RACHAEL McDonald celebrated her first success as a professional jockey by winning the concluding bumper at Newcastle, last weekend.

The Selkirk jockey rode Mcgowans Pass to a 9-4 victory for Greenlaw trainer Sandy Thomson, with whom she is based. Rachael (25) who, as an amateur, rode the Thomson-trained Harry the Viking to win the £40,000 Borders National, only had her first ride as a professional nine days earlier at Kelso.

Mcgowans Pass had made a promising debut when finishing second at Ayr last time and stayed on strongly for an impressive success.

Fife-based trainer, Nick Alexander, saddled Gold Opera to head the middle distance chase. The eight-year-old was making it two wins from two runs at the track, providing winning jockey, Brian Hughes, with the second leg of a double.

He had earlier ridden Teo Vivo to win the two-mile handicap hurdle race for Northumberland trainer Pauline Robson. “He has done us proud,” said her partner, David Parker, “and he still enjoys his racing.”

Ayr racecourse proved a happy hunting ground for Scottish connections last weekend. Sky Full of Stars justified favouritism to head the two-mile handicap hurdle race for Langholm trainer James Ewart.

The gelding cruised home in first-time blinkers for a wide-margin success, to open his account “It was Brian Hughes’ idea to pop the blinkers on and it’s worked a treat,” explained the trainer’s wife, Briony.

“He is not the bravest of horses but he was able to get to the front here and then it wasn’t a problem.

“We’ll be looking around for some races like this and he can mix between hurdles and chases as he is quite a sound jumper,” she concluded.

In the following novice handicap chase, the Nick Alexander-trained Craiganboy posted a 14-1 success in the hands of Jedburgh jockey, Grant Cockburn.

The stewards considered the apparent improvement in form of the winner and noted the trainer’s explanation that the gelding had appreciated the step up in trip.

“He has been a difficult horse to train and it hasn’t helped that he’s had two bad falls,” said Nick. “I thought he ran okay on his jumping debut at Carlisle and he was suited by the longer trip and flatter track."

The next race also went to a Scottish trainer, when neighbouring handler Lucinda Russell saddled Kilbree Chief to a 4-1 win in the staying chase.

Tom Scudamore got the gelding up by a head in a thrilling finish to retain his 2016 race title. "He is suited to flat track and Tom has given him an excellent ride giving him time to settle after he made a mistake," said Lucinda.

Hawick jockey, Craig Nichol, won the feature handicap chase riding the Nicky Richards-trained Chidswell.

Runswick Royal, trained in Northumberland by Ann Hamilton, for her husband Ian, held on by a neck to win 2.5-mile handicap hurdle race.

St Boswells owners, Paul and Clare Rooney had a winner at Taunton on February 21, when If the Cap Fits won the concluding bumper. Hot on the heels of that, the couple celebrated their second victory on the trot with a win at Ludlow the following afternoon.

The Philip Hobbs-trained I’m A Game Changer carried their colours to a 4-1 success in the two-mile handicap hurdle at Ludlow.

Northumberland jockey, Amie Waugh rode Dark and Dangerous to win the opening two-mile handicap hurdle race at Sedgefield. The gelding, recording a third course and distance success, is trained by the winning jockey’s father, Simon.

Another lady jockey in winning form the same afternoon was Joanna Walton, from Hawick, who rode Clounts Meadows to a 7-1 victory in the two-mile handicap hurdle at Thurles in Ireland.

On the all-weather at Wolverhampton, Carrutherstown trainer Iain Jardine saddled Tenerezza to head the one-mile fillies’ handicap. The four-year-old held on by a short head to score at the ninth attempt, and on her third start for her new yard.