A review of the pick of the action from Kelso on Saturday afternoon as Big River gave Lucinda Russell a timely boost.
Big River gave Lucinda Russell a huge boost at Kelso in the Edinburgh Gin Handicap Hurdle ahead of next month's £1 million Grand National.
The Arlary House Stables raider carries the black and red colours of Debs Thomson, also the co-owner of live Aintree hope One For Arthur.
Winning 21-year-old Hawick jockey Blair Campbell, gaining his biggest career success in the £23,000 handicap hurdle, said: "He is a dream horse to ride and he loved the ground. It's been a great month for me and things have been going fantastically well."
Ten-length runner-up Seeyouatmidnight ran a cracker after an absence of 126 -days on his return to hurdling and Sandy Thomson reported that last year's Scottish Grand National third is back on schedule for another crack at the Ayr marathon.
There was a sad sequel to the race when six-time Grade One winner Reve De Sivola collapsed and died of a suspected heart attack.
And shortly afterwards the retirement was announced of popular Kelso stalwart Knockara Beau, the winner of five races at the borders venue.
Russell completed a double with Forest Des Aigles, a well-backed 11/8 favourite for East Lothian Ray Green Liam Treadwell, winner of the 2009 Grand National on 100/1 outsider Mon Mome, landed the feature race on Venetia Williams-trained Yala Enki.
"He's only seven but he could be a National horse for the future. He's jumped well today and found plenty - he also settled a lot better which helped a lot."
In a drama-packed novices' limited handicap chase, James Ewart's Ascot De Bruyere was the only one of the five starters to complete the course under veteran Brian Harding.
There were other wins for Scotland with Harriet Graham-trained Rhymers Stone and Miss Biscotti, a first success for former jockey Gary Rutherford.
