SCOTTISH Grand National hope Scotswell landed the feature £25,000 handicap chase at Kelso on March 22, providing Jedburgh trainer Harriet Graham, who also bred the gelding, with her biggest prize to date.

The eight-year-old battled gamely to the line in the hands of James Reveley to land the Channel 4-televised contest, sponsored by racecourse director Geoff Adam in memory of his wife, Liz.

"I thought it was a very even race and anything could win," explained the winning trainer.

"If he ran well I decided to save my pennies and put him in the Scottish Grand National, so that could be the long-term aim, though he might not get in," added Harriet, clerk of the course at Musselburgh and Perth.

St Boswells owners Paul and Clare Rooney - sponsors of the £25,000 handicap hurdle - saw their colours carried to victory in the afternoon's opening race.

Keeneland held the challenge of 33-1 chance Overpriced by a head for a popular success in the two-mile handicap hurdle race.

"He had been off a long time before his last run and he has improved a lot for that," explained winning jockey Adrian Lane.

The third in a quick succession of Scottish winners was Lie Forrit, who led from pillar to post in the £25,000 handicap hurdle race.

The McNeill family's winner took Milnathort trainer Lucinda Russell even closer to equalling Len Lungo's Scottish record, and secured her a personal seasonal best of 60 winners.

"He went down to Cheltenham for the Pertemps Hurdle but the ground was too quick," explained Lucinda.

"He ended up having a little holiday, and it seems to have done him some good," she added.

The gelding's victory also saw jockey Peter Buchanan equal his best-ever season of 45 wins.

Jet Master made it two on the bounce to post the afternoon's fourth Scottish success in the two-mile handicap chase, for Fife trainer Nick Alexander and daughter Lucy.

Held up, he ploughed through the field to get the better of James Ewart's joint favourite Un Guet Apens by a neck in a photo-finish.

Hawick jockey Wilson Renwick left the track by ambulance after a crashing fall, and there was a delay to the following novices' hurdle, won by Kilgefin Star.

The winner carries the colours of Berwick owner John Stephenson, and is trained in Northumberland by Michael Smith.

Winning jockey Danny Cook was making a victorious return to the saddle, on his first day back since November.

A fifth Scottish success at the meeting was posted by Bellorophon who bolted up in the two-and-a-half mile handicap hurdle race for Carluke handler Keith Dalgleish and Galashiels jockey Ryan Mania, deputising for the injured Wilson Renwick.

Renwick tweeted later that evening, "nothing broken, bit sore, be back next week."

Keith Dalgleish saddled Arr' Kidd to win the 1m 6f handicap on the all-weather at Southwell on March 25, and was back in the winner's enclosure at the same track the following afternoon when Sound Advice won the one-mile handicap.

Irvine jockey Danny Tudhope completed a double at Southwell on March 26, riding Frontier Fighter to win the seven-furlong handicap, and Framed Masterpiece to land the one-mile handicap.

Hawick handler Donald Whillans and jockey son Callum teamed up to land the conditional jockeys handicap hurdle race at Newcastle on March 28 with Bollin Julie owned by the trainer's father "Churck."

Wilson Renwick bounced back from injury to head the two-mile handicap chase on Edmund.

At Wetherby the same afternoon, Bescot Springs won the 2m6f handicap hurdle for Lucinda Russell.

Jedburgh jockey Grant Cockburn rode Solway Dornal to land the 2m 4f handicap chase at Sedgefield on March 11.

Selkirk handler Stuart Coltherd saddled Hotgrove Boy to win the two-mile equivalent, providing jockey Daragh Bourke with his 10th winner of the season.

On the all-weather at Southwell the same afternoon, Irvine jockey Danny Tudhope partnered Jaeger Train to success in the six-furlong maiden stakes.

Daragh Bourke quickly made it win number 11 when riding Tikkandmickey to land the novice hurdle race at Hexham on March 13 for Jedburgh permit-holder Raymond Shiels. "Chasing will be his forte," said Raymond, a former amateur jockey.

Hawick jockey Craig Nichol completed a victorious double - riding Be My Present to a winning handicap debut in the conditional jockeys hurdle race for Northumberland handler Rose Dobbin, before clinching the novice handicap chase on the Lucinda Russell-trained Lady of Verona.

Having just her third run over fences, Lady of Verona carries the colours of Berwickshire businessman Peter Dale.

The concluding maiden hurdle race went to Bob Along, ridden by Adam Nichol for Kirkheaton trainer Michael Smith.

St Boswells owners Paul and Clare Rooney celebrated success at Newcastle on March 15 when Master Red landed the two-mile novice hurdle race.

Better ground and the step up to three miles suited handicap chase victor Sharney Sike according to owner John Hogg, whose gelding is trained at Selkirk by Stuart Coltherd.

Hawick jockey Wilson Renwick and Carluke trainer Keith Dalgliesh completed a double - winning the three-mile handicap hurdle race with Wayward Glance and the 2m 4f handicap hurdle race with useful Flat performer Nexius.

Some Lad opened his account in the conditional/amateur jockeys handicap hurdle race for Gavin Hamilton and his wife Alison, who trains the winner on the outskirts of Denholm. The winner was ridden by their 18-year-old nephew Tom.

That winner's enclosure proved a familiar place for that partnership, when they were quickly back in the top spot at Carlisle the following afternoon.

Granaruid made it three out of three at the Cumbrian track, giving Tom his fourth success under Rules, and providing Alison and Gavin Hamilton with an 8-1 success in the 2m 3f novice handicap hurdle race.

Lucinda Russell equalled last season's best tally of 59 when Voyage A New York headed the opening two-mile novice hurdle in the hands of Wilson Renwick.

"He will make a nice chaser for the future," said Lucinda of the former point-to-point victor.

Young Harry Reed - son of ex-jockey Tim - posted his first success in memorable style when riding 100-1 chance Viking Rebel to head the hunter chase. It was the same track where his father hung up his boots after winning on Kerrys Lad.

At Wetherby on March 18, Fiddlers Reel bounced back to winning form in first-time cheekpieces to head the three-mile handicap chase for Kelso owner Jane Clark and Ryan Mania.

The Grand National winning jockey was back in the winner's enclosure at Sedgefield on March 21 when riding Darke Dune to victory in the two-mile novice hurdle.

It was a good afternoon for Borders jockeys -Wilson Renwick rode Samtheman to win the two-and-a-half mile novice handicap chase; Craig Nichol won the two-mile handicap hurdle on Stanley Bridge' and Grant Cockburn headed the conditional jockeys handicap hurdle race on Solway Dornal.

Northumberland trainer Jane Walton saddled Heez A Steel to win the three-mile handicap chase.

Raven's Tower won the juvenile handicap hurdle race at Ascot on March 29 for the Faithful Friends - providing Jedbugh's Tim Finch with an early birthday present.

Danny Tudhope added another victory to his tally when riding That is the Spirit to win the seven-furlong maiden stakes at Doncaster on March 30.

One for Harry carried the colours of the Fife Boys syndicate to victory at Hexham on March 31, while Never Never landed the concluding bumper for St Boswells owners Paul and Clare Rooney.