Tuesday night saw a return to Cobra Castle for a three-card meeting and all the trails were well supported.
James McLelland and his team of helpers had been up at the trail field in between meetings making good the track up onto the field and had put in some hard core to make it better for the cars entering the field.
The senior hounds started proceedings with 17 runners and James was looking for a double again after success at the first meeting.
In the bookies ring Duchess Ava was odds on favourite to win but she had strong competition with Cautious and Winterfell both running.
As they past the field Cautious and Winterfell were leading the trail and the Duchess was only in about seventh position, but as they showed again on the fell she had made up ground and had caught Winterfell with Glamorous Ava making steady headway as well.
As they came up the last field Duchess Ava pulled away from her kennel mate Glamorous Ava to win nicely.
Kinniside Jacko for Tony Jackson, Ian Rudd and Geoff Higgins finished well in third place but then there was gap to Jonty and Evie Moore and Jack Thompson’s Ned’s Gain who seems to be gaining fitness.
Ron, for the Bell family, was in fifth with the last ticket going to Denis Pear and Jackie Gill’s Miterdale Duchess.
The reigning senior champion Winterfell finished well but was after the ticketing hounds.
The win for James and Ava McClelland’s Duchess Ava takes her joint top in the senior hound championship table.
Next to slip were the open pups and after the disappointment of the first meeting everyone was hoping they would manage to run the trail better this time round.
All was well this time following the slip of 17 pups but at the half-way point some of them seemed to be struggling and a few returned.
Countess Ava, for James McClelland, and Snowfell for Barry Laidler and Caroline Clough’s were well clear when they next came into view in the bottoms.
However, when they came onto the finish, Countess Ava had established a lead and won nicely again for James and Ava to give them their second double win. Double wins these days seem to be the in thing for April.
Snowfell finished in second place ahead of Stephen Irving and Caroline Graham’s Zeta who was third.
They were followed by the Bell family’s Ben, who was one of the unexpected litter out of Maggie’s Dream by Winterfell.
Foxparke Elliott’s Lad was fifth for the Napier and Butler kennel with last weekend’s winner at Low Place, Classmate for Barry Laidler and Caroline Clough, taking the last ticket.
The last race of the night was for the open maidens with 20 runners and it was a fairly open race with no clear favourite.
As the hounds navigated the course it was a good race to watch with any of them having the potential to win.
As they came up the last field it was the Napier and Butler kennel who were showing prominently with Foxparke Dealer, Foxparke Danny Elliot and Foxparke Whoosh edging clear to cross the line in first, second and third.
Baroness Ava finished well in fourth place, with Zola in fifth for Stephen Irving and Caroline Graham while Sophie Steele’s Miterdale Dust took the last ticket.
The HTA programme sees a return to Oulton on Thursday with another three-card meeting giving those hounds who prefer that type of running their chance to make a difference to the championship tables.
Denise Bland will be looking to continue her 100% strike rate at Oulton with her hound Huntsman’s Time, as at the moment nothing seems to be able to catch her round the course.
Even with Countess Ava’s latest win she is still one clear at the moment and this would move to two ahead if she wins on Thursday.
Last season’s puppy champion Rodney Raider will be looking for a repeat win as well and another success would mean the lead in the senior championship table with three wins. Action kicks off at Oulton at 5pm.
April 9 – Cobra Castle
- Hounds – 1. Duchess Ava; 2. Glamorous Ava; 3. Kinniside Jacko; 4. Ned’s Gain; 5. Ron; 6. Miterdale Duchess. 17 ran, time 27.41.
- Puppies – 1. Countess Ava; 2. Snowfell; 3. Zeta; 4. Ben; 5. Foxparke Elliott’s Lad; 6. Classmate. 17 ran, time 21.37..
- Open Maidens – 1. Foxparke Dealer; 2. Foxparke Danny Elliott; 3. Foxparke Whoosh; 4. Baroness Ava; 5. Zola; 6. Miterdale Dust. 20 ran, time 19.54.
