Dedicated Hero will look to enhance excellent Kelso record

Dedicated Hero will be aimed at Kelso’s Bet365 Premier Novices’ Hurdle having won the Rossington Main at Haydock on Saturday.

Sandy Thomson’s six-year-old won two bumpers at the Borders track and also claimed a maiden hurdle there before stepping up in grade last weekend.

He looked to face a stiff task against Dan Skelton’s long odds-on favourite Royal Infantry, but with that one running below par, Dedicated Hero took full advantage.

Despite being outpaced at the top of the straight, he stayed on strongly and won by half a length, even though jockey Ryan Mania dropped his whip.

“I was absolutely delighted with him,” said Thomson.

“He’s only lost twice, both times at Carlisle, so whether he doesn’t like going right-handed or he doesn’t like the hill at Carlisle, I don’t know, but other than that he’s done nothing wrong.

“He’s going to stay further than two miles, that’s probably on the short side for him, so he’ll go to Kelso next over two-mile-two and hopefully we’ll get a bit of rain before the Premier Hurdle.

“Haydock was sharp enough for him, it’s not even two miles and the ground wasn’t actually that soft.

“He’s not overly-big, he’s big enough but we haven’t even thought about chasing, to be honest – we’ll concentrate on this season first.

“He’s come back bouncing, it’s five weeks to Kelso and it’s great timing.”