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.
Nicky Richards and Lucinda Russell, the two most prolific jumps trainers in modern times at Ayr, are looking to add to their impressive scores on Monday’s seven-race card.
Richards has a total of 145 course victories to his name against Russell’s 143 and both have saddled the winner of the Scottish Grand National.
Kinross-based Russell has the busier afternoon as she has seven runners while Richards sends two raiders from his Greystoke stable on the outskirts of Penrith in Cumbria.
Ray Green, whose colours have been carried to success twice in the SGN by Merigo, is, by far, the most successful jumps owner at Ayr with 68 winners and Russell sends out his top-weight Traprain Law to contest the Coral Best Odds Guaranteed Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase.
A course winner over hurdles last March, Traprain Law has the assistance of Patrick Wadge, who is currently leading the race to be champion conditional jockey this season.
Richards will be looking for a big run from Better Getalong, also under top-weight in the Coral Handicap Hurdle.
The gelding is set to be partnered by Jedburgh-born Callum Bewley, who was also on board when the pair struck from a 5lb lower mark over course and distance in December.
Sandy Thomson’s newly-installed conditional pilot Lewis Dobb rides Red Ned for his Lambden boss in the Coral Committed To Safer Gambling NH Flat Race.
Red Ned was caught right on the line when going under by a short-head on his Rules debut at Southwell in late November.