The last of the series of trails at Lowther Park was held yesterday and the sun. shining brightly, made it very pleasant for the spectators.
Across the four meetings there has been a mix of weather, with one even called off because the trailer was hampered by mist and fog.
But that’s hound trailing and you have to take the good with the bad and on this occasion the afternoon was set fair and there were five trails to entertain the crowd.
The senior hounds got things underway with a comparatively small slip of eight hounds. There was no Rodney Raider again as Lowther Park just isn’t his cup of tea but reigning champion Winterfell was back to see if he could get the better of his old rival Miterdale Duchess.
Word from outside was that Winterfell was heading up the race and when they came back into sight on the finish Winterfell had extended his lead and the 6/4 favourite finished well clear of the other hounds for Barry Laidler and Caroline Clough.
That win takes him to one point behind Rodney Raider in the championship table.
Miterdale Duchess finished in second place for Denis Pear and Jackie Gill, with Graham Reid’s Mel and Money Talks taking third and fourth.
Foxparke Mysteriously for the Napier and Butler kennel finished well to take fifth place with local hound Duchess Ava just off the pace finishing in sixth for James and Ava McClelland.
As the afternoon warmed up the pups were next to go with a much improved slip of 26 hounds.
The current table leader in the puppy championship Huntsman’s Time was running and was looking to make it four wins in a row.
As they ran the trail the word from outside was that Huntsman’s Time was in front and had a good lead from the remainder of the runners.
The little bitch can certainly run and she can drive the race from the start. As she came back onto the finish she had a good lead and crossed the line easily to take that fourth win in a row.
There was a gap to the rest of the hounds where Thorn Heart for Colin Satterthwaite just broke away leading up to the line to take second place with Thorn Star for Martin, Molly and Teddy Burrow’s taking the third ticket.
Next home was Lassie to claim fourth for the Bell family, and they also took fifth with Ben. The last ticket went to Zeta who just got up in front of the seventh hound for Stephen Irving and Caroline Graham.
Huntsman’s Time had been odds on in the bookies ring and the win extends her lead as she has nine wins and is five points clear of her nearest rival.
The open maidens were next to run and there were 31 in the race. The in-form Croft Lass was running and she was gambled down to 2/1 favourite.
As the hounds came back into sight four hounds had a lead and as they approached the line Croft Lass just pulled clear to take the win much to the relief of those who had backed her, but perhaps not so pleased were the bookies.
Thorn Thunder for Joanna, Martin, Molly and Teddy Burrow’s just got up to take third ticket from a close Miterdale Dust for Sophie Steele and Co followed by Mike Watson’s Persian Gold in fourth.
The Neal and Bryden kennel were fifth with Eagle Rock and the Foxparke kennel finished sixth with Foxparke Majesty.
Croft Lass certainly is in form at the moment having just won the maidens at the HTA May Day Premier Trails and the maidens at the Whitehaven Classic at Cold Fell. Stanley and Carol Jackson were well chuffed with her performance.
The Open Restricted race was next with seventeen runners. It was an open race and as they showed Kinniside Bobby for Sophie Steele had about fifty yards on the other hounds but as they climbed up towards the line the remaining pack were chasing him down and before he could get across the line he was passed by the fast-finishing Milo Moon for Tracey Hill, who had been sent off an 8-1 shot.
Sophie had to settle for second place with Kinniside Bobby while Christine Brownlee’s Malia was close up in third. Sophie’s other hound Kirkhead Rebel finished in fourth place.
Two Penrith hounds were fifth and sixth – David Clifford with Eden Rayna and Sportsman for Daphne and Willie Marks.
The last race of the afternoon was the veterans with a good slip of 16 and most of those eligible were running.
The race itself was slower than the previous ones but as they showed on the finish Blue Diamond for Brian and Erin Rowlandson had about fifty yards lead and crossed the line nicely for the win at 4/1.
In second place was Rebok for Julie Birkinshaw and Brain Graham while Hawskwood finished in third for Denis Pear and Jackie Gill.
The Bell family were fourth with Adele and the Foxparke kennel took the remaining two tickets with Foxparke Jiggly Puff and Foxparke Mo Farren.
Action moves to Bridekirk on Monday night with a four-race meeting, the first trail getting underway at 6pm.
May 11 – Lowther Park
- Hounds – 1. Winterfell; 2. Miterdale Duchess; 3. Mel; 4. Money Talks; 5. Foxparke Mysteriously; 6. Duchess Ava. 8 ran, time 34.43.
- Pups – 1. Huntsman’s Time; 2. Thorn Heart; 3. Thorn Star; 4. Lassie; 5. Ben; 6. Zeta. 26 ran, time 18.13.
- Open Maidens – 1. Croft Lass; 2. Thorn Thunder; 3. Miterdale Dust; 4. Persian Gold; 5. Eagle Rock; 6. Foxparke Majesty. 31 ran, time 18.13.
- Open Restricted – 1. Milo Moon; 2. Kinniside Bobby; 3. Malia; 4. Kirkhead Rebel; 5. Eden Rayna; 6. Sportsman. 17 ran, time 18.08.
- Veterans – 1. Blue Diamond; 2. Rebok; 3. Hawkswood; 4. Adele; 5. Foxparke Jiggly Puff; 6. Foxparke Mo Farren. 16 ran, time 19.11.
