 3, Gold Opera 5-1. Five ran. R Dobbin, Hazelrigg.

2.30 - TOP NOTCH (D Jacob) 4-11 fav; 2, One for Harry 4-1; 3, Chic Name 10-1. Four ran. N Henderson, Lambourn.

3.05 – UNIONISTE (N Scholfield) 10-11 FAV; 2, Neptune Equester 14-1; 3, Soll 6-4. Four ran. P Nicholls, Somerset.

3.40 – SHADES OF MIDNIGHT (C Whillans) 4-1 jt fav; 2, Kind of Easy 16-1; 3, Pilgrims Bay 4-1 jt fav. 10 ran. D Whillans, Hawick.

4.15 – DURBAN GOLD (N Orpwood) 25-1; 2, Wicklow Lad 5-1; 3, Mister Marker 4-1. Eight ran. Mrs D Walton, Bonchester Bridge.

4.50 – LADY BEAUFORT (R Johnson) 9-4; 2, Randy Pike 6-5 fav; 3, Brackenmoss Rory 8-1. Eight ran. J Quinn, N Yorks.