KELSO REVIEW - WEDNESDAY 29TH APRIL 2009

Selkirk trainer Rayson Nixon enjoyed a winning start to the 2009-10 Scots jump season as Political Paddy (14-1) lifted the £12,000 John N. Dunn Group Ltd Handicap Hurdle at Kelso’s annual evening fixture on Wednesday 29 April.

Political Paddy, owned and bred by Nixon and his wife Susan, was giving Ryan Mania his first winner since the 20-year-old broke his right leg in a fall at Wetherby on Boxing Day.

“We had our best-ever total of eight winners last season and Political Paddy will return to Kelso for the 20 May fixture. I’m delighted for Ryan to get his comeback winner at Kelso,” said Nixon.

Sandy Forster’s Justwhateverulike (8-1) sealed a Borders brace in winning the attheraces.com Handicap Chase under Paddy Aspell, beating the gallant 5-2 fav Snowy in a cracking finish to give Kelso steward Peter Innes his first Kelso victory as an owner.

Nile Moon (5-2), giving Aspell the first leg of his double, won the Skybet Supporting the M.S. Borders Society Novices’ Handicap Chase in great style by 14 lengths for Ann and Ian Hamilton. 

Catch Bob (2-1 jt fav) won the opener for Ferdy Murphy and Keith Mercer and the 1-3 fav Presque Perdre, the subject of a £1000-£3000 bet, scored for George Moore and Barry Keniry in the maiden hurdle and novices’ hurdle respectively.

Quite The Man (5-2 fav), ridden by Phil Kinsella, won the bumper on his debut for Malcolm Jefferson in front of a crowd of 1800.

Tuesday evening’s fund-raising event at Kelso for the Borders branch of the M.S. Society raised £10,000.