One of the major meetings of the Hound Racing Association programme is being held this afternoon at Kelton Fell.
Although it incorporates part of the Kirkland trail, it is a new venue with youngsters having the chance of a look round quite recently.
The all-conquering Dearham kennel of Joseph Abram, Darren and Nicola McMaster were first and second on that occasion.
The bitch pup Cinderella beat her dog kennel-mate Rodney Ranger, so the runner-up is likely to go off favourite this afternoon.
What Is It was the only other dog pup to ticket back in fifth, but interestingly he dead-heated with Rodney Ranger at a subsequent trail held at Steel Rigg.
Zinger, another likely contender, appears to have been ruled out with a cough problem but there are others expected to challenge in Bewley, Miterdale Sauvage, Let Me Try Again and Charlie’s Dream.
Edward Crosby, vice chairman of the HRA and a member of the Whitehaven Area which is putting on the six-card meeting gives his thoughts on the day to Cumbria Crack’s John Walsh:
Walton Moss
Thursday night’s HRA meeting was held at Walton Moss just north of Carlisle.
This was the first of two planned meetings to be held at the venue.
In the senior hounds last year’s winner Sportsman was absent so with eight runners it was an open race.
Denise and Jenny Bland’s Huntsman’s Time led them away, followed by Flightline for Sarah White.
At the halfway point it was Flightline who had gone to the front followed by Huntsman’s Time in second and then Brian and Joy Lister’s Minnie Million.
Once onto the finish it was Jenny’s Chance who was leading the way with Minnie Million in second then there were a few yards to Huntsman’s Time in third.
In the closing stages Jenny’s Chance finished nicely to take her first win of the season but her seventh ticket.
There was a gap to the fourth with Flightline finishing well followed by Lee and Haley, George and Joey Wall and Sandra Mordue and Teddy Storrow’s Denton Adonis. Denise and Jenny Bland’s Huntsman’s Unite finished in sixth place.
The pups had a slip of 10 and again it was a fairly open race.
Once slipped it was Duncan, Amy, Oliver, Liam, Eleanor Chisholme, Harry Turner and Brian Graham’s Let Me Try Again who went out well.
When they passed the field he was still leading from Charlie’s Dream for George McGimpsey, Gillian, Millie and Charlie Telford, then it was Eagle Grace for Linda Neale and Josh Bryden in third.
As they came back on to the finish it was Let Me Try Again who had established a good lead and won nicely. He will definitely be a contender for the Dog Produce race this afternoon and one to watch.
Charlie’s Dream finished in second and came away by three or four lengths from Ruth and Charlie Dixon’s Was It It.
There was another gap to Nash On who finished in fourth place for Christopher Henderson with Paul Airy’s Meadow Rosie in fifth.
The last ticket went to Ruth and Charlie Dixon’s other hound Is It It.
The win for let Me Try Again was his second win so far this season.
The Open Maidens were next to run with a slip of 12 runners. Malcolm Holmes’ Senor, who is currently leading the Open Maidens points competition, was sent off as favourite.
After the slip Senor and kennel mate and sibling Senorita led them out of sight, when they came back into sight and passing the field the two hounds had extended their lead even further.
Once on the finish they were still together but as they approached the line it was Senor who just had a couple of length on Senorita and finished first to provide a one-twop for the kennel, with both hounds running well at the moment.
Mr Mally for George Burgeon and Carol Tunstall finished well in third place with Eden Romina not too far behind in fourth for David Clifford.
Delta Scribble was fifth for Sarah Harper and Lucky Legend finished in sixth for Lisa and Holly Whitfield.
The last race of the night was the All In with a slip of six hounds.
As they showed on the finish there were four hounds together and it was a good race between George McGimpsey and Gillian Telford’s Millie’s Lass and Blue Striker for Brian and Erin Rowlandson with Millie’s Lass just getting up in the last stride to take the win.
Blue Striker had to setting for second place with Ruth and Charlie Dixon’s Let It Be in third.
Walton Moss – June 4
- Seniors: 1. Jenny’s Chance; 2. Minnie Million; 3. Huntsman’s Time; 4. Flightline; 5. Denton Adonis; 6. Huntsman’s Unite. 8 ran, time 27.47.
- Pups: 1. Let Me Try Again; 2. Charlie’s Dream; 3. What Is It; 4. Nash On; 5. Meadow Rosie; 6. Is it It. 10 ran, time 22.15.
- Open Maidens: 1. Senor; 2. Senorita; 3. Mr Mally; 4. Eden Romina; 5. Delta Scribble; 6. Lucky Legend. 12 ran, time 20.49.
- All In: 1. Millie’s Lass; 2. Blue Striker; 3. Let It Be; 4. Denton Phantom; 5. Denton Shamrock; 6. Let’s Go For It. 6 ran, time 21.05.
