As the HRA season is fast approaching, most trainers will be taking this final week to ensure their hounds are in top condition ready for the seven-month campaign.
The opening Championship meeting of the season is today at St Helena for a three- grade meeting (Seniors, Pups and All-in) with the old dogs slipped at 5.15pm.
There was a look round on Sunday where the Open Pup race was won by James and Ava Mclellan’s Ava Jean and connections will be looking to repeat the win on Wednesday at the opening meeting.
Anyone fancying a bet on the 2026 puppy and senior championships can get the prices on request from Mark Bryden.
Only one March trial meeting took place last week at Oulton where 67 hounds turned out on the afternoon for a three-race card.
The weather was typical Cumbria with rain and wind for the most of the afternoon but luckily having some dry spells throughout the day.
The Pups had a slip of 20 and once away and going over the first road, Anna and Kerry Lindsay and Janie McAulay’s Zinger was leading them.
Reports came in from the second road crossing that four had broken clear – Martin and Molly Burrow’s, Ian Freyne, and Ger and Jennifer Kenneally’s Thorn Daisy; Sadie, Kessi and Graham Wilson’s Cinderella; Nicola McMaster and Barbara Telford’s Rodney Ranger and Darren and Julie McMaster and Sadie Wilson’s Tartan Raider.
The hounds are then seen going along the beck edge and the same four hounds were racing on well and were extending their lead.
They then go out of sight into the wood and when they came out and onto the finish Thorn Daisy had established a 40-yard lead and maintained that advantage to go on and win ahead of Rodney Ranger and Cinderella.
The seniors had the largest line up of the day with 28 at the slip. Once sent on their way and going over the first road Les and Graham Reid and Ellie Napier’s Mel was leading them from a good line of hounds.
When word came back from the second road crossing Mel was leading from Darren and Julie McMaster and Anthony Skelton’s double champion Silver Dream with George McGimpsy, Gillian and Millie Telford’s Millie’s Lass in third.
There was a gap then to the chasing hounds which were being led by Colin Satterthwaite’s Thorn Pop and Graham Reid and Ellie Napier’s Brown Sugar.
When they came into sight along the beck edge the same leading three had found another gear and had stolen a march going out of sight.
Out of the wood and onto the finish Millie’s Lass had taken charge and was never headed up the long finish to win by three lengths from Silver Dream with Mel in third.
The final race of the day was the All-in with a field of 19. Once slipped, and going across the first road, Martin, Molly and Teddy Burrow and Sarah Jackson’s Thorn Soul was leading the line of hounds.
At the second road crossing, however, Paul Airey and Joanne, Lauren and Sophie Hodgson’s Meadow Artisan and Joanna, Martin, Molly and Teddy Burrow’s Thorn Thunder had gained a small advantage.
When they came into sight along the beck edge Meadow Artisan and Thorn Thunder were nicely clear of Thorn Soul who, in turn, was well ahead of the remainder.
Appearing out of the wood and coming onto the finish Meadow Artisan just managed to hold off the fast-finishing Thorn Soul who pipped her kennel mate Thorn Thunder on the line for second.
Saturday March 28 – Oulton
- Pups – 1. Thorn Daisy; 2. Rodney Ranger; 3. Cinderella. 20 ran, time 16.38.
- Hounds – 1. Millie’s Lass; 2. Silver Dream; 3. Mel. 28 ran, time 16.20.
- All In – 1. Meadow Artisan; 2. Thorn Soul; 3. Thorn Thunder. 19 ran, time 16.45
Upcoming fixtures
- Wednesday April 1: St Helena – H, P, AI (5.15pm)
- Saturday April 4: Low Place – H, P, OM, AI (1pm)
- Sunday April 5: Oulton – H, P, OM, OR (2pm)
- Monday April 6: Low Place – H, P, OM, OR (2pm)
- Wednesday April 8: St Helena – H, P, AI (5.30pm)
- Thursday April 9: Oulton – H, P, OM (5pm)
- Saturday April 11: Low Place – H, P, OM, V (1pm)
- Sunday April 12: Oulton – H, P, OM, OR, V (2pm)
- Tuesday April 14: St Helena – H, P, AI (5.45pm)
- Thursday April 16: Oulton – H, P, ONW (5.30pm)
- Saturday April 18: John Pattinson Memorial Races – Helton – H, M, P, OR, V (4pm)
- Monday April 20: St Helena – H, P, AI (6pm)
- Tuesday April 21: West Woodburn – H, P, OM, AI (5pm)
- Wednesday April 22: St Helena – H, P, AI (6pm)
- Saturday April 25: Whitehaven Classic – Cold Fell – H, M, P, PM, OR (11am)
- Tuesday April 28: Gamelsby – H, P, OM, AI (5.15pm)
- Thursday April 30: West Woodburn – H, P, V, AI (5pm)
