CHAMPION hurdle contender Zaynar, unbeaten in five starts, lost his crown at Kelso last Thursday at the hands of Quwetwo.
In a dramatic conclusion to the feature Victor Chandler Morebattle Hurdle race, the hot favourite was overturned by Howard Johnson's charge, ridden by Hawick jockey Wilson Renwick.
The grey had been brought to the Borders track to run in the resch
eduled £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.
Winning owner Graham Wylie had intended a chasing campaign for the gelding, but with options thwarted by the weather, resorted to hurdling.
"He's not going to be raced a lot, as he's such a big horse," he explained, "but we may look at Aintree for him.
"I think you'll see him at his best over fences," he added.
Nicky Henderson will now go to Cheltenham with his Triumph Hurdle victor, and had no regrets over coming to Kelso.
"Obviously, it's disappointing," he said, "and I'd like to have gone with his record in tact, but I'm still glad we've done this.
"Kelso has been great, putting this race on, and have done a fantastic job," he added.
A distance behind in third, but picking up valuable prize money, was Kempski from Rayson Nixon's Selkirk stable.
After surviving two early-morning inspections, a bumper eight-race card produced six Scottish-trained winners.
The opening Kelso Members' Novices' hurdle race saw a ding-dong battle right to the line, with Bishop's Heir getting up by a neck to claim the spoils from Pegasus Prince.
The 6-4 favourite is trained at Langholm by James Ewart, and was ridden to victory by stable jockey Harry Haynes.
A second Borders victory was recorded by Hawick handler Willie Amos, who saddled Bob's Dream to win the William Hill Opens in Kelso Today handicap hurdle race, ridden by Campbell Gillies for local farmer Rob Kyle.
Runner-up was Sotovik from Alistair Whillans' Hawick stable.
There was also an exciting finish in the Middlemiss Golden Wedding Beginners' Chase, where the Lucinda-Russell-trained Mr Preacher Man pipped leader Double Default in the closing strides to win by a length.
Jedburgh jockey Gillon Crow brought home Or De Grugy to win the Timeform amateur riders handicap chase for Fife trainer Sue Bradburne.
Fifth Scottish winner, and longest-price victor of the day, was Seeking Power.
The 40-1 chance powered home to take the Kelso Members Handicap chase for Fife trainer Nick Alexander and his 19-year-old jockey daughter Lucy.
Eight went to post in the Reece, Ben & Jessica Coppola hunters chase, with just three finishing.
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.
The winner is bound for the Cheltenham Foxhunters, where he finished fifth last year, for his dedicated Northumberland owner.
Portway Girl recorded the sixth Scottish success after she enjoyed a pillar to post victory in the concluding DBS/EBF bumper for Glenfarg trainer Lucy Normile.
Racing returns to the Kelso track on Saturday, March 6.
RESULTS
1.10 – BISHOPS HEIR (H Haynes) 6-4 fav; 2, Pegasus Prince 33-1; 3, Hollins 15-8.13 ran J Ewart, Langholm.
1.40 – MR PREACHER MAN (P Buchanan) 13-2; 2, Double Default 7-2; 3, Smart Mistress 20-1. Six ran. Miss L Russell, Kinross.
2.10 – BOB'S DREAM (C Gillies) 5-2 fav; 2, Sotovik 11-2; 3, Ormello 15-2. Eight ran. W Amos, Hawick.
2.45 – OR DE GRUGY (G Crow) 9-2; 2, Doc Row 7-2; 3, Zitenka 9-4 fav. Six ran. Mrs S Bradburne, Fife.
3.20 – QUWETWO (K Renwick) 12-1 2fav; 2, Zaynar 1-14 fav; 3, Kempski 100-1. Four ran. H Johnson, Co Durham.
3.55 – SEEKING POWER (Miss L Alexander) 40-1; 2, Reckless Venture 9-1; 3, The Maystone 12-1. 14 ran. N Alexander, Fife.
4.30 – ROBBERS GLEN (Mrs V Jackson) 4-5 fav; 2, Natian 4-1; 3, First Look 20-1. Eight ran. Mrs V Jackson, Ponteland.
5.00 – PORTWAY GIRL (A Voy) 14-1; 2, Tanzanite Bay 12-1; 3, Rock 'n Rose 11-1. 14 ran. Mrs L Normile, Glenfarg.
