Last night saw the third trail of the season at Latrigg but with fewer hounds than previously.
The senior hounds got things off to a start on what was a perfect night for hound trail racing with seven going to the slip.
Huntsman’s Rebel, the 2022 puppy champion who won at Latrigg 10 days ago, was sent off the 2/1 on favourite.
The little bitch is certainly back on form and loves to run on the open fell and as they came through in front of everyone she had a slight lead before dipping down the back of the fell which is the toughest part of the trail.
It is quite a long climb back up again and as they came into sight on the far fell she had extended her lead further on the other hounds with a surprise in second place with Overwater Eddie for James Irving running exceptionally well.
Once on the finish Huntsman’s Rebel came on her own and seemed to relish coming i to her bait box with her tail wagging. Overwater Eddie appeared next and finished well to take second place followed in by Denise Bland’s other hound Huntsman’s Quirk.
Then came Glenis and Raymond Farren’s Huntsman’s Rally who should have finished in third place but decided to put a circle in and have another look at the line before coming in, letting Huntsman’s Quirk take her third place.
Course specialist Huntsman’s Quantum finished in fifth place for the Little family with a highly delighted Lisa Whitfield getting sixth with her hound Tommy’s Dream.
Next up were the Open Pups and again there was only a small field of six hounds.
None of the all-conquering McMaster kennel were out with Championship leader and Dog Produce winner over the course Rodney Raider having a break along with his kennel mate Silver Dream, the Bitch Produce winner.
Mel had won the open pups for Les and Graham Reid on Dog Produce day and was sent off as odds-on favourite, with Dog Produce runner-up Embrace in second place on the bookies board.
As they showed on the far fell it was Mel and Embrace who had a slight lead from the others in the chasing pack.
When they showed on the finish it was a good race to the line between the pair and at one point it looked like Embrace was going to come away to take the win but the plucky Mel just hung on and won by half a length from Andrew and Joel Bulman, Laura Steele and Ian Rumney’s Embrace who has definitely turned a corner and is coming back to his previous form.
A slightly better field set off in the open maidens with 15 runners and a fairly open book in the betting ring.
As they came onto the finish it was Denise Bland’s Missriff and Martin and Molly Burrow’s Thorn Bear who were battling it out to the line. In the end it was Missriff who got home in a tight finish by a length.
Since its return to Denise’s kennel Missriff has certainly bucked her ideas up and is running well. This success takes her top of the open maiden points competition, two points clear.
The last race of the night was the open restricted race with Huntsman’s Major starting as the favourite after his two impressive wins at the venue.
However as they came back into sight on the finish it was Christine Brownlee’s Monsoon who came with a short lead followed by her other hound Malia and they went on to record a kennel one-two.
They were followed home by Martin and Molly Burrow’s Thorn Rose and then Huntsman’s Major.
Trailing moves back to Redmain at the weekend for the Farrell Gorley Trails. There will be a four card meeting with the first trail slipping at 1pm.
Then on Sunday action moves back to Helton with a four-card meeting with the first slip at 4pm.
Latrigg – July 13
- Hounds – 1. Huntsman’s Rebel; 2. Overwater Eddie; 3. Huntsman’s Quirk; 4. Huntsman’s Rally; 5. Huntsman’s Quantum; 6. Tommy’s Dream. 7 ran, time 27.47.
- Pups – 1. Mel; 2. Embrace; 3. Croft Lass; 4. Money Talks; 5. Artist; 6. Huntsman’s Sunshine. 6 ran, time 16.59.
- Open Maiden – 1. Missriff; 2. Thorn Bear; 3. Eden Romina; 4. Ruby; 5. Overwater Marvin; 6. Trinket. 15 ran, time 17.56.
- Open Restricted – 1. Monsoon; 2. Malia; 3. Thorn Rose; 4. Huntsman’s Major; 5. Jenny’s Oracle; 6. Charisma. 10 ran, time 17.25.
