The 2022/23 Northern Area Point-to-Point season kicked off on a positive note with 43 runners in 6 races on last Sunday's well attended Border Hunt card at Hexham Racecourse. In contrast to last year's near freezing conditions in the aftermath of Storm Arwen, racegoers enjoyed the luxury of double figure temperatures at this picturesque venue.
Former Men's National Champion jockey Jack Andrews made it four winners from five rides this term with a short-priced double on Warwickshire raiders Andy Du Pierres and Nickolson, both trained by Julie Wadland who was paying a first visit to Hexham.
Andy Du Pierres and Torngat (Tom Greenwood) exchanged the lead in the Border Hunt Maiden Race until the former finally gained the upper hand from two out to score by two-and-a-half lengths in a slow motion finish.
Andrews said of the 4-year-old: ''It was hard work in that ground and he finished very tired. He was very gutsy as he could have easily thrown in the towel a long way from home but instead dug deep and he'll definitely improve on better ground.''
131-rated hurdler Nickolson appreciated the drop in class when getting back on the winning trail on his first start for Wadland's Leamington Hastings yard off level weights in the 2m4f Friends Of The Border Conditions Race.
After being held up in the early stages, he reeled in the leaders on the final circuit before taking it up from Firak (Aidan Weaver) two out and kept on well up the run-in to win by three-and-a-half lengths. This was a 170th career success under all codes for Andrews, comprising 129 between the flags and 41 under Rules.
The double was just reward for Wadland's 470-mile round trip and the return journey would seem a lot shorter. She ended last season with a winner at Garthorpe on May 22 and sent out her first winner more than twenty years ago. Noted for her ability to hit the ground running, these latest successes enhanced an already impressive first-time out record.
Cherie D'Am upset odds-on favourite Pep Talking when making a winning debut in the 2m4f Ward Hadaway Maiden Race in the hands of her trainer John Dawson. Always going well, she headed Pep Talking (Jack Andrews) as the pace quickened on the long downhill run approaching three out before forging clear from the next to score by a distance.
Dawson said of the 4-year-old filly: ''She was bred in France by James Reveley and joined my Great Ayton yard in the summer. She has a touch of class and has always schooled well. There are good horses in the pedigree, including multiple winners Crowning Jewel, Pennys Pride, Sultans Pride and Victor Hewgo, and her family all seem to do better with time.''
Exod'ela struck gold on his first start for Goodmanham based owner/trainer Mary Sowersby in the Carrs Billington Men's Open Race. Given a confident ride by Jack Power, the 8-year-old was always in the first two and, after being produced with a well-timed challenge to head Diable De Sivola (Will Ramsay) at the last, forged clear on the flat to win by ten lengths.
Power said: ''This completes an unbelievable week after winning on Caius Marcius at Doncaster Races on Friday for my new boss Nicky Richards. I had been sidelined since August 1 after breaking eight bones in my foot and only got my jockeys' licence back last Monday. I held onto him coming down the hill after four out and knew he had plenty left in the tank coming to the last.''
The winner is definitely worth following in this company on the staying tracks in the North. He won a Lismore Maiden on debut in March 2019 under Derek O'Connor on soft to heavy ground before joining Jamie Snowden and posted a career-best effort over fences from his yard when 4th in a 4m contest on the adjoining NH track in November 2021.
Amy Coltherd recorded her third win from only four rides on Oscar Wilde in the Equine Products (UK) Ladies Open Race. Patiently ridden, the 8-year-old led after three out and stayed on well in the closing stages to beat Billy Bronco (Emily Grice) by five lengths.
The ultra-consistent Ballydonagh Boy defied a 3lb penalty under Rosie Howarth when making a winning reappearance in the Robson & Cowan NPPA Conditions Race in the best time of the day, his fifth victory from eight starts on the Northern Area circuit in 2022. He jumped well and made virtually all the running before comfortably holding off a late challenge from Coole Hall (Will Ramsay) by a length.
''He's a legend,'' remarked Howarth and the partnership is likely to be back in action at Alnwick's opening fixture on December 11.
The meeting concluded with the presentation of The Tony Ward Memorial Trophy to John Dawson as the leading jockey at the Haydon and Border fixtures in 2022. He scored 21pts, which included 5 winners, and finished 11pts ahead of runner-up Jack Andrews.
For the record, the ratio of runners to individual horses entered was an impressive 82.7% (43 from 52).