The latest HRA meeting at Kirkland Leaps attracted 96 hounds who contested four races.
It was an opportunity for the hounds to have a look around ahead of Festival of Hound Racing meeting on Saturday.
The smallest field of the day was 15 for the opening Seniors with Darren and Julie McMaster and Anthony Skelton’s Silver Dream being sent off favourite.
Once slipped she was away at the front from James and Ava McClellan’s Baroness Ava and Robyn, Ellie, Grace and Nicola Napier and Brooke Butler’s Foxparke Dealer.
The hounds can be seen from the field crossing the road where Robyn, Ellie, Grace and Nicola Napier and Brooke Butler’s Foxparke Honk Honk had gone ahead from Silver Dream, another of Robyn, Ellie, Grace and Nicola Napier and Brooke Butler’s hounds Foxparke Sidekick with a length back to Foxparke Dealer and Baroness Ava.
When reports came in from the puppy split Foxparke Sidekick was leading from Silver Dream, Baroness Ava and Stanley, Carole, and Sarah Jackson, David Loan, Ricky Deacon and Donald Hodgson’s Croft Lass.
Back into view on the top of the fell Foxparke Honk Honk was back at the front and was beginning to pull away from Foxparke Sidekick and Silver Dream.
Jumping the final wall and heading down the trod towards the finishing field Foxparke Honk Honk was still at the head of affairs from her two kennel mates Foxparke Beep Beep and Foxparke Sidekick.
Through the final gate Foxparke Beep Beep had taken over from Foxparke Honk Honk and Foxparke Sidekick, But after a good race to the line the reigning champion and table leader Silver Dream claimed the win with a few lengths to spare on Foxparke Honk Honk and Baroness Ava.
Croft Lass finished in fourth from Foxparke Beep Beep and Denise and Jenny Bland and Ella and Kyle Gallacher’s Jenny’s Chance.
The Pups had a slip of 22 and once away Martin and Molly Burrow, Ian Freyne, Ger and Jennifer Kenneally’s Thorn Daisy went to the front with Geoff and Gillian Higgins and Jake and Zach Green’s Acacia and Ruth and Charlie Dixon’s Is It It (currently trained by Denise and Jenny Bland).
The hounds can be seen from the field crossing the road after roughly three to four minutes racing where Nicola McMaster and Barbara Telford’s Rodney Ranger and his littermate Thorn Daisy were neck and neck with in behind Ruth and Charlie Dixon’s What Is It; George McGimpsey and Gillian, Millie and Charlie Telford’s Charlie’s Dream; Robyn, Ellie, Grace and Nicola Napier, Brooke Butler, Darren Clark and Donald Hodgson’s Foxparke Jubilees Jackpot and Is It It.
Dropping off the fell Thorn Daisy had the advantage over the chasing hounds and once they jumped the final wall she was still at the front and had a couple of yards to spare on Rodney Ranger and Geoff and Gillian Higgins’ Jake and Zach Green/s Azalia.
Coming through the last gate Rodney Ranger and Thorn Daisy were having a good race and they battled it out to the line.
It was Thorn Daisy who claimed her eighth victory of the season ahead of Rodney Ranger and Sadie, Kessi and Graham Wilson’s Cinderella.
Charlie’s Dream finished well in fourth followed in by Sarah Jackson, Willie Gill, Lisa Crosby, David Loan, Ricky Deacon and John Griesdale’s Croft Mist and Azalia.
The Open Maidens had a slip of 30 and once on their way and dropping out of sight Jonty and Evie Moore and Jack Thompson’s Nellie’s Pride was ahead with Neil and Gillian Brown and Joel and Derrick Bulman’s Dundee.
Crossing the road Dundee was leading from Anna and Kerry Lindsay’s Discover; Stuart Jeynes’ Heartside and a few lengths back to Nellie’s Pride, who in turn had a lead on David Clifford’s Eden Romina.
Coming through the final gate Discover had a few lengths to spare but as they neared the line Heartside finished well to claim the win over Graham Reid’s Strawberry Mick who had come through quickly for second.
Discover had to settle for third with Les and Graham Reid, Erin Rowlandson, Barbara Jones and Steven Walker’s Minnie in fourth. Raymond and Glenis Farren and Denise Bland’s Miss Becky and Geoff and Gillian Higgins’ Lucky Moon claimed the last two tickets.
The final race of the night was the All-In and dropping off the fell it was a great sight with a long life of hounds having a really good race.
Coming through the last gate Brian and Erin Rowlandson and the late Billy Birkett’s Blue Striker and Malfunction were leading but were denied in the final stages by Senor who got through to win.
Blue Striker was second from Malfunction and they were followed in by Christine Brownlee’s Maeve; Robyn, Ellie, Grace and Nicola Napier, Brooke Butler and Darren Clark’s Foxparke Rita’s Rose and Sarah Jane.
Kirkland Leaps – June 29
- Hounds – 1. Silver Dream; 2. Foxparke Honk Honk; 3. Croft Lass; 4. Baroness Ava; 5. Foxparke Beep Beep; 6. Jenny’s Chance. 14 ran, time 29.20.
- Pups – 1. Thorn Daisy; 2. Rodney Ranger; 3. Cinderella; 4. Charlie’s Dream; 5. Croft Mist; 6. Azalia. 22 ran, time 20.13.
- Open Maidens – 1. Heartside; 2. Strawberry Mick; 3. Discover; 4. Minnie; 5. Miss Becky; 6. Lucky Moon. 30 ran, time 20.35.
- All In – 1. Senor; 2. Blue Striker; 3. Malfunction; 4. Maeve; 5. Foxparke Rita’s Rose; 6. Sarah Jane. 30 ran, time 20.13.
