John takes Kelso honours

According To John extended his unbeaten record to six with a convincing performance in the Paris Pike Novices’ Chase at Kelso.

Nicky Richards’ charge has yet to be headed and earned a 20-1 quote for the Royal & SunAlliance Chase at the Cheltenham Festival as he initiated a double for the trainer and jockey Tony Dobbin.

Having started at 2-13, According To John gave those who had backed him a bit of a scare as Dobbin started to push him along on the run to the final fence which he jumped about half a length down on Dark Diva.

However, he was soon back on the bridle and regained the advantage to come home a comfortable eight lengths clear of 200-1 chance Crackadee.

Richards said: “I told Tony not to go too soon with him as he can put the brakes on because he thinks he has done enough and idles in front.

“He will put his head down and go on again when something comes to him – he is very genuine.”

The Greystoke trainer did not have any immediate plans for the six-year-old and added: “I will need to discuss it with his owner Sir Robert Ogden and his management team but we may look for something better.

“You would not want him to go to Cheltenham and not handle the big occasion.”

Richards and Dobbin secured their brace as Ever Present (15-8 favourite) landed the John & Carole Rust Ruby Wedding Champion Chase.

The eight-year-old did not make it easy for himself, however, as he hung badly right before almost coming to a standstill in the last 100 yards.

Dobbin managed to keep him going forward though, just holding the challenge of Rambling Minster, whose rider lost his whip about 75 yards out, by a length.

Richards added: “He was very exuberant early on so it was always going to be difficult for him to get home over this trip in the (heavy) ground.

“I think I will drop him back to two and a half miles and run him on a right-handed track now.”

Keith Mercer was taken to Borders General Hospital for precautionary X-rays after taking a heavy fall from The Bajan Bandit at the sixth-last fence.

Andrew Crow trains just five miles away from the course and he realised an ambition when Witch Wind (6-1) ran out a game winner of the Eric Gillie 60th Birthday Novices’ Handicap Hurdle in the hands of amateur Mark Ellwood

Witch Wind had finished a good third at Ayr on Wednesday and Crow explained: “We were taking a chance bringing him out again so soon you never really know what a race takes out of them, but he felt so well so here we are.

“He needs further (than two and three-quarter miles) really but he loves this ground.

“It is great to saddle my first winner here – I have had plenty of seconds and thirds both as a jockey ad a trainer.”

Fife permit-holder Nick Alexander ended a lengthy blank spell when Fearless Foursome (11-2) landed a minor gamble in the Eric Scarth Memorial Novices’ Handicap Chase.

Peter Buchanan’s mount finished seven lengths clear of Aztec Prince with the well-supported favourite Le Royal only fourth.

Alexander said: “Fearsome Foursome was well in on his hurdling form and although it has taken him a little time to get his act together over fences, he was always going to be a chaser.

“I did not have £1 on him but one or two friends may have backed him and he could run at Ayr a week tomorrow if the meeting is on.”

Leprechaun’s Maite came desperately close to causing a 100-1 upset in the Glenrath Farms Catherine Campbell Amateur Riders Handicap Hurdle.

He was in front but cocked his head to the right in the final few strides, letting Windygate steal a short-head win under David England.

Trainer Andrew Parker said: “Two or three other jockeys were going to ride him but we were not sure if he would get in the race so we were lucky in the end to get the best (amateur) in the country.”

Richards’ daughter Joanna escaped injury but was given a red entry in her medical book after a fall at the first on Muzzle, her first ride in public.

An impromptu inspection was called before the last two races but concerns about the state of the track proved unfounded allowing both divisions of the Lamberton Maiden Hurdle to be run.

Alistair Charlton’s Bywell Beau (6-1) claimed the first division under Czech-born jockey Jan Faltejsek

Charlton said: “Jan is a good jockey, very good out in the country and he just needs to tidy up in a finish.”

The Ring, trained by Keith Reveley and ridden by Dominic Elsworth, obliged favourite-backers in Division Two at odds of 11-4.