ONE BIG SCOTS BOOST
GRAND NATIONAL hero One For Arthur will be paraded at today’s Buccleuch Cup and family day at Kelso.
And Scottish Racing chief Delly Innes believes Lucinda Russell’s star chaser can elevate the game in this country to even greater heights.
Attendance records have been smashed over the past two years with interest in the sport thriving.
Now Innes reckons One For Arthur’s triumph – Scotland’s first Grand National win in 38 years – will provide another major shot in the arm for the game.
She said: “One For Arthur had more riding on him than just jockey Derek Fox at Aintree.
“He had managed to capture the imagination of the whole of Scotland – not just racing enthusiasts but people who follow the National and also some who don’t follow racing regularly.
“Scotland has always been punching above its weight with the whole racing industry with the likes of Lucinda and her team as well as other trainers and their teams doing an equally good job.
“We’ve proved we are definitely a big contender within racing. The sky is the limit for our sport.
“Racing is the second biggest spectator sport in Scotland and provides over £200million to the Scottish economy every year.
“Anyone would be very silly to underestimate the racing industry north of the border.
“It’s phenomenal what can be achieved. It’s not wealthy owners, it’s not huge yards – it’s people who work damn hard.”
The 14-1 victor will be on show before the first race at Kelso where Russell will saddle seven runners on the card as she bids for more success after Aintree.
■ Paul Nicholls moved a step closer to recording his seasonbest total after Dream catching and Contre Tous formed part of an across-the-card treble for the champion trainer at Market Rasen yesterday.
While conceding it will now be almost impossible in the last few weeks of the season to overhaul Nicky Henderson – whom he trails by more than £300,000 – to clinch an 11th trainers’ title, the Ditcheat handler looks on course to beat his 2008-09 total of 155 winners.
Nicholls, who was on the mark at Ffos Las with Earth moves, said: “There is not much chance of winning the title now. It’s almost an impossible task.
“That’s 152 now and it would be nice to train more winners than we have in any other season.
“With a bit more luck we should reach 160.”