Wins at Musselburgh for Borders jockeys Callum Bewley and Ryan Mania
Borders jockeys Callum Bewley and Ryan Mania were among Sunday’s winners at Musselburgh Racecourse.
Jedburgh’s Bewley rode Bridge Court to victory over two miles and seven furlongs at 4-1 for Kelso trainer Sandy Thomson in the 4.20pm Famous Five Handicap Chase.
Racing off bottom-weight, the seven-year-old bay gelding finished over four lengths clear of Finn Lough, ridden by Hawick’s Craig Nichol for Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero’s Cheshire yard, to land a prize of £5,281.
That was Bridge Court’s first win at the tenth time of asking over the last two years and Thomson is now lining him for a crack at next month’s Go North Series Chase final south of the border at Carlisle.
“That was great,” said Bewley, based in the Cumbrian city himself these days.
“He jumped for fun, and staying this new trip has opened up a few more options for him.
“He absolutely loved the testing ground and he’s a very uncomplicated horse.
“Touch wood, things are going great for me at the moment.”
That was Bewley’s seventh win in the last month, the most recent prior to Sunday having been at Sedgefield in County Durham 11 days earlier on Vampire Slayer for Dumfries and Galloway trainer Daragh Bourke.
Kelso’s Mania was first past the post three races earlier in the 2.50pm Virgin Bet Supports Safe Gambling Handicap Hurdle on Sattam at 3-1 for Cumbrian trainer Dianne Sayer.
The seven-year-old chestnut gelding, also winning for the first time upon his tenth outing, completed that one-mile-seven-furlong race 15 lengths in front of Hawick’s Jamie Hamilton on 6-5 favourite Inca Prince, trained by North Yorkshire’s Ruth Jefferson, to secure a £3,697 payout.
That was 2013 Grand National winner Mania’s first victory of the month and also his first since having an appeal upheld 11 days previously against a ten-day suspension for not obtaining the best placing possible in a race at Wetherby in West Yorkshire last month on another of Jefferson’s horses, Dontelimurnamepike.
Besides his win at the East Lothian track, he claimed two second-placed finishes, both for Northumbrian trainers – on Keyboard for Adam Nicol in the opening 1.50pm Sunshine on Leith Maiden Hurdle over a mile and seven furlongs and on King Horse for Paul Robson in the 3.20pm Time for Heroes Handicap Chase over two miles and four furlongs.
Another runner-up spot, in the 3.50pm LiveScore Bet Handicap Hurdle over two miles and seven furlongs, went to Bollin Matilda, ridden by Theo Gillard for Donald Whillans’ Hawick stables.
Musselburgh’s next meeting, this year’s Go North Raceday, is on Friday, March 20.
Gates open at noon and the first race of the day is off at 2.20pm.
Admission is £24 in advance or £32 on the day. For details, go to https://www.musselburgh-racecourse.co.uk/view-fixture/jumps-meeting-20-03-2026