Round-up EQUESTRIAN
Imogen Andrew, age 11, from Ballochbroe Farm Stables at Crosshill has been selected as a Company Ambassador for the online equestrian business Mini Stars Equestrian.
Imogen was chosen with her pony Timbersbrook Theodore to promote the monthly online shows and products for junior riders.
Imogen has been around ponies since she was born and loves to help out at the members riding club at Ballochbroe as well as taking part in competitions and events herself.
During lockdown she ran weekly challenges for the boys and girls and was nominated for a South Ayrshire Sports award.
Imogen is a pupil at Wellington school in Ayr and loves to make videos and have fun with her ponies and is delighted to have this opportunity to start 2021 in a positive way.
HORSE RACING
Ian Duncan is a trainer who in my opinion doesn’t always receive the credit he deserves as he works wonders with a small but talented group of jumps horses from his Coylton base.
So far this season he has saddled four winners from only 26 runners and on Saturday he sent out his six year old hurdler Portstorm to run the race of his life in finishing second to The Cob in the Grade 2 Albert Bartlett River Don Hurdle at Doncaster over three miles.
Portstorm had already won this season over the shorter trip of two miles five and a half furlongs at Ayr in December but his trainer thought that he would like further and he was proved correct.
It was a mighty performance from the gelding who picked up almost £5,000 for coming second.
The run also opened up some possibilities in staying hurdles starting with a three mile one furlong contest at Catterick on Friday.
Whether Portstorm runs in that or not remains to be seen but what is certain is that this lightly raced individual will be picking up more prizes between now and the end of the season and I’d fancy Ian will run him in the class 3 three mile hurdle at Ayr on the Friday of the Coral Scottish Grand National Festival.
The Duncan yard are scheduled to have a few runners at Catterick tomorrow including Jessiemac who has been off the track since winning a stayers hurdle at Kelso in October.
Ian also has a big date in his diary for his chaser Strong Economy who has won his last two races – both at Ayr – and heads top Newcastle for the Eider Chase on February 27.
If the ground is bottomless as it normally is at this time of the year at the Tyneside track he could take all in the beating and I recall Ina winning this race back in 2015 with Milborough.
One horse I fully expect to win at Catterick on Friday is the Jennie Candlish trained Happy Hollow who runs in the maiden hurdle with Sean Quinlan riding.