Silver shines for Todhunter

Martin Todhunter's decision to swerve the feature Borders National with Silver Jack paid dividends as the grey cruised home in the £14,000 toteplacepot Handicap Chase at Kelso.

The marathon contest had been under consideration for the nine-year-old, but his Shap-based handler decided instead to run him in the easier six-runner event.

And after being sent clear by Brian Harding at the fifth-last, the well-backed 13-8 favourite always had the race at his mercy and sailed clear to come home 14-lengths clear of Locksmith.

Todhunter, saddling his first winner for 74 days, said: "The stable has had a virus so we shut down for a while, and this is our first winner since.

"The horse was in the Borders National but I was worried about the trip on soft ground so I took the easier option. If it was good ground he would have run.

"He will now be entered for the Scottish National and possibly the Summer Plate, but he does need time between his races."