Because of the heat, Thursday’s planned meeting at Wardhall was put back to Friday evening due to the very hot forecast.
Perhaps not surprisingly under the circumstances the four-race card only attracted 21 runners.
Just three were in the opening senior trail but included reigning champion and table leader Silver Dream, who was expected to add another win to her record.
But it didn’t pan out like that and Silver Dream, along with Miterdale Green Queen didn’t complete the course after showing up earlier.
Initial reports came in from Bridekirk that Darren and Julie McMaster and Anthony Skelton’s Silver Dream and Stephen Irving and Caroline Graham’s Zoya were leading but as they went out of sight Sophie Steele, Jake and Zach Green’s Miterdale Green Queen had taken over the lead and was going well at the front.
However, going past the field Zoya had established a lead and maintained that to claim her first senior victory of the season but she was the only one to finish.
The Open Pups had six entries and going through the first gate Martin and Molly Burrow, Ian Freyne, Ger and Jennifer Kenneally’s Thorn Daisy was off best with Tony, Marlene, Connor and Carter Irving and Gary Woodend’s Bewley in pursuit.
The hounds could be seen going past the field after roughly two minutes where Thorn Daisy had pulled away from Joseph Abram and Claire Crone’s Silver Girl and Stephen Riley and Isla Hetherington’s Fable.
Back into view going past the field with about six minutes racing left three of them had developed a slight lead, with the trio being led by Thorn Daisy who was still leading from Sadie, Kessi and Graham Wilson’s Cinderella.
Coming out of the dip before they cross the final road onto the finish Thorn Daisy had pulled away and had a 200-yard lead on Cinderella.
However once over the road there was nothing between them.
But over the final hurdle and racing up the hill to the line Thorn Daisy pulled away to claim her seventh victory of the season over Cinderella and there was then a small gap to Silver Girl.
Fable finished fourth with Bewley and Miterdale Sauvage claiming the last two tickets.
There were only three runners for the Open Non Winners and going past the field very early on Andrew Bullman and Laura Steele’s Swifty was leading from Anthony, Steph, Sophie, Katie and Alfie Steele and Roy Laidler’s Miterdale Invictus.
When they went past the field again with about six minutes racing left Swifty had a 100-yard advantage over Miterdale Invictus.
Coming out of the dip and crossing the final road Swifty had gone clear and went on to claim her first victory of the season. She was the only one to finish.
The final race of the night, and the largest entry, was the Open Restricted with a line-up of nine.
Once away and going through the first gate Lee, Hayley, Joey and George Wall, Sandra Mordue and Ted Storrow’s Denton Phantom was away at the front with Anthony, Steph, Sophie, Katie and Alfie Steele’s Miterdale Rambler for company.
Going past the field early in the race Miterdale Rambler had taken the lead from the others in a group.
When they went past the field in the closing stages Glenis and Raymond Farren and Denise Bland’s Miss Becky was leading from Denton Phantom and then Brian and Erin Rowlandson and the late Billy Birkett’s Blue Striker.
Coming out of the dip Stephen Riley and Isla Hetherington’s Ruby had taken the lead from Miss Becky and Denton Phantom.
Over the final jump and up the hill racing to the line Denton Phantom finished really well to win by half a length from Ruby and Miss Becky.
Lisa and Holly Whitfield’s Lucky Breeze finished in fourth ahead of Blue Striker and Miterdale Rambler.
Wardhall – Friday June 26
- Hounds – 1. Zoya. 3 ran, only one finished. Time 37.39.
- Pups – 1. Thorn Daisy; 2. Cinderella; 3. Silver Girl; 4. Fable; 5. Bewley; 6. Miterdale Sauvage. 6 ran, time 17.13.
- Open Non-Winners – 1. Swifty. 3 ran, only one finished. Time 21.34.
- Open Restricted – 1. Denton Phantom; 2. Ruby; 3. Miss Becky; 4. Lucky Breeze; 5. Blue Striker; 6. Miterdale Rambler. 9 ran, time 18.19.
