Wins for Lilliesleaf trainer Jackie Stephen and Hawick jockey Bruce Lynn at Kelso

Trained by Lucinda Russell and Michael Scudamore in Perth and Kinross, the top-weight, ridden by Derek Fox, won the near-three-mile-four-furlong Everything Kverneland Think Paxtons’ David Edgar Handicap Chase at 2pm by 14 lengths from Danny McMenamin on 5-6 favourite Jamesieconn.

That win at 6-4 for the seven-year-old bay mare, earning a payout of £5,281, followed two in a row at Kelso last November and December, with Fox and Nick Orpwood riding respectively.

“She loves the track and stays really well, so I’d say next month’s Borders National over four miles could be the way to go,” said Fox.

“She’s a mare with a tremendous attitude and she really attacks her fences.”

Russell and Scudamore were back in the winners’ enclosure two races later after Cadell, with Jack Power in the saddle, won the two-mile-seven-furlong Luckytiger.co.uk Bet 20 Win 20 Wishing Well Handicap Chase at 5-2.

The eight-year-old bay gelding finished that 3.10pm feature race seven lengths in front of Toby Wynne on Ki Woo to claims its top prize of £8,450, also putting himself in contention for a crack at next month’s Borders National.

That was his fourth win in 11 visits to Kelso – the others having been in November and March 2025 and October 2023, with Power, Alan Doyle and Fox riding respectively – and Scudamore said: “He is hard to peg back round here once he gets in a nice rhythm and he could also be back for the Borders National.”

Lilliesleaf’s Jackie Stephen was the only Borders trainer to win one of Saturday’s seven races, coming up trumps with Billable Grant, ridden by Brian Hughes, in the division-two Graeme Todd Memorial Handicap Hurdle over two miles and just short of five furlongs at 1.30pm.

The nine-year-old bay gelding finished over four lengths clear of Hawick jockey Bruce Lynn riding 7-2 favourite Lester Mail for Nick Alexander’s Fife stables to land that race’s top prize of £4,225.

Lynn and Alexander went one place better in the 2.35pm Fifty Shades of Earl Grey Novices’ Handicap Chase over two miles and seven furlongs with Burning It Up at 9-1, however.

The six-year-old bay gelding beat Charlie Maggs on Wearelongterm by a head to claim his first win at the 14th time of asking, earning £4,225.

“It was a close finish but I always thought when he drew alongside the leader that he would go past and stick his head in front,” said Lynn.

“We rode him to get the trip last time so we knew we could be more aggressive today.”

Gentle Ocean, trained by Gloucestershire’s Nigel and Willy Twiston-Davies, won the opening 12.20pm Jumps Look Better on Racing TV Novices’ Hurdle over two miles and six furlongs at 15-8 with Hughes as jockey, earning £5,446.

Next up was the 12.55pm first-division Graeme Todd Memorial Handicap Hurdle over the same distance as the division-two version following and its £4,225 top prize was won by McMenamin on 6-4 favourite King Horse, trained by Richards.

That combination of McMenamin and Richards also delivered victory over the same distance again in the concluding 3.45pm Luckytiger.co.uk Best Odds Guaranteed the Night Before Handicap Hurdle with Nells Son at 6-1, landing a payout of £7,393.

Kelso’s next meeting is 2026’s seven-race Scottish Borders National Day on Sunday, December 6, offering more than £200,000 in prize money.

Tickets cost £21 in advance or £26 on the day. For details, go to https://kelso-races.co.uk/events/scottish-borders-national-day-2026/