The Ratcheugh Farm course, near Alnwick, had escaped the frost affecting many parts of Northumberland and Scotland allowing the 2017/18 Northern Area point-to-point season to kick off as scheduled last Saturday with the Ratcheugh Racing Club fixture.
Charlotte Crane and Sam Davies-Thomas were the jockeys to follow on a past Tuesday evening’s Border card at Hexham Racecourse – the closing fixture of the 2017 Northern Area season.
THE penultimate fixture of the Northern Area season saw 47 runners, including 18 Yorkshire raiders, face the starter on Haydon’s seven-race card at Hexham Racecourse, last Sunday.
THE FINAL Scottish point-to-point action of the season at Mosshouses, last Sunday, saw only 15 runners face the starter, including a walk-over, on the Lauderdale’s six race card. Most of the course had a great covering of grass but, after weeks of dry weather, the going was on the firm side of good. It turned out to be a red letter day, though, for Morpeth-based jockey, Laura Fenwick (26), who virtually clinched the Northern Area novice riders championship with a double on The Ketchup Kid and Clonea Power. Granted an uncontested lead in the Madgee German Shepherds’ NPPA Club members’ race, The Ketchup Kid galloped his two rivals into submission and a better jump at the last helped clinch a two length success over The Ice Factor. Formerly with Jacqueline Coward, the gelding’s only other win came three years ago at Brocklesby Park on similarly quick ground. Since making her debut on My Humbel Bee, at Alnwick, in March, 2014, Fenwick had finished in the frame on numerous occasions and this was a richly deserved first championship. After finishing runner-up on three occasions earlier in the campaign, Clonea Power went one better in the Owen Pugh ladies’ open race. Positively ridden, the 10-year-old poached a big lead at the start of the final circuit and never looked like surrendering the initiative to Amie Waugh’s mount, Whiteabbey, which was still three lengths down at the line. The winner is owned by Charles Carr and completed a training double for Fenwick’s mother, Sarah. She also enjoyed plenty of success as a jockey on the Northern Area circuit in the 1980s and, coincidentally, finished half-a-length second on Daisy Bush in the 1987 Lauderdale ladies open on firm ground. Only one of the 10 entries for The Colin Wood Memorial men’s open was declared, resulting in a walk-over for Tom Hamilton’s mount, Cave Hunter. Neil Manning indicated that his charge’s next target could be a Kelso hunters’ chase, on May 28, which he has won for the past two years. The odds-on favourite, Molten Brown, provided Charlotte Dun with her third winner of the season in the Charlie Cockburn Memorial Border Hunts Club members race. Content to let Will Ramsay force the pace on Pyjama Game, Dun eventually made her move on Molten Brown after two out and the response was immediate. The 12-year-old quickened away up the run-in to secure a three lengths verdict. Owned and trained at Mosshouses, by Northern Area point-to-point secretary, Tony Hogarth, the gelding’s victory also clinched the MKM Building Supplies’ Border Hunts Club championship. Kelly Bryson remained on course to land the Youngs RPS Northern Area ladies’ championship for the first time since 2010 following another win on Kitty Fisher in the A F Noble an Son restricted race. Sent well clear six out, Michael Walton’s mare was able to coast home a distance in front of Naval Action. Bryson is now five points ahead of Amie Waugh with three fixtures remaining. This seven-year-old Scorpion mare now leads both the Northern Area mares and novice horse championships and Yetholm trainer, Clive Storey, said of her: ‘’I’ve given her a quiet week since Balcormo and she only needed a light canter on Friday. She might run again at the Haydon meeting at Hexham on May 21.’’ Sound Barrier was given a front-running masterclass by Connor Wood, when landing the concluding Bentley Homes open maiden race by a distance from the odds-on favourite, Overtoyoulou. The latter had finished a remote third, but was promoted when the original runner-up, Burnett’s Joint (John Dixon) – which was originally beaten six lengths – was disqualified after going on the wrong side of a marker. The nine-year-old, owned, bred and trained by Doreen Calder, relished the fast ground and jumped superbly. ‘’I’m too poor to buy one,’’ joked Calder, who partnered the last of her 96 career winners at Balcormo Mains, in April, 2000. The inaugural Michael Dun Memorial Trophy was presented to Hawick-born Connor Wood (17), as he was the youngest jockey to finish in a race at the meeting. For the record, the only other Northern Area meetings in the last 30 years with fewer runners than Mosshouses were the Berwickshire (14 runners in 2012) and Braes of Derwent (13 runners at Tranwell in 1990). As usual, the main action was preceded by three pony races, all run over seven furlongs. The opening novice contest went to Exquisite Midget ridden by 13-year-old Charlotte Tindale. The 138cm and under race resulted in a half length success for Ravara Super Ted (Nick Barratt Atkin) over Spirit (Ella Pigg) while the 148cm and under contest went to Carrowmeer Nick (Sarah Longthorn). LEADING awards: Border Hunts Club members’ race – 1, Molten Brown (Miss C Dun) 1/2 fav; 2, Pyjama Game (W Ramsay); 2 ran, 3; Tony Hogarth (Lauderdale). NPPA Club members’ race – 1, The Ketchup Kid (Miss L Fenwick) 6/1; 2, The Ice Factor (T Hamilton); 3, Great Gusto (W Ramsay); 3 ran, 2, 3; Mrs S Fenwick, Miss L Fenwick, J Fenwick and D Milburn (Morpeth). Ladies’ open race – 1, Clonea Power (Miss L Fenwick) 5/4 jt fav; 2, Whiteabbey (Miss A Waugh); 3, Whisperdale (Miss C Dun); 3 ran, 3, 15; Charles Carr (Morpeth). Men’s open – 1, Cave Hunter (T Hamilton) walk-over; Neil Manning (Jedforest). Restricted race – 1, Kitty Fisher (Miss K Bryson) 1/5 fav; 2, Naval Action (Miss L Fenwick); 2 ran, dist; Michael Walton (North Tyne). Open maiden race –1, Sound Barrier (C Wood) 7/2; 2, Overtoyoulou (T Hamilton); only two finished, four ran; dist, Doreen Calder (Berwickshire).
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.
A HUGE crowd at Tranwell celebrated the 50th anniversary of hunt racing at the track in Sunday’s Morpeth fixture.
MORE than 20 years after opening his account on Fordstown, at Lanark, Jamie Alexander (51), remains as enthusiastic as ever and gave Royal Chatelier a polished ride to land the Cumberland Farmers NPPA Club Members' Race at Dalston, last Saturday, by a length from his nephew, Kit, on Sounds Of Italy.
