Nells Son shines as he claims impressive win in Kelso feature race
Nells Son, ridden by Danny Mcmenamin, was an impressive winner of the £12,500 feature race at Kelso yesterday.
The 8-11 favourite was given a positive ride as he came home 12 lengths ahead of Go Boy in the KOSB Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase.
“He doesn’t have to be ridden like that but he enjoyed himself out there today,” said winning trainer Nicky Richards. “He won the Grade 2 hurdle here last spring and I thought he was the class horse in the race. We will sit down with his owners,who also bred him, and see where we go next. he stays a bit further but we wouldn’t run him anywhere if the ground got a bit too lively.”
Sandy Forster, based just a few miles from the track, struck in the Rubstic Handicap Chase with Lewis Stonesridden Duty Calls.
The race is named after the locally trained hero who landedthe 1979 grand national and his trainer John Leadbetter was on hand to help with the presentation to the winning connections.
Shoeshine Boy, racing off bottom-weight for Craig Nichol, followed his Ayr successfor ha wick trainer donald Whillans in the Bruce Farms Handicap Hurdle.
Lucinda Russell and Derek Fox warmed up nicely for cheltenhamwhen my re town landed the Racing TV 100% Profits Returned To Racing Maiden Hurdle. The odds-on favourite carries the same colours as Ahoy Senor, who goes for the Ryanair Chase on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Jane Williams is having a fantastic season with her juvenile hurdlers and Inside Man can continue that trend at Taunton today.
Castelfort, Kel Du Large and Captain marvellous have done the yard proud in this department, proving the old adage that success breeds success.
Inside Man began his career by giving Liari a good test at Wincanton and Paul Nicholls’ charge has since franked the form by scoring in Listed company at Aintree and Musselburgh. That promising effort was followed up by a convincing eight-length victory at this venue and he sets a strong standard in the william Hill epic value junior“national Hunt” Hurdle.