LIE FORRIT is set to contest the Scottish National, following an impressive win in Kelso's feature £30,000 veterans' handicap chase on January 11.

"Everyone knows how much I would love to win the Scottish National, and he's still got that as a target," explained winning trainer Lucinda Russell, "but I´d like to go for another one of these (veterans´ chases), so we might go down to Newbury next .

"He loves these long distance chases and this veterans' series is brilliant for him," added the Milnathort handler.

The gelding was previously ridden by the late Campbell Gillies, who tragically died in 2012, and carries the colours of his family - grandfather John McNeill, uncle Crawford McNeill and his mother Lesley Gillies.

According to Campbell's brother, Finlay -who played hooker for Glasgow Warriors last year - Lie Forrit was named by his grandfather after a football expression from a Tranent supporter.

Posting his second win from three outings over fences this season, the 11-year-old produced a gutsy performance to hold the challenge of Sandy Thomson's Harry the Viking,

Half-a-hour earlier, Shades of Midnight opened his account over timber to land the novices' hurdle race.

The former bumper winner is trained at Hawick by Donald Whillans for the Borders-based Pottasium Partnership, and was ridden to a two-and-a-quarter length win by his son, Callum.

The five-year-old, who showed his speed when winning a bumper at Hexham, was victorious on just his third start over hurdles.

"It's taken a bit of time for the penny to drop over hurdles," said winning trainer Donald Whillans, who was in front of the stewards to explain his charge's improved form.

"I would think he'd want a bit further and better ground," he added.

Completing a treble of Scottish wins at the meeting, was handicap hurdle victor, Snuker.

Under an inspiring ride by Britain's champion professional lady jockey, Lucy Alexander, Snuker was posting a first win over hurdles for Langholm handler James Ewart.

Mindrum jockey Nick Orpwood landed the concluding hunter chase on Nowurhurlin.

Iain Jardine made a worthwhile trip south to Wolverhampton on January 12, when the Hawick handler saddled Archipeligo to a repeat victory at the track.

The four-year-old followed up last month's success with victory in the concluding 1m 4 f handicap.

Earlier in the New Year, Final Assault produced an impressive display to land the two-and-a-half mile handicap chase at Bangor on January 6 for Lucinda Russell, whose yard is in great form.

Les Gar Gan headed the opening selling handicap on the all-weather at Lingfield on February 7 for Carluke trainer Keith Dalgeish.

Scotswell won over a marathon three-and-three-quarter mile trip at Catterick on January 8, when heading the North Yorkshire Grand National for Jedburgh trainer Harriet Graham.

The gelding produced a courageous effort to clinch victory by a neck in the hands of James Reveley.