SIXTEEN-year-old Hawick jockey Blair Campbell made a victorious point-to-point debut when riding Laura’s Light to victory at Saturday’s Duke of Buccleuch’s meeting at Friars Haugh, Kelso, writes Hilary Mactaggart.
“That was brilliant,” he enthused, after defeating Laura Innes on 4-6 fav Justwhatteverulike by a short head in an exciting finish.
The Hawick jockey works for local trainer Alistair Whillans, who gave him his first ride on the course at Carlisle a few days earlier.
In a ding-dong battle to the post, Laura’s Light got up by a short head to land the CKD Galbraith Hunt members’ race.
Hawick owner Alan Brown told TheSouthern: “It’s always been a bit of a bogey race for me as, although this is the second time I’ve won it, I’ve also had the beaten favourite six times.”
Thescottishsoldier, owned by Sylvia Scott from Galashiels and trained by her daughter Katie, finished third.
On just her second run, Beverley Beck produced a fine fencing display to land the Scotty Brand Jockey Club PPORA club members mares maiden race for Rothbury farmer Barry Waugh, who also bred her.
Trained at Bonchester Bridge by Di Walton, the mare was brought down at the second fence on her debut at Lanark.
Beverley Beck provided in-form jockey Catherine Walton with her eighth success of the season, and further extended her lead at the head of the ladies’ championship table. They came home four lengths clear of Olmetta from Briony Ewart’s Langholm stable.
Bonchester Bridge trainer Phillipa Shirley Beavan and former ladies’ champion Kelly Bryson, from Galashiels, made a welcome return to the winner’s enclosure, when opening their seasonal account in the Brewin Dolphin ladies’ open race.
Kelly, who was sidelined for some seven weeks with a broken collarbone, rode Qollioure to a short head success over Cast Iron Casey.
Jockey Andrew Richardson was in fine form at the fixture, completing a victorious treble.
His first success came after a thrilling finish in the Connolly’s Red Mills intermediate race, where Dontpassgo clinched victory by a length from Shirley-Beavan’s Rapidolyte De Ladalka.
Victory in both maiden divisions, Bonnet Rouge and Step Beyond, completed Andrew’s treble.
Just three went to post in the Lycett men’s open race, with the 13-year-old Dix Villez enjoying a four-length success for Morpeth joint-master Adam Waugh.
One Black Cat scored by two lengths in the Turcan Connell Northern Area Point-to-point Association club members’ race, after the last fence exit of Native Coll, who ran out, taking Best Profile with him.
The mare is trained at Yetholm by Clive Storey for Jedburgh owner John De Geir.
Racing returns to Friars Haugh on Sunday, April 1, for the Berwickshire fixture.
Results
Hunt – LAURA’S LIGHT (B Campbell) 4-1; 2, Justwhateverulike (Miss L Innes) 4-6 fav; 3, TheScottishSoldier (Miss K Bryson) 9-2. Four ran. SH hd; dist. Alan Brown, Duke of Buccleuch’s.
Intermediate – DONTPASSGO (A Richardson) 12-1; 2, Rapidolyte De Ladalka (Miss K Bryson 4-1; 3, Glen Lord (G Crow) 5-6 fav. 11 ran. 1l; sh hd. W Aitchison, Border (J Martin-Mayland).
Mares maiden – BEVERLEY BECK (Miss C Walton) 12-1; 2, Olmetta (D Irvine) 4-1; 3, Port Echo (N Orpwood) 8-1. 11 ran. 4l; 5l. J Wharf, Jedforest (D Walton).
Ladies Open – QOLLIOURE (Miss K Bryson) 11-2; 2, Cast Iron Casey (Mrs V Jackson) evs fav; 3, Rayshan (Miss C Walton) 5-1. Four ran. Sh hd; 10l. Mrs P Shirley-Beavan, Jedforest.
Men’s Open – DIX VILLEZ (A Waugh) 7-2; 2, Gunner Jack (E Wrigley) 4-6 fav; 3, Pas De Baratin (C Bewley) 5-1. Three ran. 4l; 10l. A Waugh, Morpeth (S Waugh).
NPPA Club Members – ONE BLACK CAT (N Orpwood) 5-2; 2, Master Sebastian (Miss R McDonald) 2-1 fav; 3, Windy Hills (C Bewley) 3-1. 10 ran. 2l; 10l. J de Geir, Jedforest (C Storey).
Open maiden, div one – BONNET ROUGE (A Richardson) 11-2; 2, Exciting Car (R Trotter) 15-2; 3, Honest and True (S Fox) 5-2 fav. 14 ran. 2l; 6l. K Waters, Haydon.
Open maiden, div two – STEP BEYOND (A Richardson) 6-1; 2, Sharp Daniel (T Speke) 8-1; 3, Who’slaughingnow (S Fox) 4-1. 11 ran. Mrs E Johnstone, Lauderdale (J Hollands).
Duke of Buccleuch Hunt Ride: 1, Majed owned by Mrs C. Innes, ridden by Mark Richmond Watson; 2, Phantom Major, owned and ridden by Jeremy Smith; 3, Sessey Miller, owned and ridden by Rupert Trotter.