HAWICK handler Willie Amos made a victorious training debut at Cheltenham on November 14.

Saddling his first runner at the home of National Hunt racing, he returned to his Broadhaugh Farm home with a winner after Lie Forrit headed a decent listed handicap hurdle race at the Gloucestershire venue.

To add to the celebration, the gelding is owned by John McNeill and was ridden to victory by his grandson Campbell Gillies. The retired surveyor bought the winner as a foal and describes him as “tough as nails.

“We thought he was alright, but perhaps he’s a bit better than that,” he admitted.

“With a bit of luck, we’ll be back for the Festival.”

His sentiments were echoed by the winning trainer, whose horses are in tremendous form.

“He’s a remarkably tough horse and just keeps finding,” said Willie.

“The plan will be to go for a qualifier for the Pertemps series at Newbury’s Hennessy meeting, and then go back to Cheltenham for the Pertemps final.”

Friday 13th proved a lucky day for Ryan Mania, when the Borders jockey completed the second treble of his riding career.

The Clovenfords claimer – who needs just two more winners to reduce his 5lbs allowance to 3lbs – was three times a winner at Newcastle earlier this month. Having his first ride for leading owner Graham Wylie, Ryan made a victorious debut aboard The Knoxs to head the opening novices’ hurdle race.

“It was great to get a ride for Mr Wylie, let alone a winner,” said Ryan, who completed his first treble at his local Kelso track last year. The Knoxs may step up to 2½ miles next time, described by his owner as “a three-mile chaser in the making.”

Ryan Mania made it a double when riding Dukeofchesterwood to victory in the three-mile handicap hurdle race for in-form Kelso trainer Sandy Forster.

His third success of the afternoon came in the concluding bumper aboard Willie Hall, trained by Willie Amos.

“It’s been a brilliant day,” enthused Ryan, after his 356-1 treble.

The first three past the post in the bumper all had Scottish connections. Runner-up was dual point-to-point winner Fiddlers Reef, owned, bred and trained at Roxburgh by Jane Clark. The chestnut finished ahead of Allow Me, trained at Langholm by James Ewart.

Ryan Mania came one closer to reducing his claim the following afternoon at Wetherby, when he rode Fushe Jo – a half-brother to Arcalis – to win the two-mile handicap hurdle race.

He continued his good form to finish second in the three-mile handicap chase with Belon Gale – also trained by Howard Johnson – and having his first start since March.

Ewan Whillans finished third in the mares’ novices’ hurdle race aboard Cecina Marina, while Wilson Renwick, also from Hawick, partnered the Rose Dobbin-trained Jurisdiction to finish third in the two-and-a-half mile novices’ hurdle race in the colours of the River Tweed syndicate.

Kelso racecourse not only hosted a new £20,000 limited handicap chase, but also another bumper eight-race card on November 7.

There were three good Scottish wins at the meeting, the first coming from Sandy Forster. The Yetholm trainer saddled 16-1 chance Justwhateverulike to take the two and three-quarter mile handicap chase for Lauder owner Peter Innes. The gelding battled gamely up the run-in to take the spoils.

“I’d love to run him here in the Borders National,” said Sandy, who hopes to return to the course for that race next month, if he gets in the weights.

Hawick trainer Willie Amos sent out the second Scottish winner of the afternoon, when Bob’s Dream recorded his second win in seven days to win the two-mile handicap chase in the hands of Harry Haynes.

The winner, raised 7lbs for his previous Carlisle success, carries the colours of Hawick farmer, Rob Kyle.

Milnathort trainer Jean McGregor completed the hat-trick of Scottish wins when Waterski got up a short head to clinch the novices handicap chase. The winner was ridden by Clovenfords jockey Ryan Mania.

“We’ll soon have five generations of this family on the go,” explained Jean, “and they seem to get better as they mature.”

Political Paddy finished third in the handicap hurdle race for Selkirk farmer Rayson Nixon and his wife Susan, while Cassius was runner-up in the concluding two-mile handicap hurdle race for Hawick handler Bruce Mactaggart.

Lucinda Russell was in the frame at Haydock on November 5, when Manadam finished third in the conditional jockeys’ handicap hurdle race, and stablemate Beidh Tine Anseo filled a similar slot on the juvenile novices’ hurdle race.

The Kinross handler was in the winner’s pen the following afternoon at Hexham when Duke of Malfi regained last year’s crown to retain the handicap chase.

It was his first success since heading the 2008 equivalent, and he held the challenge of the Sue Bradburne-trained Yankee Holiday, ridden by her son, Mark.

The Russell victory trail continued at Carlisle on November 9 when Do it For Dalkey won on his first start for the in-form yard.

Making his handicap debut, and returning after a 550-day absence, the gelding showed greatly improved form to head the novices’ handicap hurdle race.

“He’s been pleasing us at home, and will possibly go over fences after this,” explained Lucinda.

Hawick permit-holder Alan Mactaggart saddled Royal Macintosh to take the opening novices’ hurdle race. The winner, who has scored three times over fences, took the lead three out and slogged relentlessly to the line, to get up by half-a-length.

The new feature £20,000 limited handicap chase went to Albanov, trained in Northumberland by Pauline Robson, who has had the ex- Jessica Harrington charge in her yard since June.

He was returning after a 629-day absence, and his victory proved a real credit to his trainer.

“He had serious leg problems, so we had to take things slowly,” explained Pauline.

The winner, who was 1lb out of the handicap, would not have run had Kalahari King taken his place in the final line-up.

“He’d have been too far out at the weights,” said Pauline, who admitted she was “chuffed to bits” at the success.

Haddington owners Ray and Anita Green saw their colours carried to victory in the opening novices’ hurdle race at Sedgefield on November 10. Jumby Bay, fourth in a bumper on his debut in May, made a winning start to his hurdling career.

Planetarium, winner of the seller, was bought for 6,800gns by Rosewell trainer Peter Monteith.

At Market Rasen on November 15, Berwick owner John Stephenson saw his colours carried to third place in the novices’ handicap chase by the Sue Smith-trained Description.