Borders racehorse trainers Ewan Whillans and Sandy Thomson among winners at Kelso

The six-year-old bay mare, sent off at 20-1, finished in front of Tristan Durrell on First Candidate by a length to give Berkshire’s Nick Scholfield one of his biggest wins since starting training last autumn, landing that two-mile race’s top prize of £51,440.

“She has plenty of experience over hurdles and that counted for a lot,” said Keighley.

“It was a pretty competitive race but she jumped away grand and really stuck on well from the last.

“She wears a hood but she’s not so keen in her races these days.”

World of Fortunes won the opening 1pm BetWright Beeswing Mares’ Hurdle at 11-4 with Jordan Gainford riding.

The eight-year-old chestnut mare, trained at James Kenny’s County Wexford stables, pipped Brendan Powell on Sunset Marquesa to the post by over five lengths in that three-mile race, earning £23,092.

“James hasn’t been training that long and this mare has been a star,” said Gainford, also of Wexford.

“She’s got plenty of listed winning form and she stays well too.”

Kelso’s Ryan Mania was the only Borders jockey among Saturday’s winners, chalking up a third win on the bounce for Speiriuil in the two-mile-five-furlong BetWright Handicap Hurdle at 1.30pm, landing prize money of £20,812.

“She’s barely put a foot wrong since coming to us and I’m delighted for her owners, Molly and Paul Willis, as they put so much into the game,” said the six-year-old bay mare’s trainer, Northumberland’s Adam Nicol.

“Hopefully she won’t go up too much and we might find something for her at Perth next month.”

Speiriuil’s preceding wins – ahead of finishing half a length in front of Jericoacoara, with Joshua Thompson in the saddle, at 5-1 at the weekend – were at Musselburgh in February and Kelso in December, with Thompson and Mania riding respectively.

Borders trainers Ewan Whillans and Sandy Thomson both notched up victories on home turf.

Hawick’s Whillans won the 3.13pm Remembering Duncan Davidson Handicap Chase over three miles and two furlongs with Blakey Boy at 7-2, earning £18,210.

The six-year-old brown gelding, with Peter Kavanagh as jockey, finished two lengths in front of Aboutdamntime, ridden by Hawick’s Craig Nichol for Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero’s Cheshire yard.

That was Blakey Boy’s third first-placed finish following ones at Ayr in February and Hexham in Northumberland last April, both with Nichol riding.

“He was up in class and a wee bit out of the handicap but we think he’s still improving,” said Whillans.

Kelso’s Thomson had to wait until the last of the day’s seven races, the 4.23pm Racing Post Jodami Open National Hunt Flat Race, for his win, with 5-2 favourite King Kubala, securing a top prize of £10,406.

The five-year-old chestnut gelding, with Danny McMenamin as jockey, finished 13 lengths clear of Jonjo O’Neill junior on Diamond White in that two-miler, only his second race ever after placing third at Ayr in November with William Maggs riding.

That was one of four wins for Thomson at the weekend, following one at Musselburgh the day before with Sanilam at 11-2 and ahead of two at Carlisle on Sunday, with Marty McFly at 5-1 and Wolfburg at 11-4, ridden respectively by Conor O’Farrell, McMenamin and Patrick Wadge.

Thomson also took a second place at his home-town track on Saturday, with Rememberthename in the 3.48pm King’s Own Scottish Borderers Novices’ Hurdle.

Ridden by Wadge and sent off at 7-4, the six-year-old brown gelding completed that near-two-mile-five-furlong race, offering a top prize of £5,281, nine lengths behind Jack Power on Eagles Reprieve, trained in Perth and Kinross by Lucinda Russell and Michael Scudamore.

First place in the day’s other race, the 2.40pm BetWright Novices’ Handicap Chase over two miles and five furlongs, went to 10-3 favourite Diamond Dealer, ridden by Durrell for Dan Skelton’s Warwickshire yard and finishing two lengths in front of Ross Chapman on Always a Reason.

The £20,812 earned by Skelton’s 168th win in more than 900 races this term saw him become the first jumps trainer ever to make more than £4m in a season.

Kelso’s next meeting is on Thursday, April 2.

Gates open at 12.30pm and the first of six races is off at 2.40pm.

Tickets cost from £15 in advance and £25 on the day. For details, go to https://kelso-races.co.uk/events/easter-raceday-2026/