BORDERS farmer Rob Kyle saw his colours carried to a third course success at his local Kelso track before a bumper Ladies’ Day crowd.

In a tense finish, Bob’s Dream got up by a nose to clinch the novices’ handicap chase.

The close finish provided Willie Amos, who trains the eight-year-old, with some anxious moments in the closing stages.

“I think I’ll just go and have a look at the photo-finish!” he joked after the success.

The Hawick handler, who also farms on the outskirts of the town, was hoping for a good show from his charge.

“We expected a good run,” he said, “but you’re there to be shot down with top weight.”

A trip north is next on the cards for the gelding, who was twice successful over fences in November.

“We’ll probably take him to Perth for a 135-rated handicap,” he added.

East Lothian jockey Campbell Gillies partnered Bob’s Dream to victory, holding the challenge of Ryan Mania on Carrietau, who rallied gamely up the long run-in. Third was St Killan’s Run, trained by Peter Monteith, and ridden by Wilson Renwick.

There was a second Hawick success at the April 11 meeting when the Alistair Whillans-trained Storm Brig took the concluding bumper. Also carrying top weight, the five-year-old was following up a victorious course debut last March and had since finished a good third at Ayr last time.

The only previous winner in the line-up, he came home ahead of winning pointer Sunnyside, trained by Lucy Normile.

The victory provided the second leg of a double for jockey Brian Hughes.

In the opening two-mile novices’ hurdle race Quacity, who had showed promise on his bumper debut, finished third for Lucinda Russell.

Caerlaverock finished runner-up in the staying novices’ hurdle race for Rose Dobbin, whose parents Duncan and Sarah Davidson own the five-year-old.

Rambling Minster, bred by the late Kenneth Oliver, was beaten just a neck in the feature handicap chase, with Minouchka carrying the colours of Hawick owner Phillipa Shirley-Beavan to third.

Ray and Anita Anderson Green’s colours were carried to second in the 2m 2f novices handicap hurdle race by the Rose Dobbin-trained Top It All, with Solis, trained by Peter Monteith and ridden by Ryan Mania, in third.

Hawick jockey Jonathon Bewley, a former Northern Area novice point-to-point champion, rode Silver Sedge to win the hunter chase, getting up by a neck ahead of the ever-consistent Anshan Spirit, who has been placed in this race four times. Third was Amie Waugh riding High Five.

Racing was preceded by two good pony races – part of the Charles Owen series for aspiring jockeys.

The 138 cm five-furlong race was won by 13-year-old George Innes-Kerr from Kelso riding Clonross Star, with Tom Hamilton (14) from Hawick runner-up on Simply Simon and Lorcan Murtagh in third on Finbarr.

The 148cm six-furlong race went to 12-year-old Henry Morshead – son of Kelso’s clerk of the course Anthea – riding Over to Kerry. Second was Thomas Greenwood (16) on Springs, with 14-year-old Jack Brown third on Surf the Turf.

Billsgrey celebrated his first success when landing the three-mile handicap chase at Carlisle on April 3. The gelding – formerly with Swannie Haldane – is now trained by Willie Amos for Borders owners John and Mary Stenhouse.

Ryan Mania rode Diamond Frontier to head the two-mile novice chase, ahead of Lord Larrson, in the colours of Langholm owner Alix Stevenson and her daughter Karen Gaffney. Third was Los Nadis, trained by Peter Monteith, for Edinburgh businessman Ian Dalgleish.

Peter Monteith welcomed home Seven is Lucky after the gelding got up by a neck to deprive Teerie Express of a hattrick, in the three-mile novice chase.

George Bewley’s runner-up, ridden by son Jonathon, was 9lbs higher than his last win.

Et Maintenant enjoyed his first victory in over a year for Milnathort trainer Lucinda Russell.

Ryan Mania finished third in the three-mile handicap chase on Bay Cherry, behind runner-up Minster Shadow (Campbell Gillies).

Jedburgh handler Harriet Graham saddled Mr Woods to finish runner-up in the two-and-a-half mile novice chase.

Another chasing a hattrick the same afternoon, at Haydock, was Blazing Diva. The mare, trained by Duns permit-holder Sandy Thomson who co-owns her with wife Quona, was stepping up in trip, and finished third in the three-and-a-half mile handicap chase.

Under a different code at Musselburgh on April 4, Jim Goldie had a third in the five-furlong handicap with Rasaman, returning from a six-month break.

Belstane-based Noel Wilson saddled bumper victor Hunters Belt to finish third in the maiden stakes.

Dropped back to two-miles, Ballysimon cruised home to a 21-length success for Langholm trainer James Ewart in the conditional jockeys handicap hurdle race at Wetherby on April 6.

At the same fixture, East Lothian jockey Campbell Gillies rode Rusty Red to take runner-up in the three-mile handicap chase.

Linda Perratt saddled Birkside to finish third in the seller at Musselburgh on April 9 and also filled a similar slot in the five-furlong handicap with Mandarin Spirit. On his seasonal debut, he finished behind the Noel Wilson-trained Ingleby Star.

2008 victor Ansells Pride finished third in the one-mile handicap in the hands of Hawick jockey Greg Fairley.

Having his first start since September, Cigalas was third in the apprentice handicap for Jean McGregor.

At Sedgefield on April 12, Crashtown Hall – trained at Galashiels by Katie Scott for her mother Sylvia – finished third in the novice hunter chase, while Amie Waugh rode Dix Villez into second place in the open hunter chase for her father, Simon.

Andrew Richardson and Coastley won the amateur riders novices’ hurdle race.