Lowanbehold he’s gone and won
● Local trainer Forster nets 25-1 double at Kelso
Locally-based Sandy Forster saddled a quick-fire 25-1 double at Kelso yesterday courtesy of Lowanbehold and Charlie Snow Angel.
The former landed the featured Hunter Real Estate Investment Managers Handicap Chase in the hands of Tom Willmott while the latter scored in the Manners Le Garcon D’OR Handicap Chase just half an hour later for Jamie Hamilton.
Forster, who is grandaughter of the late Ken Oliver, said: “I’m delighted for Lowanbehold as he likes racing off a light weight and he probably wouldn’t have got in the Highland National at Perth next week.”
Lucy and Nick Alexander teamed up to win the Borders Carers Centre Handicap Chase with 14-1 top-weight Always Tipsy who saw off fast-finishing Beau Sancy by a length.
The winning trainer said: “Lucy said he was idling in front and was a horse that had to be played late over hurdles. Perth next week will probably come too soon so it looks like a return here in May is on the cards.”
James Ewart-trained Calix Delafayette sprung an upset in the opening Duncan & Margaret Sinclair Memorial Novices’ Hurdle.
The 3-1 on favourite Delire D’estruval trailed in fourth and winning jockey Brian Hughes said: “James has done a good job with him as he has had a wind operation and was his first run since the autumn.”
Diamond Brig, bred and trained by Wendy Hamilton, was an impressive winner of the Brewin Dolphin Buccleuch Cup under her son Tom.
Hamilton said: “I was so nervous I didn’t watch much of the race. He’s a lovely big horse and we were a little concerned about him jumping these bigger fences out of the testing ground but Tom said he was absolutely fine.” Kew Gardens can provide Aidan O’brien, pictured, with a first-ever victory in the bet365 Feilden Stakes at Newmarket.
With the Grand National meeting at Aintree now out of the way, Flat racing can again take centre stage and this Listed contest is the main attraction on the opening afternoon of the Craven meeting at Headquarters. Kew Gardens was not far off being topclass as a juvenile last season, running with credit behind esteemed stable companions Nelson and Saxon Warrior on a couple of occasions.
The Galileo colt enjoyed his day in the sun when winning the Zetland Stakes at this track in October and while O’brien’s runners invariably improve for their first outing of the campaign, Kew Gardens would surely not be making the trip across the Irish Sea unless he was ready enough to do himself justice. Purser is very difficult to oppose in the British EBF bet365 Conditions Stakes. John Gosden’s charge was favourite for the Autumn Stakes in October, following a demolition job at Lingfield on his previous start, and while he came up short, he was far from disgraced in finishing third.
He blew the cobwebs away with a decent effort behind Kentucky Derby contender Gronkowski on the all-weather at Newcastle on Good Friday and should be up to the task.