Kinneston based trainer, Nick Alexander, is always worth following at his home Fife meeting and recorded a double for the third season in succession last Saturday, at Balcormo Mains.

There, a bumper crowd gave the 2017 Grand National winner, One For Arthur, a great reception when he was paraded before racing began, almost on home turf.

But, the Fife committee, led by secretary, Fiona Drysdale, and their hard-working course management team provided good, well-watered ground and deserved much better support from owners and trainers. In addition, Balcormo offered the best prize money across the UK over the Bank Holiday weekend, while owners, trainers and jockeys could enjoy a hot meal, snacks and drinks.

Allthekingshorses set the ball rolling when repeating last year’s success in the Pentland Land Rover men’s open. Ridden as usual by his owner, Jamie Alexander, the 11-year-old made virtually every yard of the running and forged clear from three out to beat Another Dark Rum by twenty lengths.

Jamie, younger brother of Nick, said: ‘’That’s the first time he’s worn cheekpieces for us, although he had done in the past when trained by Philip Hobbs. He didn’t jump as fluently as usual, but still won easily.’’

More than nine years after making his racecourse debut over six furlongs at Pontefract, when trained by Richard Fahey, Rossini’s Dancer is still a force to be reckoned with. He took his tally to 17 wins on his 86th career outing under all codes in the 2½-mile Rathbones Balcormo Racing Club members race to complete Alexander’s short-priced double.

Nick’s son, Kit, said of the 12-year-old: ‘’He seems better these days when he can get a lead in his races, but with only three runners and a shorter trip, that wasn’t going to happen here.

“He picked up immediately when The Ice Factor came alongside approaching two out, finished strongly to score by a couple of lengths and I had a job to pull him up after the line. He was very lame after falling three out at Perth last April and I feared the worst but he has made a full recovery and still has a few more options this season,’’ he added.

After three near misses earlier in the campaign, Charlie Snow Angel deservedly got off the mark in the Rae Grieve memorial open maiden race to give Tom Hamilton a 75th career win, including 20 under Rules.

Sent on a mile from home, the eight-year-old gradually extended his advantage over Burnett’s Joint from four out and went on to score by an eased-down six lengths.

He was bred by North Tyne farmer, Michael Walton, out of his four-time winning pointer, Sister Seven, but was given away five years ago when he had a stroke.

Coincidentally, Charlie Snow Angel’s registered foaling date was on the corresponding day (April 29) in 2009. The gelding’s Yetholm-based trainer, Clive Storey, who was making his first visit to Balcormo since 2010, commented: ‘’He had a couple of runs under Rules in 2014 but then had two seasons off as I didn’t have the time to train him.

“He was hardly blowing at the finish and might run next in a Kelso novices hunters’ chase on May 10.’’

It was a case of patience paying off for Bill Aitchison’s Fernando’s Song in the Subaru restricted race. Bought privately in August, 2013, five months after landing an Irish maiden, the gelding was sidelined with a leg injury until making a comeback this season.

Always going well in a slowly run affair, Gary Beaumont’s mount led after three out and kept finding extra to repel a renewed challenge from Hey Listen by half-a-length, with Kitty Fisher a further length away in third.

There was a popular win for Cumbrian raider, Nickwillis, in the Turcan Connell NPPA club members race in the hands of Cameron Wadge. The 12-year-old was still two lengths behind Great Gusto at the last but engaged overdrive on the run-in to snatch the spoils.

Tim Brockbank said of his mother, Elizabeth’s home-bred charge: ‘’That’s one for my father, John, who passed away on Tuesday. I’ve been hunting the Cumberland Foxhounds on Nickwillis all winter and this was the perfect warm-up for his next run at the last ever Cumberland point-to-point at Heathfield, near Aspatria, on Saturday, May 13.’’

Whisperdale ended a losing run stretching back 27 months in the Bruce Farms’ ladies’ open. The nine-year-old jumped and travelled well under a positive front-running ride from Charlotte Dun, but looked in trouble when headed three out by the odds-on favourite, Shantou Magic.

Although the latter was still two lengths up at the last, Kelly Bryson’s mount was running on empty and quickly surrendered the initiative on the run-in when Whisperdale swept by to win by four lengths.

He has been well hunted with the Lauderdale by owner/trainer, Jack Clark, who said: ‘’His recent poor form can be forgiven as I discovered he had been running with a poisoned near fore. He needs top of the ground and will run again at Mosshouses, on Sunday.’’

The main action was preceded by three pony races which attracted a total of 17 runners. Thomas Bradburne (10), son of former National Hunt jockey, Mark Bradburne, made the long trip from Lambourn worthwhile by steering Push The Button to victory in The Ship Inn contest for ponies 138cm and under.

The Perth Racecourse-sponsored 148cm and under race went to Beverley cross-Border raider, Carrowmeer, in the hands of Sarah Longthorn (13), while the Treehouse Sporting Colours’ novice riders conditions race was won by Georgia Laurie (15) on Glenmorangie.

LEADING awards:

NPPA club members – 1, Nickwillis (C Wadge) 5/1; 2, Great Gusto (W Ramsay); 3, Whiteabbey (Miss A Waugh); 5 ran, 0.5, 1, Elizabeth Brockbank (Cumberland).

Restricted – 1, Fernando’s Song (G Beaumont) 3/1; 2, Hey Listen (D Delahunt); 3, Kitty Fisher (Miss K Bryson), 5 ran, 0.5, 1, Bill Aitchison (North Tyne).

Ladies’ open – 1, Whisperdale (Miss C Dun) 2/1; 2, Shantou Magic (Miss K Bryson); only 2 finished, 3 ran, 4, Jack Clark (Lauderdale).

Men’s open – 1, Allthekingshorses (J Alexander) 1/2 fav; 2, Another Dark Rum (N Orpwood); only 2 finished, 3 ran, 20, Jamie Alexander (Fife).

Club members 2m4f – 1, Rossini’s Dancer (C Alexander) 2/7 fav; 2, The Ice Factor (T Hamilton); 3, Heilan Rebel (Miss C Dun); 3 ran, 2, 20, Nick Alexander (Fife).

Open maiden – 1, Charlie Snow Angel (T Hamilton) 4/5 fav; 2, Burnett’s Joint (J Dixon); only 2 finished, 7 ran, 6 , Clive Storey (College Valley and North Northumberland).