PAS DE BARATIN provided Jedburgh couple Karen and Kenny Lynn with a second course success, after posting his first open victory at Saturday’s Duke of Buccleuch’s point-to-point at Friars Haugh, Kelso, writes Hilary Mactaggart.
Unbeaten this term, the grey proved his liking for the Borders track, when making it two out of two to land the Brewin Dolphin ladies’ open race.
Reigning Northern Area ladies’ champion Catherine Walton made a victorious debut aboard the 10-year-old, coming home two lengths clear of Val Jackson and Corbridge victor Cast Iron Casey.
Jedburgh jockey Callum Bewley, who rode the winner to his previous success, was riding in the Midlands National at Uttoxeter.
“We’d entered him in the ladies too, so decided to run him as he’s fit and well,” explained Karen, who has three point-to-pointers this term, as well as a show horse for the summer.
“I’m chuffed to bits with that, and he handled the ground well enough,” she added.
Jedburgh jockey Gillon Crow completed a victorious double at the meeting – justifying a long trip north following a ride at Fakenham the previous afternoon.
Gillon opened his account on Glen Lord in the Connollys Red Mills intermediate race, before adding the concluding A Hume Bladen open maiden race with Raymond Shiels’ Tomzatackman.
Glen Lord, who suffered a broken neck in a field accident two years ago, is owned and trained at Mindrum by Nicola Neill, who has next month’s Buccleuch Cup at Kelso as a potential target.
“He’ll go there is the ground dries up a bit,” said Nicola.
Gillon’s double was completed in an equally thrilling conclusion to the open maiden race, where Tomzatackman got up by a head.
The gelding was bought in Ireland as a three-year-old by former Jethart Callant Raymond Shiels, and had benefited from a wind operation since his last run.
Another potential Buccleuch Cup candidate is Emma Dunkley’s Moscow Menace, who enjoyed a comfortable success in the opening CKD Galbraith members’ race for his Kelso owner.
The win also provided Galashiels trainer Katie Scott with a first training success in the race, after a run of seconds.
“I’ve had five seconds in this race, so it’s good to have finally trained the winner,” said Katie.
Under a confident ride from Hawick jockey Jamie Hamilton, the favourite cruised home a distance clear of 2012 victor Laura’s Light, the only other finisher.
Emma Dunkley, who owns the winner, rode Polobury in the Scotty Brand Jockey Club PPORA mares maiden race, and the Kelso teenager was sitting handily placed at the halfway stage until brought down by the fall of Cherry Coward’s Apassionforfashion at the ninth.
Just three of the seven starters completed, with Heather Glen providing 19-year-old Dan Thompson with his first riding success.
Dan works in for a London-based firm of chartered accountants, and the mare – bought privately from Yorkshire trainer Sue Smith - is owned by his father Mark and trained by his grandfather, Victor.
Hennessy was always handily placed in the Lycett Men’s open race and came through to take up the running from long-time leader Pistolet Times three from home.
The gelding completed a victorious hat trick to take the spoils in the hands of Rees Morgan Murphy, who had ridden in the Cheltenham Foxhunters the previous afternoon
“That was a true stamina test,” said the jockey’s father, Co Durham trainer Ferdy Murphy.
Twenty-one-year-old Rees was recording his fourth success this term.
Jamie Alexander and Noir Et Vert were four lengths clear as they rounded the bend for home in the Turcan Connell Northern Area Point-to-Point Association Club Members race, and hung on to their lead, to record the longest-priced success of the afternoon at 8-1.
Fife trainer Nick Alexander, whose brother rode the winner, was saddling his fifth point-to-point winner of the season.
Racing was preceded by a thrilling cross-country ride, won by Kelly Bryson riding Quolliore for Bonchester Bridge owner Phillipa Shirley-Beavan.
This year’s final Friars Haugh fixture comes under orders in a fortnight with the Berwickshire point-to-point on Saturday, March 30.
RESULTS
Members – MOSCOW MENACE (J Hamilton) 8-11 fav; 2, Laura’s Light (B Campbell) 6-4. Three ran, two finished. Distance. Miss E Dunkley. (Miss K Scott). Duke of Buccleuch.
Intermediate – GLEN LORD (G Crow) 5-1; 2, Soleil D’Avril (W Easterby) 15-8 fav; 3, Reef Dancer (N Orpwood) 20-1. 10 ran. 1/2l; 20l.Mrs N Neill, College Valley & North Northumberland.
Mares maiden – HEATHER GLEN (D Thompson) 5-1; 2, Port Echo (N Orpwood) 8-1; 3, Adderstonlee (T Hamilton) 13-2. Seven ran. 1l; 20l. M Thompson (V Thompson) Percy.
Ladies open – PAS DE BARATIN (Miss C Walton) 11-4;2,Cast Iron Casey (Mrs V Jackson) 5-2; 3, Newyearesolution (Miss A Waugh )7-2 Eight ran. 2l; 6l K Lynn (Mrs K Lynn) Jedforest.
Men’s open – HENNESSY (R Morgan Murphy) 7-4 fav; 2, Senor Alco (T Davidson) 8-1; 3, Pistolet Time (G Crow) 7-2 Nine ran. 3l; 5l. F Murphy, (R Morgan Murphy) West of Yore.
PPORA – NOIR ET VERT (J Alexander) 8-1; 2, Cool Star (A Richardson) 4-6 fav; 3, Barachois Silver (G Crow) 4-1 Eleven ran. 4l;12l. J Alexander (N Alexander) Fife.
Open maiden – TOMZATACKMAN (G Crow) 5-1; 2, Willofhisown (A Richardson) 5-1; 3, Show Public (T Hamilton) 6-4 fav. 16 ran. R Shiels, Jedforest.