What a memorable week for the Duke of Roxburghe and his Kelso-based Floors Stud.

Having seen Elarqam maintain his unbeaten record to win the Group 3 Tattersalls Stakes a few days earlier, on Thursday (October 5) he sold the colt’s half-brother for 1,350,000gns at Newmarket Sales. Both are out of his dual Classic winner Attraction.

“She has a beautiful filly foal by Invincible Spirit which will not be coming to the sales – she’s been named already and is called Motion,” he said.

“Attraction is back in foal to Frankel and is carrying a colt.”

The highs and lows of racing were well illustrated with the sad news that Grand National winner One for Arthur is out for the season, having damaged a tendon.

The 2017 Aintree hero was due to have his first run at Kelso at the end of the month for Borders owners Belinda McClung and Deborah Thomson.

“It’s not a big injury, but it’s enough for us to stop with him,” explained Milnathort trainer Lucinda Russell.

“It’s a shame, but hopefully we can get him back to full fitness.” It is hoped he will be fit to defend his title in 2019.

Russell and Grand National winning jockey Derek Fox had a better day the following afternoon, when Forest des Aigles landed the 21/2 mile handicap chase at Hexham for East Lothian owners Ray and Anita Anderson Green.

Hawick jockey Craig Nichol rode Bigirononhiship to win the novice chase for Alnwick trainer Rose Dobbin, whose parents Duncan and Sarah Davidson own the winner.

At Fontwell, Go Conquer was the 4-1 winner of the handicap chase for St Boswells owners Paul and Clare Rooney.

Before a bumper Kelso crowd for the second meeting of the season on October 8, Picture Painter made a victorious debut for Keith Dalgleish’s Carluke stable to take the second division of the handicap hurdle race.

In a thrilling finish, Hawick jockey and former champion conditional Craig Nichol got the winner up by a head in the closing stages over long-time leader Danceintothelight.

“I wanted to leave it as late as I could,” explained Craig, “and he was very game when he got there.”

The winner was bought for £15,000 at Goffs August sales.

Racing was preceded by the ever-popular Borders Principals race – won by 2017 Kelso Laddie Craig Logan.

Jockey Conor O’Farrell celebrated his first success at the Borders track, bringing home ex-point-to-point victor Coole Hall to clinch the novices’ hurdle race for in-form Rose Dobbin who trains the winner for her parents, Sarah and Duncan Davidson, from Alnwick.

Thrilling finishes were the order of the day, right through to the concluding division of the handicap hurdle race.

Benny’s Secret was the longest-priced winner of the afternoon, taking the spoils at 33-1 for the father and daughter team of Nick and Lucy Alexander.

Grand National-winning jockey Derek Fox was taken to Borders General Hospital by ambulance with suspected concussion after a fall in the penultimate race.

At Uttoxeter the same afternoon, Beneficial Joe was a 4-1 winner of the handicap hurdle race for St Boswells owners Paul and Clare Rooney.

After recent cancellations in Scotland, Musselburgh hosted an unscheduled fixture on October 9.

Keith Dalgleish took the opener when Han Solo Berger headed the seven-furlong novice auction stakes for his Belstane stable.

The first division of the seven-furlong handicap went to Sophie P – under a penalty after winning at the same track eight days earlier – trained at Galston by Mike Smith, who has his Ayrshire yard in fine form.

The second division saw Let Right Be Done win the battle two greys to clinch a short head success at 18-1 for East Kilbride trainer Linda Perratt.

At Pontefract the same afternoon, Danny Tudhope rode Pioneering to head the one-mile handicap.

Langholm trainer, James Ewart, won the2½-mile handicap hurdle race at Sedgefield on October 3 with Betancourt. The 10-year-old was well supported on his handicap debut and posted a comfortable success.

Having never previously been placed, the steward’s held an enquiry into his improved form, and accepted the explanation that he was fitter after his last run, having had 14 months off the track through injury.

He was also said to have benefitted from a drop back in trip.

Northumberland trainer Pauline Robson also had a winner over the jumps when dual Irish point-to-point winner Special Prep justified favouritism to head the conditional jockeys’ handicap hurdle.

On the Flat at Ayr, Carluke handler Keith Dalgleish saw Cliff Bay land a 7-1 win in the one-mile apprentice handicap.