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Scudamore and Kilpatrick honoured

Michael Scudamore and Brian Kilpatrick will both have races named in their honour at next month's Open meeting at Cheltenham.

Michael Scudamore and Brian Kilpatrick will both have races named in their honour at next month's Open meeting at Cheltenham.

The £20,000 Michael Scudamore Intermediate Handicap Hurdle on Friday, November 14 will commemorate the late jockey and trainer while the £12,000 Brian Kilpatrick Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle on Sunday, November 16 remembers the leading owner.

Scudamore, who died aged 81 in July, partnered eight winners at the Festival between 1950 and 1964 and also enjoyed a famous triumph aboard Oxo in the 1959 Grand National at Aintree.

As a trainer, Scudamore sent out Fortina's Palace to win the Grand Annual Chase at the Festival in 1970 and saddled Bruslee to win what is now the Paddy Power Gold Cup in 1974.

His grandson, trainer Michael Scudamore said: "It will be a great honour for the family to have a race named after my grandfather at The Open and I am sure it is something he would have been very, very proud of.

"He rode a Cheltenham Gold Cup winner and enjoyed his biggest training successes there. He absolutely adored the place and it will be a very special moment for all the family.

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"After he retired, the only racecourses he really went to were Hereford and Cheltenham - it held so many great memories for him."

Kilpatrick, who was a leading owner for over 30 years and celebrated four wins at the Festival, died in May at the age of 83.

David Pipe, who trained the Kilpatrick-owned An Accordion to score at the Festival, said: "I am sure the family will be very honoured to have a race named after Mr Kilpatrick.

"He was a true gentleman who had some superb racehorses over the years and hopefully we can keep his green and red colours going.

"It would be great if we can have a runner in the race and will do our best to win."

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