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Kelso – Preview 29th December 2021

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.

BREAKING THE ICE bids to extend his winning streak at Kelso to four in the feature race at the borders tracks on Wednesday.

His previous trio of strikes came over nearly three miles and he drops back a furlong for the £18,000 Children’s Immunology Trust Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase.

Trainer George Bewley, who is based near Appleby in Cumbria, said: “He’s had a remarkable year as he also won at Cartmel and Perth in July. The improvement in his form has been tremendous as that first win came off a mark of 76 and he’s now gone up to 109.

“He’ll tell us when he needs a break as he’s been on the go since May but he’s showing no signs of stopping yet. He likes to be up there bowling along near the front and my son Jonathon, whose been his jockey for the three Kelso wins, says he has the speed to cope with the shorter distance.”

A strong field for the 0-125 contest also includes Sandy Thomson’s top-weight Overcourt, a neck behind Breaking The Ice earlier this month, and Sounds Russian, a teen-length winner for Ruth Jefferson on just his second spin over fences at Sedgefield 26-days ago.

Thomson’s three-time course and distance scorer Cedar Hill returns to his local venue to compete in the £15,000 Visit Kelso In 2022 Handicap Chase.

He has two lengths to find with Rose Dobbin-trained Slanelough after the pair were second and third at Musselburgh in late October over 2m 4f.