Runners were down last night as the warm weather continues and owners save their dogs for the prestigious Bitch Produce meeting at the weekend.
There were only 13 runners in the senior hounds at Cleamire and it was course specialist Kirkhead Rebel for Roy Laidler who led them home. Certainly no seconditis this time with Brian Graham’s Reebok in second place.
Rex The Rocket seems to be coming back on form and finished in third place for Tony, Marlene, Connor and Carter Irving from Seaton having been off for a couple of weeks.
Miterdale Duchess, who is second in the Championship table behind Winterfell, and also a course specialist at Cleamire, finished in fourth place for Denis Pear and Jackie Gill.
There was no Winterfell last night, so they must be trying to keep the Championship leader fresh for the big trails at the weekend.
Disappointingly for the promoters there were no pups entered for the Open Puppy race, a clear sign of owners an trainers wanting to keep the hounds for Saturday because of the warm conditions last night.
As the evening cooled the Open Non Winner race had 12 runners and as they came on to the finish it was Ashley Horn and Sarah White’s Flightline from Maryport who was in front and held on to cross the line in first place.
Following on were the Woolaghan’s from Moresby Park’s Go Go Frankie. Christopher Henederson’s Light Up finished in third and the Wollaghan’s second hound KJ Surprise finished in fourth.
There were fourteen hounds in the Open Restricted and it was Christine Brownlee’s Monnsoon who came home first with her other hound Malia in second place. Roy Laidler’s veteran hound Cuckoo Lane finished in third with the Hil family’s Buster Moon finishing in fourth.
The attention moves to Saturday when the Bitch Produce will take place at Bridekirk.
The main event sees this year’s bitch puppies race against each other to see which one can claim the title for 2023 as being the best bitch on the day.
They will be racing for the Pattinson Challenge Trophy which was presented by WM Pattinson from Greysouthern many years ago. They will also take home a share of the £160 prize money.
The Bitch puppies that have been running well so far this season include Silver Dream for the McMaster kennel at Dearham, along with their Sarah Jane both form the same litter – Silver Dusk and Mitredale Copper.
Mel for Graham Reid has also been running well and she is out of Jenny’s Aura and Foxparke Billy Elliot.
Glamorous Ava, who has also been there or thereabouts, is also a Jenny’s Aura and Foxparke Billy Elliot pup.
Then there is Artist another puppy that has been ticketing also from the Silver Dusk and Miterdale Copper litter.
On Saturday it will be the hound that can manage the heat and then deal with the undulating very long finish to the line that will be taking the trophy home at the end of the day.
The first slip of a five race programme on Saturday is at 1pm.