Mania ends January with a double at Ayr

Mania lost his claim when bringing home Teenage Idol to win the two-mile handicap hurdle race on January 31, beating the Lucinda Russell-trained Quacity.

He had earlier ridden Dennis Coppola’s Quicuyo to land the two-mile handicap chase for Langholm trainer, James Ewart.

On heavy going at Carlisle, on February 9, Selkirk farmer, Stuart Coltherd, saddled Tartan Snow to win the two-mile handicap chase.

The gelding, who last won in May, 2008, was ridden by Jedburgh jockey, Gary Rutherford, for the Whitemoss Golf syndicate.

Wilson Renwick rode the Rose Dobbin-trained Euro American, back over fences, to finish runner-up. The Hawick jockey filled a similar slot in the two-mile novice on Indian Groom, which finished ahead of the Jim Goldie-trained Wind Shuffle.

Renwick had three seconds at the meeting, taking the runners-up slot in the opening two-mile novice hurdle race on Bow Badger, a course and distance winner last October, who was defied a repeat by just a head.

Returning to hurdles, Si Bien finished third for James Ewart.

The Langholm handler had a further third in the mares’ novices hurdle race with 50-1 chance Etoile Ardente.

Political Paddy was third in the three-mile handicap hurdle race for Rayson and Susan Nixon, who farm outside Selkirk. The gelding, who has been off the track off since October, was back in cheekpieces.

After Stuart Coltherd’s earlier success, there was a second Borders’ victory when Julia Too put in a good run to land the junior bumper for Hawick trainer Willie Amos, who also farms on the outskirts of the town. Bought last year for £6,000, she was following in the hoofprints of her dam, who also made a winning debut.

Aikman relished a step up in trip to land the concluding maiden hurdle race at Musselburgh on February 11 for James Ewart, on crutches after a fall at his brother’s wedding.

Lucinda Russell was another Scottish trainer in winning mood, saddling Devotion to Duty to enjoy an easy win in the 21/2-mile handicap hurdle race and record a first success over hurdles. Third was stablemate Quito do Tresor, ridden by Campbell Gillies.

The stable also saw Go Silver Bullet finish runner-up in the three-mile handicap chase.

Dundonald farmer Robert Goldie saw Alexander Oats make a victorious chasing debut at his local Ayr track on February 12, to land the two-and-a-half mile novice chase.

East Lothian owners, Ray and Anita Anderson Green, also celebrated success when the Pauline Robson-trained Lockedinthepocket put paid to connections’ concerns about the testing conditions, to head the equivalent handicap chase. Innominate finished 22 lengths behind in second for trainer Lucinda Russell and jockey Campbell Gillies.

The same partnership had a further second in the two-mile handicap chase where Raysrock, dropped back in trip and with a tongue tie, finished ahead of stablemate Et Maintenant.

Lucinda Russell’s run of seconds continued in the three-mile handicap chase where successful pointer Bear Dancing, tackling regulation fences for the first time, filled the runner’s up slot for the trainer’s father, Peter.

Blazing Diva took third for Greenlaw farmer, Sandy Thomson and his wife, Quona.

Jim Goldie had a second in the opening novices’ hurdle race with Arctic Court, another Anderson Green runner, which finished ahead of the front-running Sunnyside from Lucy Normile’s yard.

Goldie went one better in the concluding two-mile handicap hurdle race where Circus Clown made a victorious debut for the yard.

Second was Kings Guard, trained at Hawick by Alistair Whillans and ridden by his son Ewan, with See the Legend third for Yetholm-based Sandy Forster, grand-daughter of the late Ken Oliver.

A better jump at the last saw Charlie Bucket – trained outside Hawick by Donald Whillans and ridden by his son Callum – well in contention in the 2m 5f handicap hurdle race, and he was beaten by just a neck.

Campbell Gillies finished in the frame at Catterick on Valentine’s Day.

The East Lothian jockey rode Streamstown to finish third in the three-mile novice hurdle race, and also brought home Moon Melody to take second in the 2m 3f handicap.

At Ayr on January 31, Tartan Snow, in the colours of Whitemoss Golf syndicate, stayed on to take second for Selkirk farmer, Stuart Coltherd, while The Cockney Squire was third for Lucinda Russell.

Hawick trainer, Willie Amos, saddled Darna to head the opening two-mile novices’ hurdle race. The winner, ridden by Campbell Gillies, was following up a recent course and distance success.

Festival King carried the familiar colours of East Lothian owners Ray and Anita Anderson Green to win the 2m 5f handicap chase for Capheaton trainer and former ladies point-to-point champion Pauline Robson.

Dallas Bell finished third for Hawick handler Alistair Bell and his jockey son, Ewan.

The former Howard Johnson-trained Inoogoo made an impressive debut for Hawick trainer George Bewley to finish runner-up in the concluding bumper.

Four Fiddlers, trained in Fife by Nick Alexander and ridden by his daughter Lucy, took third.

Hawick jockey Wilson Renwick rode the Rose Dobbin-trained Ontrack to finish runner-up in the 3m 3f handicap hurdle race at Sedgefield on January 25. The Borders jockey also filled a similar slot in the two-mile handicap hurdle race aboard Kosta Brava.

Rose Dobbin saddled a winner the following afternoon at Musselburgh when former winning pointer Aghill made a victorious chasing debut to land the conditional jockeys handicap chase. The Lucinda Russell-trained Copper’s Gold, defending his 2010 title, had to settle for the runners-up slot in the hands of Campbell Gillies.

Another successful pointer, Aikman, was runner-up in the second division of the two-mile novices’ hurdle race for Langholm handler James Ewart and jockey, Harry Haynes, back in the saddle after being sidelined through injury.

Lucinda Russell had another second in the three-mile handicap chase with Vallani. The mare, who was 2lbs out of the handicap, finished ahead of Jim Goldie’s Soprano.

The Milnathort trainer travelled to Uttoxeter on January 29, where Blenheim Brook put in another good run to finish second in the novices’ handicap hurdle race, finishing ahead of Colour Clash, trained in Northumberland by Rose Dobbin for her parents Sarah and Duncan Davidson.

Stuart Coltherd saw Janal, 6lbs higher than when winning at Hexham in November, land the two-and-a-half mile handicap chase at Newcastle on February 2 in the hands of Jedburgh jockey Gary Rutherford.

Soul Angel, trained at Yetholm by Sandy Forster, was closing all the time to take second, while Native Coll from Nick Alexander’s Fife yard finished third.

Another Borders trainer in victorious form at the meeting was Alistair Whillans who saddled useful bumper performer Storm Brig to land the two-mile novice hurdle race. The winner may now head for a Group 2 race at Kelso next month.

The Hawick handler also had a third in the conditional jockeys training series handicap hurdle race with Talesofriverbank, whose jockey Alexander Boy carried 3lbs overweight.

Four-times point-to-point victor Charming Knight made a promising hurdling debut to fill the runners-up slot for Otterburn trainer Jane Walton.

Only one of the five starters completed in an eventful novice handicap chase, won by the Ann Hamilton-trained Lockstown.

Alnwick-based Rose Dobbin saddled Special Catch to take third in the concluding bumper.

Jim Goldie saddled Wyse Hill Teabags to win the opening two-and-a-half mile novices hurdle race at Musselburgh on February 6. The 14-1 chance followed up a promising account of his hurdling debut at the same course.

The Renfrewshire trainer also had a second in the two-and-a-half mile handicap hurdle race with Pokfulham, who won a seller at the same track last time.

Another Scottish trainer in winning form at the East Lothian track was James Ewart who saw course and distance victor Vosges battle gamely to clinch victory by a head from the Lucinda Russell-trained The Starboard Bow.

An entry in the Fred Winter at Cheltenham next month is likely for the winner.

Lucinda Russell had a third in the two-mile handicap chase with Seeyaaj, having a first run since July, while James Ewart was back inn the frame in the concluding bumper where Think Green also finished third.

At Sedgefield on February 8, Sir Tantallus Hawk finished second in the beginners’ chase.

The 20-1 chance, in the colours of Highland Racing and Jedburgh’s Eleanor Melrose, put in an improved performance, jumping more fluently than on his chasing debut at Wetherby last month.