Gordon Brown

I WAS as shocked as everyone else at Perth on Wednesday night as news filtered through about the sudden death of trainer Alan Swinbank.

Hibou may have made a low-key seasonal debut over a mile at Ayr on Monday, but he is still one to keep an eye on. He only finished sixth, but Iain Jardine rates him as his horse to follow on the Flat this season and a step-up in trip will suit.

HAMILTON Park opens its new season with a bang this afternoon when two of the seven races are live on ITV.

IT won’t be long until Hamilton Park emerges from its traditional winter hibernation and we can’t wait for the first meeting which is a week today.

WE have had Aintree, Ayr and Cheltenham and now it is time for the Perth Festival. First staged in 1989, it takes place on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and there is always a fabulous mix of quality racing and socialising in the town afterwards.

Buccleuch Cup day, staged at Kelso tomorrow, is always an enjoyable meeting and the aforementioned race, though only a maiden hunters’ chase, usually produces a good tale.

IT was great to hear that prize money at Hamilton Park will break the £1 million mark. The 15 per cent boost from 2016, up to over £1.166m, is part of an investment programme designed to bolster things on and off the track with a further £800,000 earmarked for refurbishment of the grandstand restaurant, bar and private hospitality facilities.

THERE has been plenty going on in the Scottish racing scene this week including a visit of the British Horseracing Authority Roadshow to Musselburgh on Tuesday. The event, held in the Queen's Stand, featured appearances and comments from several leading industry figures, notably

WE’RE in for a busy racing week in Scotland and the action starts with a valuable card at Ayr tomorrow. I notice Mike Smith has a few entries and he could be worth following now his Galston yard has hit peak form.