Horse racing still has a stuffy image in some quarters but a new generation of turf masters in the Borders have straddled the divide between yoof and hoof.The sight of Ryan Mania surging to victory in the Grand National at Aintree earlier this month was a definite shot in the arm, both for the Galashiels jockey and the sport in Scotland, and his compatriot, James Ewart, is hoping for fresh success after preparing the veteran Captain Americo for a crack at today's Scottish Grand National at Ayr.

Ewart looks and sounds about 20, but his pedigree is undeniable. While growing up in Langholm he rode in Hunter Chases and Point-to-Points as the precursor to graduating from the Royal Agricultural College in 1998, whereupon he gained valuable work experience with leading National Hunt trainers, including Jonjo O'Neill, Nicky Henderson and John Leadbetter.

That background assisted the peripatetic Ewart, as did a stint in France, working with bloodstock agent Guy Petit, from whom he soaked up knowledge like blotting paper. The consequence was the creation of James Ewart Racing Ltd in 2004, and the driven development of an organisation which has now amassed a significant reputation, allied to a formidable string of results: during the 2010-11 jump season, they celebrated 54 wins from 125 runs, with an increase of 20% in prize money. And one of the burgeoning array of jockeys who has worn their colours is the same Mr Mania who burst into the limelight during a dramatic weekend earlier this month which saw him crowned on Saturday and crocked the following afternoon.

"You are absolutely chuffed when somebody such as Ryan achieves that kind of fantastic result, because when you go down to Aintree, and you are unfancied, and nobody is giving you a second glance, it must be the equivalent of climbing Everest," said Ewart yesterday. "Ryan has ridden for our yard in the past and, of course, we were all thrilled when he put in such a spectacular show at the National. In my book, anything which helps raise the profile of Scots in the industry has to be applauded.

"In general, it feels as if there are a lot of exciting things happening in Scottish racing, but we shouldn't get too carried away at this stage. Basically, the vast bulk of the money and resources in racing are still concentrated in the south of England and it is almost as if every 100 miles that you move further away from London, you slip into a different [and lower] band of purses, horses and quality of infrastructure. Those of us who are based here in Scotland know that is the case and we just have to get on with it. But it certainly helps us when people are talking about racing and Scots in such a positive light and I'm very chuffed at how things have gone recently."

As one of life's pragmatists, Ewart appreciates there is a world of difference between springing a surprise at Aintree – as Mania and Auroras Encore managed in such memorable fashion – and emerging from left field on the jumps at Ayr. Yet, for all his innate caution, he is quietly optimistic that Captain Americo can live up to its near superhero name with an epic performance in Burns country this afternoon.

"He is in his dotage and this is probably his last hurrah at this level, but in terms of all the factors which matter, I think that he is in with a chance," said Ewart, who anticipates an added dose of pizzazz at the 2013 event, given the presence of Mania and Auroras. "He [the Captain] has always been knocking on the door of winning a big race, and there have been plenty of seconds and thirds throughout his career, so hopefully it will all come right for him on Saturday.

"The conditions will suit him, so will the weight and he likes jumping big, and, from a distance, it looks as if it could be a very close contest. But you never really know how these major occasions will pan out. Aintree is a unique circuit and that means there is always the possibility of it throwing up surprise packages, which doesn't happen so often at other courses. But the preparations have gone well, we are excited by the Scottish National meeting, and there should be a real buzz around the place."

Ewart has assembled a crack team at his training base, but one suspects that he still regards the organisation as very much a work in progress. These sort of campaigns can take decades rather than years to come to fruition and it usually requires more than one golden victory for a mania to be transformed from a passing fancy.

None the less, there was a frisson of excitement in his voice as he deliberated on the challenge faced by the small yards when pitted against their English and Irish opponents. "We have to keep pushing and making as positive an impression as we can in all these big races," said Ewart. "It is difficult, and it might mean we have to enjoy the wins even more when we achieve them. But the Grand National showed what was possible and I would be delighted if Captain Americo came though."

The latter isn't one of the favourites, but racing folk love to upset the odds. And with such a phlegmatic individual as James Ewart beavering away in the background, there is no way his horses are there simply to make up the numbers.

Horse racing still has a stuffy image in some quarters but a new generation of turf masters in the Borders have straddled the divide between yoof and hoof.The sight of Ryan Mania surging to victory in the Grand National at Aintree earlier this month was a definite shot in the arm, both for the Galashiels jockey and the sport in Scotland, and his compatriot, James Ewart, is hoping for fresh success after preparing the veteran Captain Americo for a crack at today's Scottish Grand National at Ayr.

Ewart looks and sounds about 20, but his pedigree is undeniable. While growing up in Langholm he rode in Hunter Chases and Point-to-Points as the precursor to graduating from the Royal Agricultural College in 1998, whereupon he gained valuable work experience with leading National Hunt trainers, including Jonjo O'Neill, Nicky Henderson and John Leadbetter.

That background assisted the peripatetic Ewart, as did a stint in France, working with bloodstock agent Guy Petit, from whom he soaked up knowledge like blotting paper. The consequence was the creation of James Ewart Racing Ltd in 2004, and the driven development of an organisation which has now amassed a significant reputation, allied to a formidable string of results: during the 2010-11 jump season, they celebrated 54 wins from 125 runs, with an increase of 20% in prize money. And one of the burgeoning array of jockeys who has worn their colours is the same Mr Mania who burst into the limelight during a dramatic weekend earlier this month which saw him crowned on Saturday and crocked the following afternoon.

"You are absolutely chuffed when somebody such as Ryan achieves that kind of fantastic result, because when you go down to Aintree, and you are unfancied, and nobody is giving you a second glance, it must be the equivalent of climbing Everest," said Ewart yesterday. "Ryan has ridden for our yard in the past and, of course, we were all thrilled when he put in such a spectacular show at the National. In my book, anything which helps raise the profile of Scots in the industry has to be applauded.

"In general, it feels as if there are a lot of exciting things happening in Scottish racing, but we shouldn't get too carried away at this stage. Basically, the vast bulk of the money and resources in racing are still concentrated in the south of England and it is almost as if every 100 miles that you move further away from London, you slip into a different [and lower] band of purses, horses and quality of infrastructure. Those of us who are based here in Scotland know that is the case and we just have to get on with it. But it certainly helps us when people are talking about racing and Scots in such a positive light and I'm very chuffed at how things have gone recently."

As one of life's pragmatists, Ewart appreciates there is a world of difference between springing a surprise at Aintree – as Mania and Auroras Encore managed in such memorable fashion – and emerging from left field on the jumps at Ayr. Yet, for all his innate caution, he is quietly optimistic that Captain Americo can live up to its near superhero name with an epic performance in Burns country this afternoon.

"He is in his dotage and this is probably his last hurrah at this level, but in terms of all the factors which matter, I think that he is in with a chance," said Ewart, who anticipates an added dose of pizzazz at the 2013 event, given the presence of Mania and Auroras. "He [the Captain] has always been knocking on the door of winning a big race, and there have been plenty of seconds and thirds throughout his career, so hopefully it will all come right for him on Saturday.

"The conditions will suit him, so will the weight and he likes jumping big, and, from a distance, it looks as if it could be a very close contest. But you never really know how these major occasions will pan out. Aintree is a unique circuit and that means there is always the possibility of it throwing up surprise packages, which doesn't happen so often at other courses. But the preparations have gone well, we are excited by the Scottish National meeting, and there should be a real buzz around the place."

Ewart has assembled a crack team at his training base, but one suspects that he still regards the organisation as very much a work in progress. These sort of campaigns can take decades rather than years to come to fruition and it usually requires more than one golden victory for a mania to be transformed from a passing fancy.

None the less, there was a frisson of excitement in his voice as he deliberated on the challenge faced by the small yards when pitted against their English and Irish opponents. "We have to keep pushing and making as positive an impression as we can in all these big races," said Ewart. "It is difficult, and it might mean we have to enjoy the wins even more when we achieve them. But the Grand National showed what was possible and I would be delighted if Captain Americo came though."

The latter isn't one of the favourites, but racing folk love to upset the odds. And with such a phlegmatic individual as James Ewart beavering away in the background, there is no way his horses are there simply to make up the numbers.