Gordon Brown – Race Reporter
Gordon has a wealth of experience of racing through his background in the written and broadcast media. His current principle role is reporting and supporting the scene in Scotland on Racing TV and relaying the latest news with Scottish angles.
Sean Bowen took Ayr by storm on Wednesday when he clocked up his first seasonal century on a card that saw the Welshman boot home a treble.
The magic 100th strike was brought up by Jackpot De Choisel, trained in Ireland by John McConnell, who was an impressive 32-length winner of the Racing TV Juvenile Hurdle. Bowen said: “He’s a nice prospect and handled the conditions well. He has won convincingly and is quite a smart young hurdler. It’s nice to get few winners as I start a suspension on Thursday. ”
It was Olly Murphy that supplied Bowen with his other two winners. Thomas Darby got the better of Gold Cup Bailly in the Weatherbys nhstallions.co.uk Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase while Booster Bob made all the running on his debut in the We’re Racing Next On 14th February Open National Hunt Flat Race.
James Ewart struck in the Book The Coral Scottish Grand National Handicap Chase with Brian Hughes-ridden Lake Takapuna. “I nearly withdrew this horse as I thought the ground would be too soft,” the Langholm trainer admitted. “Most of his previously best form was on good ground but I’m delighted to be proved wrong!”
Iain Jardine and Lucinda Russell were two othe Scottish trainers on the mark. The former landed the weatherbysshop.co.uk Novices’ Handicap Hurdle with well-backed Shir I Don’t Know while Russell won with Stephen Mulqueen-partnered Readysteadybeau in the Weatherbys Cheltenham Festival Guide Handicap Chase.