The second of the Trilogy Trails organised by the former festival committee was held at Potter’s Park yesterday.
The trails are run over three dates and a range of grades to ensure everyone gets a chance at winning the additional prize money on offer. The final date for the Trilogy will be July 29 at Cockhow.
This middle leg saw a six-card meeting with the seniors getting things underway.
There were 17 runners with the current Championship leader Winterfell absent. Last time out at Potter’s Park Miterdale Duchess won easily and for the repeat the weather would seem to suit her as she seems to prefer to run in warmer conditions.
As they slipped she went off as favourite with Huntsman’s Rebel, who seems to be coming back into form, the second favourite.
As they came back into view Miterdale Duchess didn’t disappoint and came with a nice lead to collect her tenth Championship win, only three behind Winterfell.
Local hound Duchess Ava finished in second place for James McClelland with the much-improved Foxparke Beep Beep in third place for the Napier kennel.
Huntsman’s Rebel finished in fifth place for Denise Bland and Graeme Little.
Next up were the Senior Maidens with 16 runners and there was a large representation from the Foxparke kennel in a wide open race.
As they came back into view the first five hounds were the Napiers – with Foxparke Rumour just getting up to win from kennel mate Foxparke Who Gives A Toss.
Spoiling the party was Stephen Riley and Isla Hetherington’s Ruby who took sixth place otherwise they would have taken all six tickets as Foxparke Whoosh, Foxparke Bugga Boo and Foxparke Joey Elliot all got tickets.
Next up was the open pups with 14 runners. Current championship leader Rodney Raider was running along with kennel mate Silver Dream. Thorn Gift was also running and last time round she had got the better of Rodney Raider.
As the hounds came back towards the finishing line it was Thorn Gift who had the advantage. There was no Rodney Raider, but Silver Dream was close on Thorn Gift’s heals but she couldn’t make up the ground and Thorn Gift crossed the line to take the win for Colin Satterthwaite.
Colin wasn’t at the trails so it will be a nice surprise for him when he gets back from his holidays.
In-form Mel finished in third place for Graham and Les Reid, with James McClelland’s pup finishing in fourth place. Rodney Raider must have made a mistake out on the trail which put him out of contention.
Next up was the Open-Non winners race with 15 runners. Again it was a wide open race with any hound having the potential to win.
As they showed on the finish it was one of the Foxparke hounds with a slight lead. Croft Lass, owned by Carol and Stanley Jackson, was in close pursuit but she couldn’t catch Foxparke Sassy Girl who took the win for the Napier kennel to make it a double on the day.
The puppy maiden race was next with another strong contingency from the Napier kennel. So far on the day they had notched up eight tickets.
As the hounds come back in to sight the Foxparke’s were there – with five hounds in the first six. Foxparke Brum Brum just came away with a lead to take the win from kennel mate Foxparke Dealer followed home by Foxparke Fair Lady then Foxparke Side Kick.
This time it was Sophie Steele’s Miterdale Dust who spoiled the party for the Foxparkes as she took fifth place, with Foxparke Danny Elliot taking sixth ticket.
What a day for the Napier and Butler kennel. A treble win and a massive 13 tickets throughout the day, so well done to the Foxparke Team.
Last up was the Open Restricted race with the most runners in the day with 33 hounds taking part.
It was local hound Apache Raider who came with a lead and held on to take the win for Debbie and Lana McGee. Second home was Dundee for Neil and Gillian Brown, Derek and Joel Bulman.
It looks like Miterdale Duchess and Thorn Gift will take the lion’s share of the £400 prize money with a good chance of ticketing again at the last trail.
This week is a busy one with meetings taking place at Redmain on Tuesday with the first trail slipping at 6pm and then action returns to Latrigg on Thursday evening with the first slip at 6pm.
July 8 – Potter’s Park
- Hounds – 1. Miterdale Duchess; 2. Duchess Ava; 3. Foxparke Beep Beep; 4. Summer Spirit; 5. Huntsman’s Rebe;l 6. Foxparke Mysteriously. 17 ran, time 33.06.
- Maidens – 1. Foxparke Rumour; 2. Foxparke Who Gives A Toss; 3. Foxparke Whoosh; 4. Foxparke Bugga Boo; 5. Foxparke Joey Elliot; 6. Ruby. 16 ran , time 36.18.
- Pups – 1. Thorn Gift; 2. Silver Dream; 3. Mel; 4. Glamorous Ava; 5. Sarah Jane; 6. Artist. 14 ran, time 21.03.
- Puppy Maidens – 1. Foxparke Brum Brum; 2. Foxparke Dealer; 3. Foxparke Fair Lady; 4. Foxparke Side Kick; 5. Miterdale Dust; 6. Foxparke Danny Elliot. 15 ran, time 21.17.
- Open Non Winners – 1. Foxparke Sassy Girl; 2. Croft Lass; 3. Pigeon Bill; 4. Foxparke Jiggly Puff; 5. Miterdale Dainty; 6. Ridge Line. 18 ran, time 22.49.
- Open Restricted – 1. Apache Raider; 2. Dundee; 3. Crazy; 4. Eden Romina; 5. Kinniside Bobby; 6. Eagle Rock. 33 ran , time 20.07.
