A late charge from Winterfell has put the Yorkshire-trained hound in the picture as the battle for the HTA senior title reaches the closing stages.
The win at Seaton last night put him just two behind Jenny’s Quest who was out of the tickets.
Duchess Ava, who is one behind the leader, was not running and there are now just ten meetings left with the season’s traditional finish at Millstone Moor on October 31.
Winterfell, who had won at Seaton last Thursday, was sent-off the 6/4 favourite and when they appeared he was in front.
However the sheep ran the leaders off track and Winterfell did really well to get back into contention.
It left him battling for the lead with Barncroft Spirit and after a neck and neck affair just managed to grab the verdict by a short head.
Owners Barr Laidler and Caroline Clough, as well as the long-distance travellers the Bell family who train him, were all understandably delighted.
Eleven pups went to the slip but they did not include the top two in the Championship, Huntsman’s Rebel and Ned’s Gain.
There was still a competitive field, however, with an exciting finish as course specialist Silver Streak showed in front along with Lady Million.
Once over the last fence they really had a ding-dong battle to the line with Lady Million just prevailing for Joy and Brian Lister. A nice bonus for anyone backing her was her odds of 8/1.
The biggest field of the night, with 20 runners, was the open restricted where James and Emily Irving’s Overwater Louie was sent off favourite after the win on Monday.
When they came to the finish it was Overwater Louie and Silver Dancer who were a hundred yards ahead of the third hound.
In the run to the line Overwater Louie dominated to win nicely from Darren and Nicola McMaster’s charge.
October 12 – Dearham
- Hounds – 1. Winterfell; 2. Barncroft Spirit; 3. Cracking Last One Two; 4. Miterdale Duchess; 5. Kinniside Dan; 6. Howgill Lil; 11 ran, time 29.06.
- Pups – 1. Lady Million; 2. Silver Streak; 3. Busy Again; 4. Lucky Lottie; 5. Rex The Rocket; 6. Clementine. 11 ran, time 15.53.
- Open Restricted – 1. Overwater Louie; 2. Silver Dancer; 3. Overwater Eddie; 4. Milo Moon; 5. Foxparke Lady Ava; 6. Denton Shamrock. 20 ran, time 16.16.
