It’s Easter weekend and the talk on the radio is all chocolate eggs, daffodil’s, and lambs gambolling in the sunshine…
I can’t help but imagine that the lambs are gambling rather than gambolling, conjuring a whole host of images that grant new meaning to the notion of mutton stakes – which I hope is what the lambs placed on Crokes Cross at 300/1 in the “Every Race Live on Racing TV” Novices Hurdle at Kelso yesterday.
We were a little sorry, in December 2025, when Equinoctial (250/1) lost the record for the highest priced victory in a British horserace to Blowers – another maiden hurdler who scored for Nigel Hawke at Exeter. Equinoctial‘s record had previously stood for 35 years, becoming a small slice of Kelso history.
And so we were delighted that Crokes Cross managed to reclaim a share of the new record for Kelso. It was great to see Stuart Coltherd back in the winners enclosure too, after a gap of more than 12 months.
CROKES CROSS wins at 300-1, Kelso 2/4/26
Photograph by Grossick Racing Photography
Coltherd, who trains the mare for local owner Kevin Mercer (who also happens to be a sponsor at Kelso Racecourse) could easily have been praying that someone might “Changemyluck” – which happens to be the name of the other horse he saddled in the race to finish second. The Tote Exacta on the two horses paid £1,113.40.
No one at Kelso actually managed to collect on the Exacta, but the two racegoers who backed Crokes Cross (one for £2.50 each way, the other for £2 win) must have gone home very happy indeed.
If the lambs are gambling this Easter Monday, I can imagine them flocking to Fairyhouse where this week’s selection in the Irish Grand National is C’est Ta Chance.
Happy Easter!