Monday saw a return to Dubbs Lane following the HTA October Premier Trails at the weekend.
There was another six-race meeting with a number of different grades for hounds to run in but as usual the senior hounds got things off to a start with a good slip of 17 runners.
Following her win on Saturday, Lady Million was the favourite in the bookies ring when they slipped but as they went through past the trail field it was Money Talks and Mel who were heading up the race.
Both Lady Million and Foxparke Beep Beep were further back when they went through but once they showed on the finish on the top of the fell it was Mel who came on her own and won easily for Ellie Napier and Les Reid, with Graham Reid’s Money Talks finishing in second place.
Eden Rayna did a repeat of Saturday and finished in third place with Denise Bland and co’s Huntsman’s Rebel moving up one place and finishing in fourth. Huntsman’s Quantum finished well for the Little’s with Tom and Ryan Bell’s Ron in sixth place.
Possibly those have been two opportunities squandered for Huntsman’s Rebel in the title race with the likelihood that Silver Dream will win today on home ground again.
The senior maidens were next with a slip of just six hounds and as they went through it was Charisma and Foxparke Bugga Boo who were leading. When they came over the top Charisma was still there and dropped in well to take the win for Stanley and Carol Jackson.
Foxparke Majesty had made ground up and just beat Green Queen for second place with Foxparke Bugga Boo finishing in fourth place. Foxparke Whoosh was fifth making it three out of six for the Foxparke Team. Only five of the six finished.
The open pups were next with a slip of 13 and Saturdays winner Apache Chief was running and was made favourite to win again.
As they went through past the trail field it was Senor, Huntsman’s Time and Thorn Soul who were the leading hounds. As with other races once they cross the road it must be a tricky little part of the trail for the hounds to negotiate as the runners can often change some time dramatically.
As the hounds showed on the top it was now Apache Chief who was heading up the race followed by Huntsman’s Time but the hound that dropped in the best was Blue Striker for Erin and Brian Rowlandson, who came from third place to win the race much to the delight of both of them.
Usually the little dog is there or thereabouts but always seems to do something which loses him the race but not this time as he dropped down well and crossed the line in first place.
Apache Chief was second for Lana and Debbie McGee with Huntsman’s Time taking third place for Denise Bland and co.
Sisters Thorn Soul and Maeve finished in fourth and fifth place with Foxparke Elliot’s Lad taking sixth ticket.
The Maiden race and the Pups race were a family affair with Charisma winning the maidens, being the mother to Apache Chief, Thorn Soul and Maeve.
Next to race were the open Non-Winners with a slip of nine and as they past the trail field the punters were able to get a good look at the hounds. It was Miterdale Rumble, Spring Return and Good Enough who had established a lead with Come Fly With Me and Spring Remedy close behind.
This group had broken away from the remaining hounds in the race and once back on the top of the fell there were still five hounds together. It was a good race as they dropped, but some ran wide which may have changed the outcome of the race.
But that’s hound trailing for you and why it can be so exciting. In the end it was Miterdale Rumble for Sophie Steele who crossed the line in first place, followed closely by Jenny Horn’s Spring Return and Graham Reid’s Good Enough.
Huntsman’s Delight was given fourth with Spring Remedy taking fifth. There was a slight gap to the sixth hound which was Come Fly With Me for the Chisholm family.
The open restricted were next with a slip of 11 and as they went through past the trail field it was Foxparke Fair Lady who had a nice lead. Once in view on the top it was Barbara and Geoff Jones’ Lily who showed with a lead of about three or four lengths.
She managed to hold onto this lead as she dropped in to take the win for Barbara and Geoff much to their delight. Foxparke Sassy Girl had made up ground after having made a mistake in clearing one of the walls as they past the trails field to take second place with kennel mate Foxparke Fair Lady finishing in third.
Bretton finished in fourth place for Julie Birkenshaw with Christine Brownlee’s Maeve in fifth ahead of Willie and Daphne Mark’s Summer Spirit.
The last race of the day was for the veterans with nine runners. Miterdale Duchess had won on Saturday and started the race as the odds-on favourite. But Ian Bell was hoping to go one better as his Howgill Lil was only neaten by a short nose at the weekend.
Going through it looked like she might have the upper hand over Miterdale Duchess as she was heading up the race followed by Adele and Reebok in third.
Once they showed on the top it was Howgill Lil and Adele who were together followed by Miterdale Duchess in third place. Neither Adele nor Miterdale Duchess managed to head Howgill Lil as she dropped in and crossed the line with a couple of yards to spare, this time much to the relief of Ian who was over the moon with the little dog’s performance.
Reebok for Brian Graham finished in fourth place with the Napier and Butler’s Foxparke Jiggly Puff in fifth place. The last ticket of the day went to Sarah Harper with Delta Script making her long journey down to Windermere from Rockcliff north of Carlisle worth it.
Again the in-form breeding line was the combination of Jenny’s Aura and Foxparke Billy Elliot with a number of the ticketing hounds coming from this pairing. Mel, Money Talks, Foxparke majesty along with Foxparke Elliot’s Lad, Miterdale Rumble and Good enough have all come from that line but in different litters.
Trailing returns to Dearham today with expected wins for Silver Dream and for Thornton who seems to have come back to his winning ways after his performance last week. Having been rested over the weekend they should both be in good form.
Then it’s on to Seaton on Thursday for the first of three trails to be held there over the final weeks with the second of the three being held on Sunday October 13. Thanks go to Woodend Roofing Limited which sponsored all the trails on the day.
October 7 – Dubbs Lane
- Hounds – 1. Mel; 2. Money Talks; 3. Eden Rayna; 4. Huntsman’s Rebel; 5. Huntsman’s Quantum; 6. Ron. 17 ran, time 34.25 (subject to confirmation).
- Maidens – 1. Charisma; 2. Foxparke Majesty; 3. Green Queen; 4. Foxparke Bugga Boo; 5. Foxparke Whoosh. 6 ran, only five finished. Time 37.46.
- Pups – 1. Blue Striker; 2. Apache Chief; 3. Huntsman’s Time; 4. Thorn Soul; 5. Maeve; 6. Foxparke Elliot’s Lad. 13 ran, time 18.54.
- Open Non-Winners – 1. Miterdale Rumble; 2. Spring Return; 3. Good Enough; 4. Huntsman’s Delight; 5. Spring Remedy; 6. Come Fly With Me. 9 ran, time 21.35.
- Open Restricted – 1. Lily; 2. Foxparke Sassy Girl; 3. Foxparke Fair Lady; 4. Bretton; 5. Malia; 6. Summer Spirit. 11 ran, time 18.21.
- Veterans – 1. Howgill Lil; 2. Adele; 3. Miterdale Duchess; 4. Reebok; 5. Foxparke Jiggly Puff; 6. Delta Script. 9 ran, time 18.39.
