On another warm night many owners opted not to run their hounds in the senior trail at Dearham due to the warm conditions and the hard ground.
As a result there were only three hounds in the race and Huntsman’s Rally was sent off favourite to lead them home.
As they came onto the finish Huntsman’s Rally had a slight lead over Alan O’Fee’s Barncroft Express but as they cleared the last fence before coming through the gate there was a change.
Barncroft Express moved to the front to go on and win the race which was seven minutes longer than the same race on Monday night. However, Barncroft Express coped well with the warm conditions to take his first win of the season.
There was a better field of pups with 16 being slipped and the two litter/kennel mates Rodney Raider and Silver Dream were sent-off joint favourites.
As they came onto the finish Rodney Raider had a nice lead from Silver Dream who, in turn, was clear of Sarah Jane who finished third to record another one-two-three for the McMaster kennel.
Bill Melon’s Artist finished in fourth, Graham Reid’s Mel finished fourth with the Napier’s Foxparke Majesty finishing in sixth place.
The win for Rodney Raider takes him to joint first place in the puppy championship with Embrace who has had a slight shoulder injury and has been rested for the last week.
The last race for open restricted had the best slip of the night with 29 hounds being slipped as many owners opted for the shorter race and the cooler time of the evening to run their hounds.
It was an open race with Cracking Spirit and Imagine were the two most fancied but as they came onto the finish it was the Steel families Kinniside Bobby who came with a few yards and kept going to win the race from Imagine.
Action moves to the weekend where the trails will be at Steel Rigg, along the Military road. This is one of the ex-Border Association venues and provides excellent open running for the hounds.
There is a five-card meeting with the first race slipped at 1pm. The venue might attract a few dogs as it is the same trail that they run for the Twice Brewed Show which will be held on June 10 so owners may go for a look round beforehand.
May 25 – Dearham
- Hounds – 1. Barncroft Express; 2. Huntsman’s Rally; 3. Howgill Meg. 3 ran, time 38.02.
- Pups – 1. Rodney Raider; 2. Silver Dream; 3. Sarah Jane; 4. Artist; 5. Mel; 6. Foxparke Majesty. 16 ran, time 16.34.
- Open Restricted – 1. Kinniside Bobby; 2. Imagine; 3. Eden Romina; 4. Eden Rayna; 5. Meadow Maggie; 6. Sir Robert. 29 ran, time 17.04.
