Heavy rain, which had started mid-morning before clearing after the third race, eased the going to 'good to soft' in last Sunday's Morpeth Hunt point-to-point fixture at Tranwell and the hardy enthusiasts who had braved the elements were rewarded with a dry, sunny afternoon for the second half of the card.

The former Donald McCain-trained gelding, Dannanceys Hill, carried the well-known colours of Tim Leslie to victory in the Morpeth Hunt members' race to initiate a double for local jockey, Amie Waugh.

In command throughout the final circuit, the eight-year-old survived his only serious mistake at the last to beat Ocarina by four lengths. The winner was sent to Ms Waugh last year and she said of him: ''He burst a blood vessel on his second run for me at Sheriff Hutton three months ago and has been given plenty time to recover. He jumped and travelled well and should improve again for the run.''

After a string of disappointing efforts earlier in the season, Whiteabbey bounced back to form to complete Waugh's double in the ladies' open. Fitted with cheekpieces for the first time, the 10-year-old made virtually every yard of the running and had enough in reserve to hold off a late challenge from Coquet Head by half a length.

The gelding's Reston-based trainer, Rebecca Hewit, said: ''He has finally recovered from a virus which was affecting all of my horses earlier this year. I think he's got a bit lazy in his old age and the cheekpieces have definitely sharpened him up and kept his mind on the job.''

After being placed on her last three starts, the consistent Nelly La Rue finally broke her duck in the open maiden to provide Tom Hamilton with the first leg of a double. Given a positive ride from the off and always in the leading pair, the mare gradually forged clear from four out to beat Kinder Scout by six lengths.

This was a welcome first winner of the campaign for Newton-by-the-Sea owner/trainer, Mark Thompson, who bought the eight-year-old for £2200 at Doncaster, last May. Hamilton said: ''She jumped well all the way and this galloping track suited her much better than Friars Haugh.''

Flash Garden supplemented last month's Crossford maiden win in the restricted to maintain his unbeaten record and complete Hamilton's double.

The seven-year-old warmed to his task as the contest unfolded and, after hitting the front two out, cruised home seven lengths in front of Kilmacallogue Bay. He was bought for £3000 at Doncaster, in May, 2012, by his Meldon handler, James Cookson, who said: ''He's a very straightforward type and such a good mover. He saw out the extra half mile without any problems and will be even better on good ground.''

After a string of placed rides on Pampanito and Scuderia this season, there was a richly deserved first winner for 18-year-old Andrew Bartlett on Braepark in the 2½-mile open maiden. Producing a perfectly timed challenge, the sixyear-old overhauled the odds-on favourite, Roll The Dough, inside the last 50 yards to score by a neck. Bartlett, who is based at Alan Swinbank's Melsonby yard, said: ''He was very brave at his fences and kept finding extra when I got him stoked up down the home straight.''

The youngster finished fourth on his third run in Ireland, last April, before being bought by Ed Cameron for £6000 at Doncaster the following month. His trainer, David Dickenson, who also sent out Devils Dyke to win this race in 2012, said: ''He had muck in his lungs when pulled up at Thorpe on his first start for me two months ago and we knew he was much better than that.''

Last week's Vale of Lune maiden scorer, De Bee Keeper, was the most impressive winner of the day in the PPORA Club members' race for veteran and novice riders. In a strongly run affair from the outset, Ross Chapman's mount was always going well and never looked like being caught after taking it up four out.

Despite diving at the last , he recovered well and had 25 lengths to spare over Great Gusto in the day's fastest time. Iveston trainer, Russell Ross, uncle of the winning rider, said; ''He has earned a short break after two wins in eight days and will probably be entered for the Heart Of All England maiden Hunters' chase, at Hexham, on May 2, along with stable companion, Sea Scout.''

Indian Print took his career tally between the flags to 17 under a peach of a ride from Nick Orpwood in the men's open.

Patiently ridden behind the two leaders, Back On The Road and Fozy Moss, Orpwood's mount quickened four lengths clear after two out and comfortably held off a renewed challenge on the run-in from Back On The Road by a length, with Fozy Moss a neck away in third place.

The 11-year-old's victory ended a six week barren spell for Victor Thompson's Newton-by-the-Sea yard. His charge sustained a nasty injury on a hind leg when he tried to clear a wire fence six months ago but is now fully recovered and likely to reappear in the forthcoming fixtures at Corbridge and Balcormo.

This was Orpwood's 14th pointing winner of the season and his first in the Thompson colours. ''It's still a long way from home four out and so I delayed any move until after the next. He cruised to the front two out and sealed victory with another great jump at the last,'' he said.

Conditions were pretty testing for the participants in the three pony races which preceded the main action. The contest for ponies 138cm and under went to Stretcholt Hermes (Charlie Todd) from Beveridge Tynagh (Tom Baker-Cresswell) and Clonross Star (Nick Barratt-Atkin).

Connor Murtagh's mount, Pick Pocket was an easy winner in the first division of the 148cm and under race from Underwraps (Tom Midgley) and Millie (Jack Young). The second division of the 148cm race went to Mr Marshall (Rachel Sharpe) from Perfect Place (Bruce Lynn) and How Ya Talkin (Harry Charleton).

LEADINGawards:

2m4f Open maiden - 1, Braepark (A Bartlett) 7/1, 2, Roll The Dough (T Hamilton), 3, Sound Barrier (Miss R McDonald), 5 ran, nk, 5, Edward Cameron (Zetland).

Members' Race - 1, Dannanceys Hill (Miss A Waugh) 4/5 jt fav, 2, Ocarina (Miss L Fenwick, only 2 finished, 3 ran, 4, Tim Leslie (Morpeth).

Open maiden - 1, Nelly La Rue (T Hamilton) 9/4, 2, Kinder Scout (N Orpwood), 3, Master Bud (C Murphy), 7 ran, 6, 4, Mark Thompson (Percy).

Ladies Open - 1, Whiteabbey (Miss A Waugh) 4/6 fav, 2, Coquet Head (Miss C Walton), 3, Stand Clear (Miss E Young), 3 Ran, 0.5, 7, Mr and Mrs JCP Hewit (Berwickshire).

Men's Open - 1, Indian Print (N Orpwood) 2/1, 2, Back On The Road (J Alexander), 3, Fozy Moss (J Duffy), 4 ran, 1, nk, Victor Thompson (Percy).

PPORA Club Members' Race - 1, De Bee Keeper (R Chapman) 5/2, 2, Great Gusto (W Ramsay), 3, Sir Watty (J Ferguson), 5 Ran, 25, 15, Mrs Julie Ross (Haydon).

Restricted - Flash Garden (T Hamilton) 4/6 fav, 2, Kilmacallogue Bay (Miss E Young), 3, Arch (A Glass), 4 Ran, 7, 1.5, James Cookson (Morpeth).