Last night saw the all-important look round at Kirkland Leaps in advance of the Festival Trails which will take place on Saturday.
There was a good turnout of dogs and the long finish makes excellent viewing for the crowds as they look down on the dogs finishing and crossing the line.
The senior hounds got things underway with a good slip of 23 and reigning champion Winterfell was back out and was made favourite, sent off at 5/4.
As they showed on the long finish three hounds had broken away and were racing well together. As they came into the last field it was Les Reid and Ellie Napier’s Mel running alongside Isla Hetherington and Stephen Riley’s Cautious with James and Ava McClelland’s Glamorous Ava in hot pursuit.
As the line approached it was Mel who was striding out the best and gained a couple of yards to take the win with Cautious staying on to take second ahead of Glamorous Ava.
There was a gap to the next bunch of hounds and it was Willie and Daphne Mark’s Sportsman who just pipped Silver Dream for Joe Abram and Nicola McMaster’s in-form Dearham kennel. Busy Again just got up to claim the last ticket for Alan Blacklock.
The win takes Mel to joint third place in the championship with Busy Again and she has improved significantly over the last few weeks, now starting to get the recognition that she deserves. Her new owner was also present to see her win and helped to shout her in alongside Les.
Mel had been 4/1 with the bookies but the favourite Winterfell was unplaced.
Next up were the open pups with a good slip of 39 and Huntsman’s Time and Thornton were the joint favourites at 5/4 on.
As they showed three had a slight lead over the others. It was local hound Countess Ava who was in front with Blue Striker in second and Lassie in third.
As they approached the line it was the 5/1 shot Countess Ava, for James and Ava McClelland, who held on to take first place by a short head with Lassie finishing really well and coming from third place to take second place for Tom and Ryan Bell from Yorkshire.
Blue Striker stayed on for third for Erin and Brian Rowlandson while Debbie and Lana McGee’s Apache Chief just got up to take fourth place from Ben for Tom Bell. Laura Steele, Andrew Bulman and Billy Birkett’s Sonny Bill claimed the last ticket. Both Huntsman’s Time and Thornton were unplaced.
Next to slip were the open maidens with 37 of them and as they came back onto the finish there were plenty of dogs in with a chance but it was local hound Baroness Ava for James and Ava McClelland who came through to take up the lead and she held on to cross the line in first place.
In second place was Thorn Thunder for Martin and Molly Burrows who just held on to take second place from a fast finishing Eden Romina for David Clifford. Tony Jackson and Ian Rudd’s Kinniside Jacko wasn’t far behind and finished in fourth place with Sophie and Katie Steele’s Miterdale Honesty in fifth. The last ticket was claimed by the Lindsay sister’s Inspect.
The last race of the night was the All-In and was won by Sarah Jane with Duchess Ava in second place.
Action moves to Helton, just south of Penrith on Wednesday night, with a four race card meeting with the first trail going off at 6pm.
July 1 – Kirkland Leaps
- Hounds – 1. Mel; 2. Cautious; 3. Glamorous Ava; 4. Sportsman; 5. Silver Dream; 6. Busy Again. 23 ran, time 28.40.
- Pups – 1. Countess Ava; 2. Lassie; 3. Blue Striker; 4. Apache Chief; 5. Ben; 6. Sonny Bill. 29 ran, time 21.46.
- Open Maiden – 1. Baroness Ava; 2. Thorn Thunder; 3. Eden Romina; 4. Kinniside Jacko; 5. Miterdale Honesty; 6. Inspect. 37 ran, time 20.52.
- All-In 1. Sarah Jane; 2. Duchess Ava; 3. Foxparke Honk Honk; 4. Maggie Moon; 5. Miterdale Duchess; 6. Adele. 28 ran, time 21.04.
