KELSO staged one of its most attractive programmes last Saturday but the afternoon will also be remembered for the sad loss of doughty staying hurdler Reve De Sivola.

The 12-year-old, having run his usual brave race from in front in the Edinburgh Gin Handicap Hurdle, was held in fifth when pulled-up before the last. He collapsed and died moments later, injuring jockey James Reveley as he went down.

“I’m absolutely devastated and it will be a long drive home,” said trainer Nick Williams. “The vet told us he had a heart attack. I bought him as a yearling for £6,000 at Deauville, never dreaming he’d turn out the way he did, winning over £600,000 in prize money. There’s going to be a huge void in the yard.”

Part-owner Andrew Mount also paid tribute to the old warrior, who won three Long Walk Hurdles and six Grade 1 events in all. The line-up at Kelso also included another favourite in 14-year-old Knockara Beau. He was pulled-up and will now be retired, no doubt to the relief of many.

Victory went to the lightly-weighted Big River, 100/30, who was receiving 24lb from the gallant Seeyouatmidnight – Scottish Grand National bound – and beat him by 10 lengths. The handicapper will have taken note of this comfortable success, the first leg of a double for trainer Lucinda Russell, who also took the handicap chase over two and a half miles with 11/8 favourite Forest Des Aigles.

Cromwell on the spot

NAVAN trainer Gavin Cromwell can spot suitable targets in Britain and Monday’s Betway Insider Handicap over a mile and a half at Wolverhampton looked a modest affair.Even so, those who backed his 15-race maiden Bottleofsmoke down to 15/8 favourite were probably pleasantly surprised to see the four-year-old pull six lengths clear.

Bottleofsmoke was making hard work of it at one stage but there is no one better than Adam Kirby under those circumstances and it was easy in the end. A possible follow-up at Dundalk was under consideration.

There were two more Irish winners at Wolverhampton on Thursday. Shane Duffy sent over Society Ranger, a relatively new recruit to his yard, to win a one-mile handicap off a rating of 45, while John McConnell, a regular in the winner's enclosure at Wolves, took a 12-furlong handiacp with Shamash, already a winner here two weeks earlier.

Nicholls treble

ALTHOUGH the trainers’ title will probably be decided on the big races at Aintree and Sandown, defending champion Paul Nicholls closed the gap on clear leader Nicky Henderson with a smooth hat-trick at his local course Wincanton last Sunday. The victories carried him beyond the £2m prize money mark for the season. Copain De Classe, Antartica De Thaix and Winningtry all justified short prices, Sam Twiston-Davies making it a four-timer by also winning on How’s Vienna for David Dennis.