Borders racehorse trainers Stuart Coltherd and Ewan Whillans among winners on home turf at Kelso

Trained in Perth and Kinross by Lucinda Russell and Michael Scudamore and ridden by Patrick Wadge, the nine-year-old bay gelding ended up at the front of a field of four to claim that 3.50pm race’s £20,812 top prize.

That was Myretown’s first win since one at Cheltenham in Gloucestershire back in March 2025, also with Wadge in the saddle, but his third in three visits to the Borders track following prior ones in February 2025 and March 2024, both with Derek Fox as jockey.

It was also the third time Scudamore has won that particular race after solo successes with Mysteree in 2019 and Some Chaos in 2020.

“That was more like it and he seemed to enjoy himself,” said Wadge.

“He jumped OK apart from the ditch on the second circuit and hopefully that will set him up for a good season.”

Charlie Todd was second on Mumford’s Magic and David Bass third on New Order, respectively trained by Warwickshire’s Dan Skelton and Oxfordshire’s Charlie Longsdon.

Jockey Gregor Walkingshaw rode out his 10lb allowance with a win on Jessmarvel at 7-2 in the day’s opener, the 1.37pm Stay For the After-Party National Hunt Maiden Hurdle over two miles.

The four-year-old bay gelding, also trained by Russell and Scudamore, beat stable companion and 5-6 favourite Eazy Breezy, ridden by Wadge, by over three lengths to secure prize money of £5,446.

“It’s taken me a while to lose the 10lb but I’ve done it on a nice horse,” said Walkinshaw. “It’s lovely ground and he enjoyed it on his first run over hurdles.”

Walkingshaw also won the last of the day’s seven races at 4.55pm, a handicap hurdle for conditional jockeys over two miles and six furlongs.

That was on Lets Mingle at 11-2 for Russell and Scudamore, earning £4,753.

Two first places went to Borders trainers – Selkirk’s Stuart Coltherd with Treaty Boy at 4-1 in the 2.44pm Myles McNulty You’re Never 60 Handicap Chase over two miles and a furlong and Hawick’s Ewan Whillans with Scots Poet at 11-2 in the race after, the two-mile Bet £20 Get £20 Handicap Hurdle at 3.14pm, with Sean Quinlan and Conor O’Farrell in their respective saddles.

The former beat Ballyfort, ridden by Hawick’s Bruce Lynn for Nick Alexander’s Fife yard, by 14 lengths to land a top prize of £4,225 and the latter ended up a length in front of Conor Rabbitt on Boston Jury, trained by South Lanarkshire’s Andrew Hamilton, to earn £4,753.

Treaty Boy’s win made amends for being brought down in the same race a year prior, with victory going to Ballyfort that time round.

“He was brought down at the second last in this 12 months ago and I thought he was going like a winner at the time,” recalled Coltherd.

“It’s a while since our last win but we’ve been quiet and haven’t had many runners.”

That was the nine-year-old chestnut gelding’s first win since one at Catterick in North Yorkshire in February 2025, with Coltherd’s son Sam riding, and third all together.

Scots Poet’s win was his fourth since April, the others having been at Sedgefield in County Durham six months ago, Kelso in May and Perth in June, all with O’Farrell as jockey.

“He loves this good ground and is in great form at the moment,” said the ten-year-old bay gelding’s rider.

The meeting’s other two races were won by Charlie Maggs on Wearelongterm over two miles and seven furlongs for Dianne Sayer’s Cumbrian yard at 15-2 and Oakley Brown on Newtown Rambler over two miles and a furlong for North Yorkshire’s Adrian Keatley at 5-2, landing respective payouts of £5,281 and £8,450.

Kelso’s next meeting is 2026’s Wishing Well Chase Day on Saturday, November 7.

Tickets cost £25 in advance or £30 on the day. For details, go to https://kelso-races.co.uk/events/wishing-well-chase-day-2026/