LEN LUNGO and Tim Reed will be glad to hit the headlines at Kelso today by landing a double with Santa Concerto and Dorlin Castle.
The trainer and jockey were unhappy to make the news last week when they had to go to Portman Square to answer allegations of schooling in public, finally been cleared of the charges only after a four and a half hour inquiry. They can recoup the expense of the journey from Carrutherstown to London with interest today.
Santa Concerto is an exciting prospect who will be very hard to beat in the opening Kelso Annual Members Novices' Hurdle. The gelding showed useful form with a win and two second places from, three outings in National Hunt Flat races last term
And he took to hurdling like a natural last month in a novice event at Carlisle, where he'd have scored by a good deal more than his eventual eight length winning margin but for idling in front in the latter stages.
Fair hurdler Dorlin Castle has been slower to learn his new job since sent chasing this season and fell on both his first two starts. But he looked set to go close when coming to grief and has clearly lost none of his natural ability.
And he will have derived considerable benefit from a confidence restorer last time at Carlisle where was ridden largely with an eye to completing the course but certainly jumped better than previously. The eight year old has the build of a chaser and has the perfect opportunity to break his duck over fences now.
Cumbrian Challenge may prove the best bet in the five runner Glassed in Securities Borders Champion Hurdle. The small field will make this more a test of speeds than stamina and the seven year old's fine turn of foot will make him hard to beat.
Much interest on the Flat at Lingfield will surround the British debut of winning ex Greek colt Expeditious Way in the Casanova Conditions Stakes. But the three year old won only a modest race in his native country last year and may have to give best to the year older Rainbow Top.
Though sore shins meant that Rainbow Top failed to make it to the course until this year he looks set for a successful career judged on a most impressive winning debut in a maiden here last year.
He hardly came out of second gear to register a six length victory over Secret Spring who franked the form when scoring almost as easily in handicap company on Saturday. The sparkling turn of speed he showed to settle the issue in a matter of strides that day augurs very well for Rainbow Top's future.
