THERE has been plenty going on in the Scottish racing scene this week including a visit of the British Horseracing Authority Roadshow to Musselburgh on Tuesday. The event, held in the Queen's Stand, featured appearances and comments from several leading industry figures, notably
BHA chief executive Nick Rust whose family have apparently been annual members at Kelso for years.
MSP Rachael Hamilton also had a few words to say and she recalled her racing experience went all the way back to backing 1984 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Burrough Hill Lad as a teenager.
All five Scottish racecourses were represented including Ayr where racing manager Emma Marley is leaving shortly to join the BHA as Head Of Raceday Operations giving her responsibility for starters, clerks of scales and judges.
Lucinda Russell and Nick Alexander were in attendance and both have been among the winners recently. The former struck with Kilbree Chief at Ayr on Monday and Alizee De Janeiro at Musselburgh on Wednesday while Alexander was on the mark at the same two fixtures with Craiganboy
and Top Cat Henry respectively.
Top Cat Henry was an eye-catching scorer in the hunters' chase under son Kit and the plan is to target him at the Fox Hunters' Chase at Aintree's Grand National festival next month. Remember this was the race scooped by Stuart Coltherd's 100/1 Selkirk raider Tartan Snow in 2013.
Classic form on the Flat got a stark reality check at Musselburgh when Windshear trailed in a well-beaten 10th in the maiden hurdle. It was a far from auspicious debut over hurdles for a horse that was a close fourth in the 2014 St Leger.
The race itself will be remembered for a brilliant recovery by Will Kennedy on easy winner Dear Sire at the final flight. Kennedy rode out the finish Roy Rogers style with both feet out of the stirrups having clambered back into the saddle when Dear Sire nearly ejected him a few strides after the last.
Rachael McDonald has made a fine start to her professional career and rode her first winner from the paid ranks on Mcgowan's Pass at Newcastle last Saturday. Her second win came on Buckled at Musselburgh on Wednesday and she shines when it comes to getting horses settled and jumping as she proved when landing the Borders National on Harry The Viking.
Don't forget to check out our Twitter feed (@ScottishRacing) and scottishracing.co.uk for all the latest news.
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