The race for the HTA senior championship switched to Fellside last night with several contenders in action.
It was Kirkhead Rebel who came out in front for Roy Laidler, showing ahead as they came up from the bottoms and holding Stanley and Carol Jackson’s Charisma to the line for a fifth win of the season.
There was no joy for Jenny’s Quest, finishing third to remain two points behind table leader Duchess Ava, or Miterdale Duchess who was fourth to remain three behind.
It should be worth popping Charisma into the notebook as she seems to be coming into form at the right time for the final prestigious meeting of the season tomorrow at Helton.
Cracking Last One Two, who won in mid-week, was not in the picture this time but is another to consider for Helton.
There were 12 pups and the favourite Foxparke Beep Beep could only manage sixth place as Brian and Joy Lister’s Lady Million won from the fast finishing Busy Again for Alan Blacklock.
The open restricted trail had 18 runners and it was Katie Steel and Louise Pounder’s Miterdale Honesty who beat Stuart Jeyne’s Forlorn Spring. That puts him ahead in the grade points, leading by two from nearest rival Oakbank Izzy who finished sixth.
The focus now is on Helton for the last of the major trails for 2022. Tomorrow, though, the hounds will be racing the opposite way round to where they have been going this year.
It looked pretty grim weather-wise earlier in the week but the forecast seems to have improved and there should be some good racing.
The final month of the season is going to prove exciting in the battle for the senior crown and Duchess Ava, who has won at Helton before, might be in line to revive her challenge as the chasing pack close. All of the championship contenders are likely to be running.
The action starts with the seniors at 2.30pm and following on are the senior maidens, pups, puppy maidens and open restricted.
September 29 – Fellside
- Hounds – 1. Kirkhead Rebel; 2. Charisma; 3. Jenny’s Quest; 4. Miterdale Duchess; 5. Summer Spirit; 6. Cracking Last One Two. 15 ran, time 27.09.
- Pups – 1. Lady Million; 2. Busy Again; 3. Sweet Dreams; 4. Apache Raider; 5. Huntsman’s Rally; 6. Foxparke Beep Beep. 12 ran, time 18.54.
- Open Restricted – 1. Miterdale Honesty; 2. Forlorn Spring; 3. Howgill Lil; 4. Overwater Louie; 5. Thorn Pop; 6. Oakbank Izzy. 18 ran. time 19.17.
