Return to Potters Park for hounds

Sadie Wilson with Thornton – photo courtesy of Ellie Napier

Monday night saw a return to Potters Park following the highly successful Dog Produce Trails at the weekend.

Rodney Raider was back to see if he could bag another win and was the odds on favourite with the bookies at 4/6.

There was a relatively small slip of 12 runners but among them was Huntsman’s Rebel who has a good record round the course but didn’t manage to make that pay at the weekend.

The ever consistent pair of Mel and Money Talks for the Reid brothers were also running.

Out on the trail Rodney Raider was pushing on but Mel was close on his heels and making him work hard.

As they showed on the finish it was Rodney Raider, Mel and Huntsman’s Rebel who cleared the last fence but the sheep hindered the hounds and Huntsman’s Rebel came through from third place to take her second win of the season for Denise and Jenny Bland, Jim and Alan Little and Graeme Little.

Rodney Raider claimed second place for Nicola McMaster and David Todhunter with Mel for Les, Graham and new co-owner Ellie Napier taking third place.

The Dearham team claimed fourth place with Sarah Jane. while Carol and Stanley Jackson’s Croft Lass finished in fifth and Money Talk’s for Graham Reid took the last ticket.

Huntsman’s Rebel had been 4/1 so a good result for the bookies with the favourite missing out.

Next into action were the open pups with a good slip of 31 with Huntsman’s Time the even money favourite and Thornton next best at 2/1.

Out on the trail Huntsman’s Time was always just slightly off the pace with Thornton driving the race. As they came onto the finish Thornton put in a great driving performance on the finish and won nicely for Darren McMaster, Anthony Skelton and Sadie Wilson.

Huntsman’s Time finished in second for Denise and Jenny Bland, Graeme Little and Lisa Crosby.

Potters Park doesn’t seem to have suited Huntsman’s Time and she just hasn’t managed to come through and win like she has elsewhere once she has had a look round.

James and Ava McClelland’s Countess Ava finished well in third place with the much improved Sonny Bill for Laura Steele, Andrew Bulman and Billy Birkett taking fourth.

Denise’s other hound Huntsman’s Trouble, who out-performed Huntsman’s Time on Saturday, finished in fifth with the Yorkshire team of Tom, Sarah and Ryan Bell taking the sixth ticket with Ben.

The win for Thornton takes him up to joint second place in the puppy championship table but he will need to go some to catch current leader Huntsman’s Time who is eight points clear at the moment.

The open maiden race was next again with a good slip of 24 hounds and on the trail they soon got strung out with five hounds gaining a lead with each one taking turns at driving the race.

As they showed they were all still in with a chance of wining but it was Saturday’s veteran winner Adele who showed slight of foot and who finished well to take another win for the Yorkshire team. Adele had been even money in the bookies ring and is running well at the moment.

The Neale and Bryden’s hound Eagle Girl finished well but could only claim second place, with Paul Airey and Joanne Hodgson’s Meadow Artisan claiming third.

David Clifford’s hound Eden Romina finished fourth with Carol and Stanley getting a second ticket on the night with Charisma who finished in fifth. Charisma is the mother of Thornton. The Neale and Bryden camp also bagged sixth place with Eagle Rock.

The last race of the night was the All-In race with a slip of 26 hounds and when they showed on the finish it was the Napier and Butler kennel who had two hounds in the first six. Foxparke Fair Lady won the race while fifth went to Foxparke Side Kick.

Isla Hetherington and Stephen Riley took second place with Cautious, with the Yorkshire team taking third with Ron.

James and Ava claimed fourth with Duchess Ava, who has been off for a while and is just returning to competitive racing, with Christine Brownlee’s Malia taking the last ticket of the night.

Action moves to Wardhall on Wednesday night with the start of a series of four trails. The first trail gets underway at 6.45pm with a three race card.

All details of upcoming events is available at houndtrailingassociation.com