By Hilary Mactaggart

GRAND National hope Captain Redbeard reverted to hurdles to land the feature race at Ayr on March 10.

Trained at Selkirk by Stuart Coltherd and ridden by his son, Sam, the gelding made the most of a 5lbs lower mark over timber to clinch victory.

He held the late challenge of Elusive Theatre to take the spoils.

Coltherd, who also farms at his Clarilawmuir base, recognised his charge’s ability after he scored twice last season in his novice campaign.

The gelding went on to earn his place in the line-up at the 2017 Cheltenham Festival, and also ran at Aintree where he finished a creditable sixth over the National fences.

"Right from day one we thought he was potentially the best we had ever had,” enthused Coltherd, “as he did everything that well.”

During his early career, son Sam also rode him in point-to-points.

Coltherd is no stranger to success at the Liverpool track, having won the Aintree Foxhunters in 2013 with Tartan Snow, and Captain Redbeard holds an entry for the 2018 Grand National.

Lucinda Russell – who trained last year’s Grand National victor One for Arthur – celebrated a quickfire double at the track.

Imjoeking defended his 2017 race title with a repeat success in the two-mile handicap chase, snatching victory by a neck in a close finish.

The Milnathort stable’s second success came half-an-hour later when Haul Us In won the mares’ handicap hurdle race in the hands of Hawick jockey Blair Campbell.

Having been granted authority to re-stage its prestigious premier hurdle fixture, Kelso racecourse was dealt a double blow when it lost the fixture for a second time when blighted by the weather on March 11.

Hawick jockey Craig Nichol rode Bernadelli to a 5-1 win in the two-and-a-half mile handicap chase at Ayr on March 9.

There was a win in the two-and-a-half mile handicap race for Harry Reed from Northumberland who rode Chicoria to victory for Cumbrian trainer Tristan Davidson.

Alnwick trainer Rose Dobbin won the three-mile handicap chase with Smugglers Stash.

Langholm jockey Jamie Gormley road Zabeel Star to a 4-1 victory on the all-weather at Newcastle on March 8.

At Southwell the same afternoon, Langholm trainer James Ewart saddled De Capo Dandy to win the six-furlong handicap.