KELSO racecourse made history with its first-ever twilight fixture on September 17.

The additional meeting also saw the popular Borders course open its autumn campaign some three weeks earlier, and the move gained plenty of support, especially given the fine weather.

The cancellation of both chases, due to water irrigation difficulties, produced a card of five hurdle races and one bumper.

Course specialist, Endeavour, recorded his fifth victory at the track to head the opening two-mile handicap hurdle race.

Ridden by former Grand National winning jockey, Ryan Mania, from Galashiels, the 8-1 chance got the better of Push Me, from Iain Jardine's in-form Hawick stable.

Trained by Dianne Sayer, Endeavour carries the colours of East Lothian owner, Margaret Coppola.

It's some time since Ian Semple saddled a runner at Kelso, but he made a victorious return to the track when Calton Entry landed the maiden hurdle race.

"He went to post quite keen but he settled well in the race and he´s jumped them into the ground," said Semple.

Two of Kelso's races were in honour of 'Borders champions' Keith Dalgleish and Jason Hart, who rode Ambitious Icarus to win at Beverley the same afternoon.

Keith Dalgleish was in the winner's enclosure the following afternoon at Ayr, when saddling Harrison's Cave to head the staying handicap.

The 12-1 chance was posting his first success in almost three years and was given a positive ride by Joe Fanning.

"He has always worked well at home, but hasn´t done it on the track," explained Keith.

Irvine jockey, Danny Tudhope, also had a winner at the track, riding Anderiego to land the one-mile handicap, and repeated that success in the seven furlong stakes the next day aboard Lostock Hall.

Third in the seven-furlong the previous day, Beautiful Stranger returned to Ayr the following afternoon to post a first turf success in the one-mile handicap.

"He was staying on well over 7f here yesterday, and it was always the plan to run him on successive days, provided he was okay after his first race," explained in-form trainer, Keith Dalgleish.

The same day, at Newton Abbot, Hawick jockey, Keiron Edgar, rode Hawkhill to win the concluding handicap hurdle race.

Danny Tudhope posted his third victory in three days when riding Earth Drummer to win the seven-furlong handicap at Ayr on September 20.

He was quickly back in the winner's enclosure when riding Lil Sophella to head the concluding division of the one-mile handicap at Hamilton on September 22.

Division one went to the Jim Goldie-trained Funding Deficit. "He is one of those horses who has been trying to do everything at 100mph, " explained the Glasgow handler.

" We have been trying to settle him and obviously it has worked. He was unlucky last time as he didn´t get the gaps at the right time," he added.

Galston trainer Mike Smith saddled 8-1 chance Eilan Mor to win the 1m 3f handicap. "He has been running well all year," said the winning handler. "He is no superstar but he is a trier."

Alistair Whillans sent Alexandrakollontai from his Hawick stable to win the six-furlong fillies' handicap.

"She is a nice mare and she goes well here," he said. " I was worried they weren´t going quick enough because she needs a test at six furlongs."

Jim Goldie's purple patch continued at Newcastle on September 23 when Tiger Jim turned the tables on his Doncaster conquerer to land the seven-furlong handicap.

Danny Tudhope also continued on song, completing a double aboard All About Time in the maiden fillies staked and Classic Flyer in the six-furlong nursery.

Progressive sort Remember Rocky recorded his fourth win this year when heading the one-mile handicap at Carlisle on September 10 for Fife trainer Lucy Normile.

Danny Tudhope was also successful at the Cumbrian track, riding Jolievitesse to win the maiden stakes.

Carluke trainer Keith Dalgleish continued his victory trail, when saddling Tectonic to a first success this year in the one-mile handicap.

Hawick jockey Jason Hart completed an across the card double on September 13, winning the five-furlong event at Chester with Tyfos and later winning at Wolverhampton on Polar Forest.

Keith Dalgleish's Belstane yard is in great heart and he sent out another winner when Danot headed the seven-furlong selling stakes at Musselburgh on September 15.

Danny Tudhope also had a winner at the East Lothian track riding Stand My Ground to victory in the claiming stakes.

Jim Goldie saddled Merchant of Dubai to take the stayers stakes.

"This was a drop in class for him and he carried top weight well," explained the Renfrewshire trainer.

St Boswells owners Paul and Clare Rooney saw their colours carried to victory by Mr Burgees in the two-mile novice hurdle race at Sedgefield on September 16, in the hands of Hawick jockey Wilson Renwick.

Raised 10lbs for his success at Cartmel last month, Sleep in First scored again, to land the two-mile novice handicap hurdle race for Langholm handler James Ewart.

Everylasting, trained at Alnwick by Rose Dobbin, and ridden by Craig Nichol from Hawick, won the novice handicap chase.