SEAN QUINLAN was the star of the show at Kelso last Sunday when he rode a sparking treble on Martila, Dimple and Achill Road Boy.

The in-form jockey started his winning spree when scoring on Martila for Northumberland trainer, Pauline Robson, in the £20,000 Kristofferson Carpets and Flooring handicap hurdle.

Winning owner, Ray Green, said: “Sean was a very good replacement for Sean Bowen who got injured at Kempton on Saturday. He was riding to instructions when kicking for home a long way out and the plan for Martila is a mares’ race at Haydock later in the spring.”

Quinlan also won the £25,000 William Hill Leading Racecourse Bookmaker handicap on Sandy Thomson’s Dimple, which produced a stunning front-running jumping performance to score by 20-lengths from three-time Kelso winner, Mount Mews.

Greenlaw-based Thomson said: “That was something to savour. He is a tremendous jumper and I don’t know where he will go next, but it could be the Cheltenham or Aintree Fesitival as he’ll take another leap in the handicap ratings after that.”

Making up the hat-trick for Quinlan was Achill Road Boy, which was another winning spare ride for Quinlan as he replaced Sam Coltherd in the Trial Racing TV For Free Now handicap chase. This one is owned by a consortium of well-known farmers and no doubt there were plenty of celebrations to match!

Choochoobugaloo won the mares’ handicap hurdle in convincing style and Bernard Henry, representing the Sam England Racing Club, was visiting Kelso for the first time.

Warren Greatrex, also making the trip for the first time, trained Encore Champs to see off Lord Yeats in the Tarrag Naegel novices’ hurdle.

Greatrex could return to Kelso soon. He and owner Ray Green are plotting to scoop another value prize at the next meeting, on Tuesday, January 22, with Mahlervous, in the £20,000 feature race, a Class 2 handicap hurdle. The first of seven races gets under way at 12.55pm, with gates opening at 11.00am.

The racecourse management team will also be collaborating with local schools and the Borders College, through an initiative to give a behind-the-scenes tour of the racecourse before gates open and an insight into the career opportunities available in the horseracing and hospitality industries.