Forrit stars at Kelso

Lie Forrit, a smart staying hurdler two seasons ago, made a winning return to action in the John Smith’s Paris Pike Novices’ Chase at Kelso.

Off the track for 626 days with tendon trouble, the seven-year-old jumped like an old hand under Campbell Gillies.

Given a patient ride, he looked to have plenty to do with half a mile to run as Blenheim Brook set sail for home but Gillies had not yet asked the 11-8 favourite.

A big leap at the last gave Willie Amos’ stable star a chance of victory and his stamina really kicked in close home as he went on to win by two and a quarter lengths.

Amos had earlier won the Happy Birthday Berwick Speedway’s Julie Newton Novices’ Hurdle with Eurohunter (8-1), also ridden by Gillies, to end a frustrating run of placed efforts for the yard.

Amos said: "It's always a worry when they are off that long, but he's been working well and we'd schooled him loads.

“The dream goes on now. If he got beat today the dream would have ended. It’s a great start and I’m over the moon.

“He just eased him into it to get his jumping going but I was getting a bit worried that he was too far back. The jockey has got a good head on his shoulders and he bled him in nicely.

“He’s in the Long Walk back over hurdles but I don’t know after that. I’ll speak to the owners and the ground would have to be right.

“It all depends on ground, I wouldn’t run him on fast ground, he needs a nice cut. Hopefully he’ll be out before Christmas.”

Always Right, last seen finishing third in the Scottish Grand National, made a winning reappearance in the Monteith Memorial Champion Chase for John Wade.

Connections decided to skip the Hennessy Gold Cup, and that now looks a wise decision as he held off the smart Skippers Brig by two and a quarter lengths.

Having cut out most of the running with Sa Suffit the very well-backed 9-4 favourite forged clear between the final two fences before idling slightly after the last.

James Reveley gathered his mount up again, however, and he found more to win in good style.

Always Right was cut to 20-1 from 33s for the John Smith's Grand National at Aintree, but a return to Ayr for another crack at the Scottish version could be on the cards.

Reveley said: “He was quite impressive there. It was an ideal starting point, two miles and six round here, and he never missed a beat.

“He had a bit left in the tank turning in and got all the way home. Hopefully he’ll progress through the season.

“I think John would like to have another go at the Scottish National and hopefully pick up a few races in between.”