Steel steals Kelso prize for Thomson

★ EMPIRE STEEL snatched an unlikely victory to hand local trainer Sandy Thomson a 59-1 double at Kelso yesterday.

★ The grey charged home to collar Le Milos (10-11f) in the closing stages of the Listed bet365 Premier Chase.

★ Favourite backers had been counting their cash when the favourite built up a huge lead in the straight.

★ As Harry Skelton looked round for dangers, Empire Steel (4-1) was responding to Ryan Mania’s every urge and the pair edged ahead in the shadows of the post.

★ At a high of 999-1 inrunning, the inspired rider was following up stablemate Benson’s earlier success in the feature bet365 Morebattle Hurdle.

★ “This decision could have gone either way as we thought about going to Cheltenham but this race looked there for the taking and we’re glad we came,” Grand National-winning jockey Mania said after the three-quarter-length win.

★ Thomson’s month could get even better if Benson races on to Cheltenham Festival glory. ★ The hurdler will scoop £100,000 for connections if he can take his form up another notch in the Coral Cup or Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle.

★ Sent off at 11-1, two-length scorer Benson stayed on strongly to pass Colonel Mustard (6-1) for the first prize.

★ Dan Skelton, the trainer of Le Milos, had to settle for another place with the third L’eau Du Sud (9-1).

★ “He’ll go for the bonus and he’ll get in now,” Thomson (inset) said about his hurdler, a 16-1 shot with Betfair for both of his possible Cheltenham targets.

★ On a tricky day for punters, The Big Bite (12-1) bounced back to form in Newbury’s BetVictor Greatwood Gold Cup.