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HUGHES ENJOYS KELSO TRIUMPH

BRIAN HUGHES registered an important and valuable winner at Kelso when Clondaw Caitlin beat the boys in the William Hill Premier Novices’ Hurdle.

Trainer Ruth Jefferson took the brave decision to run her mare in the Grade Two feature and was rewarded for her boldness with a clear-cut success.

For Hughes (below) as well as being a very nice prize to pick up and one of his most substantial of the season to date, it also helped stopped the momentum of the last few days swinging too much towards the returning Richard Johnson in their compelling race for the jockeys’ title.

Hughes charted a wide route throughout on the 9-4 chance, but the five-year-old always appeared to be travelling kindly.

Elf De Re made a bold bid for Sandy Thomson but he had no answer to the winner, who took up the running before the last and went clear to win by five lengths. Hughes said: “It was a bold shout to come here, it was Ruth’s call and it’s paid off. She’d won a couple of mares’ races and a bumper. She’s owned by family friends of my wife so it was nice of them to let me ride her.

“She had point-to-point form, so staying was never going to be an issue for her. You need to stay in these conditions.” Meanwhile, Definitly Red completed his Grand National preparations with a dour staying performance in the William Hill Leading Racecourse Bookmaker Premier Chase. Brian Ellison gave his stable star two options on the day by also declaring him for the Grimthorpe Chase at Doncaster but he was far better suited by conditions at the Borders track. Dimple led most of the way but when his energy ran out, Definitly Red cruised to the front and the race was effectively over. Kauto Riko was nursed into contention by Brian Hughes but he was running on empty close home, allowing Definitly Red to come home a 14-length winner under Danny Cook.

Betfair cut Definitly Red’s odds for the Grand National to 14-1 from 20s.