It felt like Summer had arrived at Friars Haugh, Kelso, on Saturday with temperatures in the high teens for the Buccleuch fixture where the highlights were another Northern Area double for Malton-based jockey Joe Wright and a first winner for both Becca Shepherd and Lisa O'Connor.
After showing promise on both Pointing starts in Ireland last season, Portgloriam's switch to Lesley Coltherd's yard paid instant dividends when he landed the 2m4f Davidson Land Services PPORA Club Members Maiden Race. Wright's mount had a good battle with long-time leader Diamond Flush (Lois Teal) from four out before sealing a two lengths victory with a slicker jump at the last.
This six-year-old half-brother to 161-rated chaser Nick Rockett was bought privately out of the ring at Goffs UK Doncaster Sales last May soon after being knocked down to champion jockey James King for only £1,000, and scored at Friars Haugh in the colours of Ed, Hazel and Grant Nelson.
Slaney Opera was another bargain buy (£1,000) at the same Doncaster Sale and the progressive seven-year-old had a bit in hand when making it two wins from four starts this term in the 3m Turcan Connell Restricted Race to complete Wright's double. Always going well, he forged clear after three out and still had three lengths to spare over Whatudoing (Nick Orpwood) at the line. This took Wright's career tally to 90, comprising 77 between the flags and 13 under Rules. Slaney Opera's next target is the 2m7f Weatherbys Hamilton Buccleuch Cup Maiden Hunters' Chase at Kelso on April 7.
More than nine years after making a winning racecourse debut in France, the evergreen Cash Again provided second season rider Becca Shepherd, 28, with a first winner on only her fourth spin between the flags in the 3m George Crawford Legacy Trust Mixed Open Race for Grass Roots Riders. Produced with a perfectly timed challenge to lead at the last, Becca's mount ran on strongly to beat hat-trick seeking Chameron (Emma Brown) by two lengths. Lightly campaigned since fracturing a pelvis after finishing 4th at Sheriff Hutton in January 2024, the thirteen-year-old is worth following if heading to Overton on March 22 for the valuable Novice Riders Mixed Open.
Becca started working for Middleham trainer Simon West back in 2015 and left a few years later before returning when she got the racing bug again. She said: ''This win means a lot to me and is very poignant as I sold my racing pony Hepplewood Berkeley Square to the late George Crawford.''
With members of her family from Tipperary watching on, first year Dundee University University student Lisa O'Connor, 20, enjoyed a memorable winning debut ride on former Willie Mullins-trained 140-rated hurdler Whatdeawant in the 3m James Ewart Racing and Stuart Coltherd Racing NPPA Area Conditions Race. Appreciating a big drop in class having previously run in three Grade 1 contests and been placed at the 2022 Cheltenham Festival, the nine-year-old had a prolonged duel for the lead with Amma Lord (Lucy Brown) on the final circuit before asserting from two out to score by three lengths in the best time of the day.
The winner crossed the Irish Sea to Lucinda Russell's Kinross yard in January 2024 and Lisa rides out there in her spare time. She said: ''Peter Scudamore was a great help to me leading up to the big day. Everything went to plan during the race and I just hoped that we hadn't hit the front too soon.''
At the other end of the scale, Buccleuch Point-to-Point chairman James Innes, 42, was a popular winner of the 3m Saffery Maiden Race on his own ex-Irish pointer Theoldboggroad. Suited by the step up in trip, the six-year-old led two out and was more fluent at the last than Shropshire raider Fayrely Fruitful (Henry Crow) before finding plenty on the run-in to score by three lengths.
Innes, a partner with insurance broker Weatherbys Hamilton and based at their Edinburgh Office, would love to ride Theoldboggroad in the aforementioned Buccleuch Cup which is sponsored by his employer. The winner, bought for £5,500 at Goffs UK Doncaster Sale last May, is related to prolific jumps winners Tommy's Oscar, Court Minstrel and Spirit Dancer.
The switch to front-running tactics worked a treat for Eagles Rock (Paddy Barlow) in the 2m4f Knight Frank Mixed Open Race. Setting a strong pace from the off, the Mike Cregan-trained seven-year-old maintained a relentless gallop and would have beaten Fugitives Drift (Lucy Brown) by more than two lengths had he not walked through the last. This was a welcome first Pointing winner of the season for Barlow, 23, after being placed on 10 of his previous 35 rides this term.
This was the final meeting overseen by course manager James Innes after a 37-year stint in the job and his small team had done a great job in reinstating the track after the hammering it took at last month's Berwickshire fixture.
For the record, this season's three Friars Haugh meetings had a total of 144 runners, with an average of 7.2 per race and some top quality action.
The main action was preceded by 3 pony races sponsored by Browns and Murray of Redden. The 148cm Novice Riders contest (6 runners) was won by Cookie (Lily Milburn) from Bartholomew (Scout MacGillivray) and Sunshine Surprise (Sienna Lamond), while the 148cm Open Race saw She's A Corker (Freddie Robson) beat solitary rival Dino Royale (Robyn Coulson). The 138cm Open Race (8 runners) resulted in another win for Berwickshire scorer Little Galway Girl (Neive O'Sullivan), with the minor placings filled by Silver (Freya Ainslie) and Mohammed Ali (Cara Wilson).
The next two Northern Area meetings are the Lanark & Renfrew at Overton Farm on Saturday 22nd March with a record prize fund of £7,500 on offer across seven races, and the Morpeth at Tranwell on Saturday 29th March.