Valence D’aumont gets his nose in front to land Kelso feature

Valence D’aumont, sent off at 6-1, got up in the shadow of the post in a grandstand finish to the feature race at Kelso yesterday.

Ridden by Sean Quinlan, he pipped Lake Takapuna by a nose as both swamped long-time leader Cedar Hill close home in the Straw Max Straw Pellet Bedding Handicap Chase.

Winning trainer Sue Smith said: “He is in great form at the moment and won after a break at Sedgefield a fortnight ago. The key to this horse is good ground and he tends to avoid muddy conditions in mid-winter.

“It was a close finish but my husband Harvey was watching on TV at home and he was on the phone straight away to say he had won! We will keep him on the go and it is just a case of finding the right race for him.”

Lesser extended his unbeaten record to four with a 15-length success for Richard Phillips in the Boscasports Racing Digital Display Novices’ Hurdle.

The Gloucestershire raider has now won a point to point, a bumper and two races over hurdles.

Danny Hiskett, who has been on board for the last three wins, said: “This was my first ride at Kelso and we came up last night. We sorted the horse this morning and then I had a good look around the track.

“Lesser is a fairly big horse and he has his own way of jumping but he has plenty of ability. That may be him for the spring now and he will likely come back in the autumn perhaps for another race over hurdles before he goes novice chasing.”

Meanwhile, Red Mirage can get punters off to a successful start at Chelmsford this evening in the tote Placepot Your First Bet Novice Stakes.

The Mark Johnstontrained Showcasing colt is bidding to underline the fine winning impression he made on his debut and sole start to date in October. Red Mirage was not towards the head of the market that day, and was slowly away over a furlong shorter than this at Kempton. But he recovered to easily get the better of an odds-on favourite, who was a previous and then subsequent winner.

Trueshan is a proven Group performer these days, and can successfully concede 2lb and upwards in the tote+ Pays You More At tote.co.uk Ormonde Stakes at Chester.

Alan King's gelding will need to be 5lb better than likely favourite Japan but has been a remarkable and sustained improver over the past two seasons.