SILVER by Nature landed Haydock’s feature race in impressive style and is now on target for the Scottish National at Ayr in April.

Lucinda Russell’s charge romped home by 15 lengths to secure the valuable Blue Square Gold Cup Chase on February 20 in convincing fashion.

The Welsh National runner-up travelled well throughout in the hands of stable jockey Peter Buchanan, and powered clear to take the spoils in the £100,000 contest.

The grey carries the colours of St Johnstone FC chairman Geoff Brown, who also bred him.

“He would love to win the Scottish National,” said Lucinda, “but he’s a horse who has to have soft ground.

“He’ll be entered in the Midlands National and the Scottish National,” added the Kinross trainer.

Reigning Northern Area men’s point-to-point champion, Andrew Richardson, rode progressive pointer Ardnaclancy to finish third in the hunter chase. Andrew also trains the gelding, who was having his first run since May.

The same afternoon at Uttoxeter, Fife jockey Mark Bradburne rode Pret A Thou to win the two-mile handicap chase.

Lauder farmer Maurice Chapman saw Chief Dan George carry his colours to victory in the three-mile veterans handicap chase at Doncaster on February 24. The 10-year-old survived a stewards enquiry to take the spoils by two lengths, although jockey Paddy Aspell picked up a three-day ban after veering across the path of his nearest rival.

The winner, who picked up a valuable £13,000 prize-pot, has his sights on some big races.

“He’s in the Willliam Hill at Cheltenham” explained trainer James Moffatt.

“He’s also in the Grand National, although we may have to sit down and think about that, as I don’t think he’ll get in.”

Ayr’s Scottish National is on the agenda for the gelding.

Third to Chief Dan George was Brooklyn Brownie, owned by Karen Gaffney and her uncle Neil Stevenson from Langholm, who gave a promising show after returning from a break.

Grandad Bill made an impressive start to his hurdling career when winning a handicap on his third run, and the Jim Goldie-trained gelding followed up with a further victory at Musselburgh on February 17. He struck the front two from home and was never headed in the two-and-a-half mile handicap hurdle race.

Belem Ranger, trained near Hawick by Jennifer Warwick, retained the title he won two years ago, when accounting for the hunter chase. Off the track since May, he stayed on gamely to take the spoils ahead of Bow School, owned by livestock auctioneer Gavin Hamilton from Hawick.

A previous course and distance winner, the runner-up was sold out of Howard Johnson’s yard for 27,000gns in May. He came home ahead of Adam Waugh’s Benny Boy.

Orsippus was successful at the eighth time of asking over hurdles when landing the juvenile novices’ handicap hurdle race in comfortable fashion for Northumberland trainer Michael Smith.

New Tricks, with blinkers back on, finished 12 lengths behind in second for Rosewell trainer Peter Monteith, with the Jim Goldie-trained Pokfulham, third on his previous hurdling run, having to settle for the same position.

Howard Johnson saddled both first and second in the two-mile handicap hurdle race, with Hawick jockey Wilson Renwick aboard runner-up Doeslessthanme.

Only five of the 11 starters completed in the two-and-a-half mile handicap chase, with Clovenfords jockey Ryan Mania coming home in front on Silver Dollars.

Devil Water made the running in the two-and-a-half mile novices’ hurdle race – the 8-1 chance finishing third for James Ewart. The Langholm trainer began Kelso’s bumper eight-race card on February 18 in winning form when 6-4 favourite Bishop’s Heir got up by a neck to land the opening division of the novices’ hurdle race.

The first four races all produced Scottish victories – Lucinda Russell taking the second race on the card, the beginners’ chase, with Mr Preacher Man, who got the better of Double Default in the closing stages.

Hawick handler Willie Amos accounted for the third race of the afternoon when Bob’s Dream landed the 2m 2f handicap hurdle race under Campbell Gillies, for Borders farmer Rob Kyle.

Runner-up was Sotovik, trained at Hawick by Alistair Whillans and ridden by his son Ewan, with the Lucinda Russell-trained Ormello in third.

In the fourth race of the meeting, which survived two early-morning inspections – Jedburgh jockey Gillon Crow brought home Or De Grugy to win the two-and-three quarter mile handicap chase for Fife trainer Sue Bradburne.

Shock of the day was the defeat of Champion Hurdle contender Zaynar in the feature Victor Chandler Morebattle Hurdle race. Unbeaten in five starts, the grey lost his crown at the hands of Quwetwo.

The hot favourite was overturned by Howard Johnson’s charge, ridden by Hawick jockey Wilson Renwick. They grey had been brought to the Borders track to run in the rescheduled £16,000 contest as a prep-race run prior to the Festival and took his place in the four-strong line-up, despite reservations over the ground.

Trainer Nicky Henderson, who had flown to the Kelso course, expressed concerns over ground he described as “very sticky.” The strapping Quwetwo dictated the early pace and stayed on gamely to take the spoils for Northumberland owners Andrea and Graham Wylie.

“I was told to make it a proper test,” admitted the winning jockey.

“He’s a tough and genuine horse,” he added.

Fifth Scottish success of the day was Seeking Power, trained at Fife by Nick Alexander and ridden by his daughter Lucy, to head a testing three-mile handicap chase.

The 40-1 chance held the challenge of the Lucinda Russell-trained Reckless Venture, with The Maystone from Donald Whillans’ Hawick yard, and ridden by his son Callum, in third.

Only three of the eight starters completed in a drama-packed hunters chase. Ben Beoch took command three out, but came to grief at the penultimate fence, leaving long-time leader Natian back to the fore.

Favourite Robbers Glen came through to take up the challenge and followed up his Wetherby success with a comfortable win for 50-year-old owner/trainer/jockey Val Jackson.

Portway Girl enjoyed a pillar to post victory in the concluding bumper for Glenfarg trainer Lucy Normile, taking the Scottish victory tally at the meeting to six out of eight.