15:55 And that's it from a very chilly Kelso but Kelso is one of those courses where it is lovely whatever the elements throw at us.

I now need to dash back to Edinburgh before the snow comes in.

Weather permitting we will be at Ascot tomorrow.

From a chilly Scotland goodnight

15:50 Our finale a 2¾ hurdle saw some joy for favourite backers as Ryan Mania recorded a hat trick on the day when bringing Political Paddy home for a six length win.

Backers of Indy Mood had a less exciting race as the gelding unshipped Garry Whillians at the first.

Hapthor and Rare Coincidence set the pace but had very different finishes with the former coming home second last and the latter taking the runners up spot.

Second favourite Cool Cossack challenged on the final circuit but then faded badly as the turned for home, eventually finishing last.  

15:16 Our longest race of the afternoon a 3m 1f chase saw Teenando sent off the 7/2 favourite but favourite backers did not have much to cheer for long as Sue Smith’s gelding parted company with jockey Tjade Collier at the second.

The virtually white Matmata De Tendron took the field along until the start of the final circuit and eventually pulled up before the last.

Getinbybutonlyjust then took up the running and held the lead approaching the last when King Barry, who had been with the pace, took up the running with the running on Ryminster the challenger.

On the run-in King Barry retained the lead to win by six lengths but Hidden Bounty ran on really well to claim second from Ryminster.

14:40 I don't know if I have mentioned this before but even the winning horses get a prize from the course in the shape of a bag of carrots - a nice touch.

14:35 A 2¼ mile, 18 runner, handicap hurdle for our fifth race and it produced a decisive winner in the shape of Issaquah, who overcame a 413 day lay off to win by seven lengths, a great training performance by Malcolm Jefferson.

Another race where two runners shared the running, Greenbelt and Domino Dancer, who led from flag fall until approaching the second last and neither finished in the places, all of which were filled by running on horses.

James Halliday took the 5/1 favourite to the front approaching the last and won as he pleased.
Minor honours went to Tartan Snow, Sinatas and Culcabock.

14:20 From the stewards room and an odd enquiry. In the first race both Keith Mercer (Sphinx) and Denis O’Regan (Prince DeBeauchene) were both found guilty of excessive use of the whip.

Yet Mercer picked up a one day ban and O’Regan only picked up a warning.

14:00 Our second chase of the afternoon was, according to the betting, a three horse affair with Naiad Du Misselot (a recent Haydock runner-up) sent off the 8/11 favourite, Palomar  on his chasing debut 9/4 and Quicuyo at 8/1 with 25/1 bar in the nine runner field.

There was a well backed outsider in the shape of Bob’s Dream 66/1 into 28/1.

The pace was set by Lord Samposin and More Shennanigans and Michael McAlister on Lord Samposin did a fabulous rodeo display at the fence in front of the stands as he lost his reigns at the jump and still retained the partnership. Unfortunately his luck ran out with a tired fall at the last. His fellow leader had fallen three out.

The finish was fought out by the top three in the betting but Palomar, under Davey Condon, managed to get first run and although running on towards the end never seriously challenged the winner.

13:30 Our first chase of the afternoon produced another thrilling finish with judge Nick Hargreave called in to decide the result.

In the early stages there were several contending for the lead but half way through the first full circuit Denis O’Regan took up the running until slipping on landing and falling at the 14th fence. Jass also came down, independently, at the same fence. (Both horses and riders returned OK)

This left Justtheoenforyou and Doc Row contesting the lead with Zitenka (who had been with the leaders) tracking the pair and seemingly run his race.

The two leaders looked to have it between them coming to the last but Zitenka seemed to get a second win and was running on.

Doc Row jumped into the lead at the last whilst Justtheoneforyou faded. However Zitenka was being really driven by Brian Harding and he crossed the line in unison with Doc Row.

Doc Row getting the decision by a short head Mr Preacher Man was a further length back in third after also running on.

13:00 In contrast to the opening seven runner contest our second event was a 16 runner novices’ hurdle over 2 miles.

66/1 outsider Sirkeel set the pace and made a very good attempt to make it a pillar to post victory but it wasn’t to be.

Both Bracken Lad and the favourite Signalman kept the leader in their sights and did not allow him a big lead at any point.

Approaching the second last the favourite launched his challenge and took the lead.

To his credit Sirkeel did not wave the white flag.

Approaching the last the only other challengers looked to be Blacks Bridge and Solis. The latter fell at the last when in with every chance, whilst the former quickly faded.

There is a long run-in here at Kelso but the result was not going to change with the favourite running out the 3½ length winner, with Dark Gentleman, who was running on, a further 11 lengths back in third.

12:30 Well who says you need a big field to have an exciting race?

Only seven runners in the first but it produced a cracking finish, although it would have been hard to believe as they came down the back straight for the final time.

The very well backed Bogside Theatre (5/2  into 7/4 joint favouritism) had the field strung out with a 25 length lead at one point. However at the third last the signs of tiredness began to show as the leader clipped the hurdle.

By the second last the lead was down to four lengths and another mistake saw both fellow joint favourite Prince De Beauchene and the best backed outsider Ockey De Neulliac (16/1 into 9/1) joined the battle.

As the long time leader went into reverse it was Ferdy Murphy’s Okey De Neulliac who ran on to take the lead from the favourite. It looked as though it would be a big winning margin but the favourite rallied to make a strong challenge, as did Sphinx, a ten-year-old making his hurdling debut.

Sphinx was well back for most of the race but ran on really well in the closing stages and was only denied the runners up spot by a nose.

11:15 We have a big punt in the second race with Oscar Wilde being backed in from 33/1 into 12/1

10:50 Good morning from Kelso where the temperature is a cool 2 degrees. It was raining and sleeting heavily half an hour ago and driving down from Edinburgh airport it was snowing as I came over the hills - ho hum could be an interesting journey back this evening.

The going is now Soft all round.

There are currently no non-runners.

Return to race archive:

Non-Runners

3:35
10 Billsgrey (going)

Results

12:15

1st 3 Ockey De Neulliac 9/1
2nd 4 Prince De Beauchene 7/4 jf
7 Ran
Distances 3/4
Fav second & No 7 (5th)
Tote
Win £10.20
Place £3.30 £1.80
Exacta £25.20
CSF £23.83
Time 5' 55.6"

12:45

1st11 Signalman 11/8 fav
2nd 12 Sirkeel 66/1
3rd 7 Dark Gentleman 9/1
16 Ran
Distances 3 1/2 & 11
Fav winner
Tote
Win £2.60
Place £1.10 £13.50 £3.20
Exacta £85.50
CSF £141.12
Time 4' 13.28"

1:15

1st 8 Doc Row 15/2
2nd 2 Zitenka 25/1
3rd 4 Mr Preacher Man 10/1
10 Ran
Distances short head & 1
Fav 7 Justtheoneforyou 10/3 (4th)
Tote
Win £8.20
Place £2.70 £5.50 £4.30
Exacta £267.50
CSF £151.17
Tricast £1,861.54
Time 6 04.8"

1:50

1st 5 Palomar 9/4
2nd 4 Naiad Du Misselot 8/11 fav
3rd 6 Quicuyo 8/1
9 Ran
Distances 3 1/4 & 4
Fav second
Tote
Win £2.90
Place £1.20 £1.02 £2.00
Exacta £6.10
CSF £4.26
Tricast £
Time 4' 32.9"

2:25

1st 17 Issaquah 5/1 fav
2nd 5 Tartan Snow 8/1
3rd 2 Sinatas 9/1
4th 1 Culcabock 12/1
18 Ran
Distances 7 & 2
Fav winner
Tote
Win £6.50
Place £2.50 £2.40 £2.80 £2.40
Exacta £53.10
CSF £43.20
Tricast £366.86
Time 4' 40.1"

3:00

1st 4 Kings Barry 10/1
2nd 9 Hidden Bounty 13/2
3rd 6 Ryminster 13/2
12 Ran
Distances 6 & 1 1/4
Fav 10 Teenando 7/2 (Fell)
Tote
Win £14.10
Place £4.00 £2.50 £2.80
Exacta £83.90
CSF £72.49
Tricast £462.97
Time 6' 49.3"

3:35

1st 2 Political Paddy 7/4 fav
2nd 1 Rare Coincidence 20/1
3rd 8 Wee Bertie 11/2
9 Ran Nr 10
Distances 6 & neck
Fav winner
Tote
Win £2.50
Place £1.02 £6.50 £2.50
Exacta £32.50
CSF £34.49
Tricast £160.35
Time 6'00"