The first trailing event of the weekend took place at Shap with a four-card meeting.
The Senior Hounds got things underway with a field of 13 but the leading contenders in the HTA Championship – Winterfell, Miterdale Duchess and Huntsman’s Quantum were all saving themselves for Sunday’s big event at Grasmere Sports.
Huntsman’s Rebel and Strawberry Mick were joint favourites and as the hounds came back on the finish it was a good race between the first four of them.
As the surge for the line increased Cracking Last One Two and Huntsman’s Rebel gained a few yards from the rest of the chasing pack.
In the end it was Cracking Last One Two for Bill and Pat Mellon and Tina and Robert Airey who held on to cross the line first with Huntsman’s Rebel just a yard behind.
The win was the first this season for Cracking Last One Two in the senior hounds and connections were pleased to see her coming back on form again. In the bookies ring she had been 6/1.
Sir Robert finished well for Ann and Malcolm Holmes to be third with Willie Marks’ Summer Spirit finishing in fourth place.
Next into action were the senior maidens with a smaller than usual field of eight runners.
Eden Romina was sent off the favourite but as they came back onto the finish seven out of the eight were in with a chance if they had anything left in the tank to make a strong finish.
Eagle Love for Linda Neale, Mark, Josh and Georgina Bryden was the one that came through and gained a few yards on Christopher Henderson’s Shine On to cross the line in first place.
Paul Airey and Joanne Hodgson’s Meadow Maggie finished in third place with David Clifford’s Eden Romina taking fourth ticket.
The Open Puppy race was next with a field of 14 runners and table leader Rodney Raider looking for a return to form after a couple of weeks of just not quite being on the money.
Even so he went off as favourite but he had competition from siblings Sarah Jane, Embrace and Artist all in with a chance of winning on recent form.
As they came onto the finish there were plenty of dogs in with a chance but it was Rodney Raider who pushed on and came away with a few yards but Sarah Jane and Embrace were still hard on his heels as they crosse the line with just a yard or so in it between all three hounds.
On this evidence it looks like Rodney is back firing on all cylinders and the win takes his lead over Embrace back to five points.
The last race of the day was for the Open Restricted race with twelve runners and the successful Dearham kennel of Joe Abram and Nicola McMaster had Maverick running and were looking to continue to extend his lead in the grade’s points competition. A second place would do nicely.
However as they came onto the finish Maverick was in the lead and despite taking his eye off the ball he managed to cross the line first to take the win.
He earned the full six points but the win now takes him out of the competition. However he has a thirty five point lead and may be difficult to catch between now and the end of the season.
Dream Catcher ran a good race to finish in second place for Brian and Joy Lister with Ian Bell’s Howgil Lil finishing in third.
Action moves to Grasmere Sports today with another four card meeting. The prize money for the four trails equates to £800 plus the chance to take home a share of the £200 for the hounds with the most points over the two events.
The first trail is slipped at 11am and the weather is looking good for the hounds and spectators, so it should be a good day.
Not all hounds will be running at Grasmere, some of the HTA members and their hounds have travelled across to Ireland to compete in the Donal O’ Mahony Trail which is taking place in Blarney.
It’s one of the big events over there and normally HTA dogs don’t travel across but this year there are representations going over. Glamorous Ava, who has been running well in recent weeks, is one of those testing herself in the emerald isle and hopefully all the HTA contingent will run well.
August 26 – Shap
- Hounds – 1. Cracking Last One Two; 2. Huntsman’s Rebel; 3. Sir Robert; 4. Summer Spirit; 5. Strawberry Mick; 6. Huntsman’s Quirk. 13 ran, time 31.12.
- Maidens – 1. Eagle Love; 2. Shine On; 3. Meadow Maggie; 4. Eden Romina; 5. Chapel Stile; 6. Imagine. 8 ran, time 32.19.
- Pups – 1. Rodney Raider; 2. Sarah Jane; 3. Embrace; 4. Sportsman; 5. Artist; 6. Denton Fury. 14 ran, time 19.44.
- Open Restricted – 1. Maverick; 2. Dream Catcher; 3. Howgil Lil; 4. Oakbank Izzy; 5. High Crag; 6. Twilight Mist. 12 ran, time 19.34.
