Selkirk racing clan relishes home win

A cracking card at Kelso opened with a race named to celebrate the Shunter after he picked up a bonus of £100,000 last Thursday by following up his win in the Bet365 Morebattle Hurdle early this month with another at Cheltenham Festival.

The race was won by Dequall, trained by Selkirk’s Coltherd, and he said: “There was a wee bit of a concern about the quicker ground, but he’s tough and saw it out well.

“It’s as far as he’s won over, so we should have a few options for him now.”

In the saddle was Sean Quinlan, and he was congratulated by Coltherd on a “great ride”.

Coltherd added that it is always nice to win at Kelso.

“Definitely. It’s just 20 minutes down the road so it’s quite handy,” he said.

“Getting a winner there is even better. The horses have been running well. We’ve had a lot of placed horses lately, so to get one on the board and get a win is quite good.”

Stuart’s son Sam also rode 13-year-old Damiens Dilemma to second place in the last race of the afternoon, completing a grand day out for the Coltherd clan.

On Tuesday, Sam piloted Maid O’Malley to second place in a two-mile race at Wetherby in West Yorkshire.

Back at Kelso over the weekend, Court Master earned himself a crack at the Grand National’s fences after a gutsy performance in the LCS Joinery 50 Years of Trading Handicap Chase.

Sent off at 100-30, he was given a power-packed ride by Brendan Powell to pip front-running Schiehallion Munro in the day’s feature race.

Winning trainer Michael Scudamore said: “He doesn’t like the testing winter conditions, and this better ground was more to his liking.

"We’re looking towards a spring campaign and the Topham Trophy at Aintree next month is a possibility as he is such a good jumper.”

Nick Alexander was on the mark with Chanting Hill, a six-length winner under Henry Brooke in the Novices’ Handicap Chase.

There’s more racing action at Kelso this Saturday, March 27.