'I think he has Aintree written all over him' - The Kalooki Kid set for spring festivals after Scottish Champion Chase win

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The Kalooki Kid could be on his way to Aintree after landing the Scottish Champion Chase, the feature on day one of the Scottish Cheltenham Trials weekend.

Unlike its Cheltenham equivalent, the contest was run over 2m4½f and the Nicky Richards-trained grey needed all of that distance to see off the gallant front-runner Saint Segal under Danny McMenamin.

The seven-year-old was backing up a first chase win at Doncaster before Christmas and was good value for his two-and-three-quarter-length triumph in the £100,000 feature.

"The Kalooki Kid is a good traveller, good jumper and that was a good display on just his third chase," said Richards. "He's doing well for a young horse and my owners are local from Kirkcaldy so they are over the moon."

Looking towards the future, the trainer added: "I don't know what the handicapper will do, but I think he's got Aintree written all over him. There's a two-and-a-half-mile handicap that might suit him, and looking towards next year, something like the Paddy Power at Cheltenham might suit."

McMenamin later doubled up when Bashful landed the 1m7½f handicap hurdle by six and a half lengths from No No Fizz.

Listed first for Lawes

Toby Lawes recorded the biggest win of his career when 33-1 chance St Pancras finished like a train to land the Listed Scottish Triumph Hurdle.

Jockey Kevin Brogan took advantage of three fallers at the last, when there was all to play for, in the 1m7½f contest to reel in long-time leader Solar Drive close home.

A two-time winner for Martyn Meade on the Flat, St Pancras was also advertising the form of current Triumph Hurdle favourite Lulamba, behind whom he had finished fifth, beaten 20 lengths, on his debut at Ascot a fortnight ago.

Lawes said: "He only ran a couple of weeks ago and we were anxious to get some more experience into him as quickly as possible as he's a lovely horse but just a bit novicey. 

"We were wary even though it is a Listed race that I'd be waiting around until the end of February for some nice ground, so I'm glad we put him on the box with tomorrow's two runners. 

"He did a lovely bit of work the other day and we're over the moon as that is our first Listed winner. We didn't think he'd have the pace of some of them as he probably wants further, but Kevin was patient and came with one good run at the end."

Lawes, who was second in the Scottish National with Sunday's runner Surrey Quest last year, said of future plans: "We'd have to have a look at the Fred Winter at Cheltenham after that as he needs more experience depending on what penalties Listed winners get."

Approach cut for Albert Bartlett 

Intense Approach was cut to 20-1 (from 33) by Paddy Power for the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham next month after making all in the Scottish Stayers' Novices' Hurdle.

Intense Approach provides John McConnell with another big-race winner at MusselburghCredit: john grossick

The 5-4 favourite pulled out more under James Bowen in the straight to blow away Gale Mahler for trainer John McConnell, who was backing up his win in the race three years ago with Bardenstown Lad, who went on to finish third at the festival.

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