Last night saw the first of four meetings planned for Wardhall, just outside Gilcrux.
Following a heavy shower the evening got out nice but was bitterly cold and the seniors got things underway with an excellent slip of 21.
Many of the top hounds were running so it was hard work for the bookie to set out his prices with most having the potential to win. It gave plenty of choice for the punters to back their fancy.
As the hounds showed at the half way point it looked to be a good race with the majority of the hounds still in contention. Then when they showed in the bottoms for the long climb up to the finish there were three hounds with a slight lead, followed by another two, and then the main group of hounds.
The three hounds in the lead were Silver Dream, Huntsman’s Rebel and Mel and they were neck-and-neck as they climbed up the hill.
Silver Dream was the favourite of those to go on and win as she usually finished well and up to half a yard off the tape she was getting the better of her rivals.
But almost right on the line Huntsman’s Rebel came back at her and just got up by a short nose to take the win, confirmed by the judge consulting the camera. What a finish though.
The win for Denise and Jenny Bland, Jim and Alan Little and Graeme Little’s Patterdale bitch makes it her third win of the season and moves her up to third in the championship table
Mel was close-up in third place for Les and Graham Reid and Ellie Napier while Alan Blacklock’s little hound Busy Again finished well to be fourth.
Foxparke Honk Honk finished in fifth place, having ran well at Wardhall as a pup so obviously has a liking for the course. Graham Reid’s Money Talks took the sixth ticket.
Next to go were the open pups and again there was a good slip of 26 hounds.
Thornton was the odds on favourite with Countess Ava at 5/2 followed by Sonny Bill and Huntsman’s Trouble both at 3/1.
It was another cracking race as they showed in the bottoms. Again three hounds were clear and battling it out as they came up the hill to the finish.
All three hounds were abreast of each other with Thornton in the middle accompanied either side by Countess Ava and Huntsman’s Trouble.
A yard off the tape and Thornton just had the advantage by half a length and he crossed the line in first place for his fifth win of the season and moved up to second in the puppy championship table.
After referring to the camera the judge could not split the hounds for second so gave a dead heat between James and Ava McClelland’s Countess Ava and Denise and Jenny Bland and Graeme Little Huntsman’s Trouble.
James and Ava’s Baroness Ava finished close behind in fourth place with Laura Steele, Andrew Bulman and Billy Birkett’s Sonny Bill in fifth. The last ticket went to Joy and Brian Lister’s Minnie Million.
The last race of the night was the open maidens with 38 runners. Croft Lass was evens followed by Hunter’s Flame at 5/2 and Dundee and Hey Mac at 3/1.
As they showed in the bottom there were four hounds with a lead followed by the main group. As they neared the line it was Derek and Joel Bulman and Neil and Gillian Bulman’s Dundee and their other hound Hey Mac who were pulling away from the other two.
As they crossed the line they took the one-two with Dundee winning by a couple of lengths from Hey Mac.
Finishing well in third was Lucky Moon for Geoff and Gillian Higgins with Tony Jackson and Ian Rudd’s Kinniside Jacko in fourth place.
The favourite, Croft Lass, was fifth for Carol and Stanley Jackson with Sophie Steele and Co taking the last ticket of the night with Miterdale Dust.
Action moves to the weekend now with the show season starting early at the Roman Wall Show in the borders where there is a five-race card with the first trail going at 11.30am.
There is also the Greenholme Show near Tebay. This will be the first time they have had trails at the show for a number of years and they also are putting on a five-race meeting.
June 5 – Wardhall
- Hounds – 1. Huntsman’s Rebel; 2. Silver Dream; 3. Mel; 4. Busy Again; 5. Foxparke Honk Honk; 6. Money Talks. 21 ran, time 26.48.
- Pups – 1. Thornton; 2. Dead heat – Countess Ava and Huntsman’s Trouble; 4. Baroness Ava; 5. Sonny Bill; 6. Minnie Million. 26 ran, time 18.01.
- Open Maiden – 1. Dundee; 2. Hey Mac; 3. Lucky Moon; 4. Kinniside Jacko; 5. Croft Lass; 6. Miterdale Dust. 28 ran, time 17.32.
