Queenie St Clair wears the crown at Kelso

First-season trainer Nick Scholfield landed the most valuable success of his career to date when Queenie St Clair caused a 20-1 surprise in the BetWright Herring Queen Series Final Mares’ Novices’ Handicap Hurdle at Kelso.

With almost £100,000 in prize-money on offer, the race had attracted Nicky Henderson’s hot favourite Khrisma, who had been aimed at the Cheltenham Festival’s County Hurdle only to miss the cut.

She was still bang in contention when making a bad blunder at the second last and she was pulled up soon after, leaving Queenie St Clair in front to fight it out with Dan Skelton’s First Candidate.

With 5lb conditional jockey Freddie Keighley seen to great effect, she fended off her challenger to win by a length with the pair five lengths clear of Madame La Papillon back in third.

“It’s a magic day, to be honest,” said Scholfield.

“It’s been a long-term plan since she won at Wincanton on Boxing Day and we got her qualified at Newbury. It slightly didn’t go to plan when Sean Bowen won on her by 17 lengths at Fontwell and I thought our chance might be gone but thankfully she was still good enough.

“I was delighted that Nicky Henderson’s mare ran as it took us down to 11st 5lb and obviously Freddie took 5lb off too and he gave her a fantastic ride. With 11st on her back it massively helped.

“Freddie won on her on Boxing Day and knows her well.

“It’s a brilliant day, it’s great for the owners, great for Freddie and brilliant for the yard, I can’t thank the team enough.”

On future plans, Scholfield added: “She’s quite unassuming at home. I might try her back on the Flat or I could even take her to Punchestown. We could look at getting some black type with her as well but that was the big pot today and she’s delivered.”