KELSO REVIEW - SUNDAY 18TH OCTOBER 2008

By Bill Harvey

King Reigns Supreme In Kelso’s Beginners’ Chase

Ferdy Murphy’s Kalahari King (5-4) starred at Kelso on Saturday 18 October, winning on his chasing debut in impressive style under Graham Lee in front of a 4400 crowd.

Kalahari King beat Peter Monteith’s promising runner-up Cast Iron Casey (16-1) by two and a quarter lengths with the 11-10 fav Bywell Beau half a length third in the £8000 L.S. Starrett-sponsored beginners’ chase.

Murphy said of the seven-year-old: “I’m thrilled – he’s very classy and he jumped super. Graham was very pleased with him. We’ll aim him at the Arkle Trophy at Cheltenham in March.”

Graham Wylie celebrated two winners as Doeslessthanme (11-8 fav) and Door Boy (11-10 fav) scored for Howard Johnson and Denis O’Regan on their hurdling debuts for the Hawick-born computer tycoon.

Wylie paid £185,000 for Door Boy and the five-year-old won in tremendous style and looks an exciting recruit for Johnson’s County Durham yard.

Nicky Richards’ Box Wallah, backed from 9-1 to 11-2, was fatally injured in winning the opener under Harry Haynes and Graham Lee sealed a 21-1 brace on the Karen McLintock-trained Nodform William (17-2).

John Wade’s Ryminster lifted the Mayfield Restaurant Handicap Chase (for the Marshall Trophy) under Brian Hughes at 14-1, beating the gallant Festival King by half a length in a thrilling finish.

Alan Swinbank’s Chickini attracted a bet of £10,000-£1000 each-way in winning the junior bumper under Barry Keniry by a neck in a rousing finale.