MUSSELBURGH Report By Gordon Brown

Published 2021/01/23

Sent off a well-backed 13-8 favourite, Ann Hamilton’s Northumberland raider slammed Gemologist by ten lengths in the Betway Handicap Hurdle after his nearest pursuer and long-time leader Goobinator came down at the final flight.

Owner and trainer’s husband Ian Hamilton said:

“He has done nothing wrong since coming to us from Ireland and he did that really well. Danny said he would still have won even if the other horse hadn’t fallen and we will maybe look at something like the Premier Hurdle at Kelso in March next.”

Nick Alexander and Grant Cockburn teamed up with Broadway Joe who landed a gamble in the Betway Novices’ Handicap Hurdle.

The win saw Cockburn only one more success away from losing his claim and he said: “He has come on a lot for having a wind operation.

I thought maybe the ground was on the soft side for him but he picked up well in the home straight and we got a nice gap on the run-in.”