Point to point

Mar 31 2008 The Journal

ON an afternoon dominated by short-priced favourites, the mud-loving ex-hurdler, Harry Hooly brought some welcome relief for the bookmakers with his first win since November 2004 in the NPPA Club Members Race for novice riders in Saturday’s Berwickshire fixture at Kelso.

Given a confident ride by his trainer, Steven Turnbull, the 13-year-old led after a circuit before being headed four out by Majed. He found another gear to regain a three-length advantage after the next and seemed to have the prize sewn up at the last before the odds-on favourite, Tynedale, came with a wet sail on the flat under Kirsty Fitzgerald and failed by only a rapidly diminishing half-length margin to peg him back.

This was a first winner for second-season rider Turnbull who has a livery yard at Oxenham and a sixth success for Harry Hooly on his 50th career start.

Cupar amateur, Jamie Alexander celebrated his 43rd birthday in style with a first success as a trainer on the former David Parker-trained gelding Almost Blue in the first Maiden Race.

Always going well, the six-year-old cruised into the lead approaching the last and only had to be pushed out with hands and heels to beat The Skanky Farmer by two lengths. The winner changed hands for 6,500 guineas at the 2007 Doncaster August Sales and will be on my shortlist for the £8,000 added 21-and-a-half mile DBS Young Horse Hunter Chase Final at Perth on May 15.

Silk Parasol followed up her recent eye-catching effort in the Dalston mud by galloping the opposition into submission in the second Maiden Race. Ems Melody was still on terms four out but had no answer when Kelly Bryson’s mount forged clear after the next to score by 25 lengths. Half an hour later, Bryson doubled up on Lady Brig in the Intermediate Race to hit a new personal best seasonal tally of nine and at the same time extend her lead over Rose Davidson in the Ladies Championship to 21 points.

Twelve hours after setting off on his early-morning round delivering milk and newspapers, Irthington sheep farmer Tristan Davidson steered ex-chaser Behavingbadly to his second course win of the season in the Men’s Open.

Ideally suited by the rain softened ground, the 13-year-old led three out and forged clear approaching the last with Davidson looking round for non-existent dangers before beating Gangsters R Us by a dozen lengths. His next target is the three mile seven furlong Perth Champion Stayers Hunter Chase at the end of April.

Davidson also doubled up on Ishkado in the Restricted Race to take a four-point lead over the sidelined Andrew Richardson in the Men’s Championship with seven fixtures remaining in the 2008 season.

Jane Clark’s charge, reappearing only five days after finishing fourth to Charming Night at Alnwick went on four out and stayed on strongly to beat Daffi by 10 lengths.

PETER BURGON