KELSO also hosted blacktype action last weekend and both events at the Scottish venue went to horses bred in Ireland.
The feature was the Grade 2 totescoop6 Premier Kelso Hurdle, over two and a quarter miles, and it was won by Glingerburn who beat the Grade 1 scorer Bristol De Mai and the Grade 2-winning filly Intense Tango by three and a quarter lengths and four and a half lengths, this trio finishing a long way clear of the rest.
Glingerburn was bred by Colm McHenry, and he is a son of the late Ballylinch Stud stallion King’s Theatre (by Sadler’s Wells), who still holds a commanding lead in the 2014/15 National Hunt sires championship title race as we head to Cheltenham.
He is unbeaten in four starts over hurdles and he is the best of three winners out of Wychnor Dawn (by Broken Hearted), a mare with a strong festival connection.
Aegean Dawn (by Alflora) won his only bumper by 10 lengths and the lightly-raced gelding also took three of his six starts over hurdles. His half-brother Fleet Dawn, who was unplaced at Newcastle on his most recent outing, has won three from 10 over those smaller obstacles.
COOL DAWN
Wychnor Dawn did not race, and her half-brothers True Steel (by Deep Run) and Rye Crossing (by Over The River) won just once apiece, but the latter is a full-brother to Cool Dawn, the surprise Grade 1 Cheltenham Gold Cup hero of 1998.
He was 25/1 that day, and his previous form included a third place finish in the Grade A Irish Grand National, but he disappointed afterwards, pulling up in three of his four starts.
Frantouri (by Fray Bentos), the grandam of Cool Dawn and third dam of Glingerburn, also finished third in the Irish Grand National. She was also placed in the Thyestes Chase at Gowran Park and in a blacktype handicap chase at Fairyhouse, and four of her career total of nine wins came over fences.
Her full-brother Kilmakillogue won the Arkle Perpetual Challenge Cup Chase at Leopardstown and was placed in the Champion Chase at Cheltenham and their unraced full-sister Kilwillow was the dam of the Challow Hurdle scorer Green Willow (by Callernish).
Glingerburn is an unbeaten Grade 2-winning hurdler with the potential to move up another level, and yet, with his pedigree he could have just as bright a future ahead of him over fences.