Racehorse trainer Sandy Thomson chalks up sixth Scottish Borders National win at Kelso with Grozni

That first-placed finish, by two lengths from Breeze of Wind, trained near Selkirk by Stuart Coltherd and ridden by Sean Quinlan, took Thomson’s tally of wins in the £50,000 four-mile handicap chase up to the half-dozen mark in the space of 11 years, having previously made it first past the post with Neptune Equester in 2014 and 2015, Harry the Viking in 2016 and 2018 and Flower of Scotland in 2023.

Grozni, a nine-year-old bay gelding owned by Dundee United director Jimmy Fyffe, had Brian Hughes in the saddle for the seventh win of his career, and first at Kelso, earning £26,405.

“He was bought for £24,000 in the spring with long-distance races like this in mind,” said Thomson.

“I thought Brian gave him a super ride and I’m so pleased for Jimmy as he put so much into the game.

“We will look at something like the Eider Chase at Newcastle in February or a staying chase at somewhere like Haydock and then back to Ayr for the Scottish National, in which he was fourth last season when trained by James Owen.”

10-3 favourite De Legislator, trained by Lucinda Russell and Michael Scudamore in Perth and Kinross and with Derek Fox riding, was third in the 2pm Bruce Farms-sponsored chase, three further lengths back.

The day’s other feature race, the two-mile-one-furlong Richard Landale Handicap Chase at 2.37pm, was won by Saint Segal at 10-3 for Jane Williams’ Devon stables.

“He has settled down a lot now and we were considering the Peterborough Chase for him today but opted for this instead,” said winning jockey Ciaran Gethings.

“He is moving up the weights and there might be a graded race in him along the way.”

Russell and Scudamore’s Traprain Law, with Patrick Wadge as jockey, was runner-up, over five lengths behind.

Thomson and Hughes also claimed a third place on Sunday with Sanilam in the meeting’s opening race, the two-mile Racing TV National Hunt Maiden Hurdle at 11.50am. Victory in that one, and a top prize of £8,986, went to Tristan Durrell on 5-4 favourite Great Fleet, trained by Dan Skelton in Warwickshire.

Second on Sunday’s racecard was the 12.20pm Belhaven Black Classic Handicap Hurdle over two miles and six furlongs and it was won by Glen Road at 5-1, ridden by Peter Kavanagh for West Yorkshire trainer Sue Smith, earning £8,714.

Third was the European Breeders’ Fund Mares’ National Hunt Novices’ Hurdle over two miles and almost five furlongs and its top prize of £9,258 went to evens favourite La Zoubida, trained by Cumbria’s Nicky Richards and with Quinlan riding.

Hughes was third in that 12.55pm race on Coltherd’s My My My Delilah, 40 lengths behind Russell and Scudamore’s Biglesisback, with Fox in the saddle.

Fox, Russell and Scudamore went one better in the next race, the 1.30pm Paxtons for Kverneland Parts and Genuine Spares Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase over two miles and seven furlongs, winning with King of Answers at 5-1 and picking up prize money of £15,843.

The last race of the day, the 3.15pm Humes Outfitters Handicap Hurdle, a two-miler, was won by Jamie Brace on 4-6 favourite Spectacularsunrise for Gloucestershire trainers Nigel and Willy Twiston-Davies, claiming a top prize of £10,562.

Bel Amigo, with Hawick jockey Bruce Lynn in the saddle for Nick Alexander’s Fife yard, was runner-up, over six lengths back.

Kelso’s last meeting of 2025 is on Monday, December 29, with gates opening at 10.30pm and the day’s first race off at 12.19pm.

Tickets cost £24 in advance or £30 on the day. For details, go to https://kelso-races.co.uk/events/festive-fling-raceday-2025/