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.
David Armstrong is hoping to see his familiar black and white striped colours back in the winners’ enclosure at Musselburgh with Benefit Ben.
The gelding, trained on the beach near Seahouses in Northumberland by Adam Nicol, bids to back a recent course success in the Virgin Bet Handicap Chase, which is a 2m 4f qualifier for the Go North Monet’s Garden Series.
He has gone up 5lbs for making all over three miles at the East Lothian venue a fortnight ago and Newcastle United fan Armstrong said: “He had been running over hurdles and that was just his third time in a chase. I co-own him with Lee Westwood and he was straight on the phone as soon as he passed the line – I didn’t even have time to collect my winnings!”
Rivals to Benefit Ben include Susan Corbett’s O’Faolains Glory, who also made all over this trip at Musselburgh in late November, and Okavango Delta, a two-time course and distance scorer trained by Paul Robson.
Course specialist Magna Sam is a fascinating contender in the Virgin Bet A Good Bet Handicap Chase over nearly three miles.
He has won four of his six races at Musselburgh with his biggest two wins coming in the Edinburgh National, which he won in 2023 and earlier this year.
Alistair Ralph’s Shropshire raider was pulled up in the 2024 renewal, won by Inis Oirr, who has yet to add to that solitary success over fences for Lucinda Russell and Michael Scudamore.