Ignotus gains Kelso compensation
Ignotus’ last two runs may have resulted in a 40-day ban and a disqualification but he made the right kind of headlines at Kelso.
Alan Swinbank’s runner has been dogged by controversy since finishing second at Catterick on New Year’s Day – a run which resulted in a £5,000 fine for the trainer and substantial bans for both horse and rider Thomas Thompson.
Ignotus subsequently made a winning reappearance at Newcastle on February 12 but to rub salt into the wound, he was later disqualified as he had missed completing his suspension by a day, resulting in a further £500 penalty for Swinbank.
However, Ignotus consigned that chequered beginning to the history books as he held Pagan Starprincess by three-quarters of a length in the totepool Premier Kelso Hurdle.
Due to the low-lying sun, the two hurdles in the straight were omitted and only six of the intended 10 obstacles were jumped resulting in a run-in of almost half a mile.
A half-brother to the smart Turbo Linn, Ignotus (100-30) led after jumping what was the last and he stuck to his task well.
Swinbank said: “We made a mistake at Catterick in putting up an inexperienced jockey and then we were a day out at Newcastle, but stewards have a job to do and they do a very good job really.
“Ignotus is all right. He has a lot to do to be like his sister but this was only his fourth run.
“We will have a look to see if there is something for him at Aintree if the ground is soft and then he could go for the Scottish Champion Hurdle. He will run on the Flat too.”
Amateur Mark Ellwood made a remarkable return to action as he brought Natiain home in front on his first ride back since breaking two vertebrae in a fall at Hexham in June.
The 5-4 favourite ran out a three-quarter-length winner of the Ship Inn, Dalkeith Open Hunters’ Chase.
Winning trainer Alistair Brown said: “I was a bit worried as he was short of a gallop, so he will come on and he will go for the Foxhunter at Cheltenham now.”
James Ewart completed a 41-1 double with Quick Will (11-1) in the Scottish Farmer Juvenile Novices’ Hurdle and Open De L’Isle (5-2), who came out best in the Cyril Alexander HBLB Memorial Novices’ Chase.
Ewart said: “Things did not seem to be working out this season. Little things were going wrong but our horses are well and it is very pleasing to have a double.”
Marcel (16-1) ended a losing run stretching back over a year when claiming the Extr-Ordin-Air 20th Anniversary Caverton Chase for jockey Wilson Renwick and trainer Peter Monteith.
Crackadee (9-1), owned and trained by Rhonna Brewis, supplemented a course win a month ago with a game neck success under Paddy Aspell in the toteplacepot Handicap Chase.
