Cultram Abbey nicks top prize
● Richards’ 14-1 shot edges past Valadom at Kelso
Cultram Abbey bounced back to form to run out a surprising winner of the feature race at Kelso yesterday.
Ridden by Danny Mcmenamin and trained by Nicky Richards, pictured, the 14-1 chance reeled in gallant front-running Valadom in the closing stages of the Hunter Reim Ltd Handicap Chase to score by twoand-a-half lengths.
Mcmenamin, who is based with the winning trainer, said: “The leader went off at some pace for the first half of the race but my horse stays well. He stretched for the third last but I felt I was always getting there.
“He’s 12 now and seems to be still enjoying the game.”
Selkirk trainer Stuart Coltherd was in double form with Mrs Vonn and Longtymegone.
The former sprang a 20-1 upset in the Borders Carers Centre Handicap Chase while the latter was one of only two finishers in the Buccleuch Cup.
Longtymegone’s rider Charlie Todd received a two-day ban for using his whip when clearly winning while Ross Wilson had his explanation “noted” for his ride on tiring 104-length runner-up Costly Dream.
Nick Alexander enjoyed a quick-fire double when scooping the first two races with Elvis Mail, ridden by daughter Lucy, and Benny’s Secret, partnered by Grant Cockburn.
Meanwhile, Coopers Square can make it five wins from six starts since February by producing another solid staying performance in the Every Race Live On Racing TV Handicap Chase at Exeter today.
The Tom Weston-trained eight-year-old has struck at Uttoxeter and Warwick and twice at Huntingdon, where he unseated his rider at the second fence for his only blip.
David Pipe’s Legal History won a 15-runner contest at Ascot in good style recently and can double up in the City of Exeter Challenge Cup Handicap Hurdle.
The Pontefract Stayers’ Championship is a regular feature at the West Yorkshire venue and round one, the Enjoy Racehorse Ownership Jamaican Flight Handicap, can go to So Near So Farhh.
The Mick Channon-trained four-year-old was a course winner over a furlong less than this two and a quarter miles in September and was runner-up over this distance the following month.
The four-year-old is likely to be tuned up for a bold showing.
Billy Roberts looks one to be with in division one of the ROA Owners’ Jackpot Handicap.
The Richard Whitakertrained gelding ran a fine race to be second at Wolverhampton in January, in his first outing for 129 days and his first for the West Yorkshire yard since leaving Richard Guest.
Well-backed at Dunstall Park, he put in a nice stayingon effort and is well handicapped at the moment off a mark of 68 – having won this race in 2017 when rated 6lb higher. Sure to be sharper for that last run, everything looks in place for a big effort.
Rochester House looks sure to take all the beating in the British Stallion Studs “Highrise” EBF Novice Stakes.
He made a promising debut at Newcastle last week, just having the misfortune to bump into another promising one in the shape of the Derbyentered El Misk from the John Gosden team.
Mark Johnston’s runner showed a nice attitude in going down by just a length and should have a bit too much for his two rivals with that experience under his belt.