Heavy rain before and after racing failed to dampen the enthusiasm of a bumper Easter Monday crowd at the Downhills course near Corbridge for the Tynedale Point-to-Point which attracted the most runners of the 15 bank holiday meetings across the country.
After steering Milcree to victory on debut at Sandon on Saturday, equine dentist Lyall Hodgins made it a weekend to remember with the first treble of his career on West Lawn, Design Plan and debutant Deep Strato.
Jimmy Walton's 7-year-old home-bred mare West Lawn initiated the treble with a clear-cut success on her first start since early January in the Brewin Dolphin Men's Open Race, landing a gamble in the process after being backed down from 10/1 to 3/1. Always going well, Hodgins' mount disputed the lead two out with Western Run (Ben Smith) before forging ten lengths clear heading up the hill to the last and easily maintained that advantage to the line. Walton's proven stayer is likely to have one more run between the flags before going novice chasing.
Design Plan was an equally impressive winner of the Evelyn Partners Restricted Race, fulfilling the promise shown when finishing a close third at Overton last month on his return from a 297-day break. After hitting the front three out, the 11-year-old stayed on strongly from the next to beat Glory (Jack Power) by fifteen lengths in a good time. Owned and trained by Greystoke-based Joanna Richards, the winner is now for sale and would make an ideal schoolmaster as he has never fallen in 33 Pointing starts on both sides of the Irish Sea since March 2016.
Former top Northern jumps jockey Brian Harding has made a name for himself on the training front in the last few seasons with unraced youngsters carrying the colours of the late Trevor Hemmings and Deep Strato duly came up trumps in great style on his belated debut in the first division of the Walhouse Surveyors 2m4f Maiden Race.
Given a patient ride by Hodgins, the 5-year-old gradually warmed to his task before quickening away from market rival Jumble Jury (John Dawson) after two out to score, a shade cosily, by seven lengths. This was a 20th career success between the flags for Hodgins who is now only 4pts behind Nick Orpwood in the Hexham Auction Mart-sponsored Northern Area Men's Jockeys Championship with three meetings remaining.
The second division of the 2m4f Maiden Race was won in a quicker time by the lightly raced Thomas Labeille to give Leah Cooper, 22, a memorable first winner. Also owned and trained by Cooper, who works full-time for Sedgefield trainer Rebecca Menzies, the 8-year-old landed some nice bets having been supported down from 20/1 to 10/1. Left in front when the leader Nowmelad (Lois Teal) fell two out, her mount was always doing enough up the run-in to repel a late challenge from the favourite Wottinger (John Dawson) by half a length.
It was also a red letter day for Chloe McHattie who partnered ex-Irish chaser Ask Cory to victory on her debut in the saddle in the Lycetts Insurance Brokers Novice Riders Conditions Race. Sent on approaching the last, the 10-year-old kept on strongly up the run-in to score by two-and-a-half lengths from Shanroe Street (Gregor Walkinshaw). McHattie, who works full-time for Langholm trainer James Ewart, bought the gelding for £5,500 at Goffs Doncaster Sale in January.
After looking beaten at the last, Lois Teal's mount Minella Fair got up on the line to secure a short head verdict over Kingrullah (Joanna Walton) in the Womble Bond Dickinson Ladies Open Race. However, the victory was tinged with sadness as the winner broke down badly in the closing stages, while odds-on favourite Steely Addition (John Dawson) defied a 10lb penalty when holding on by a rapidly diminishing one length margin from Cuneo (Lyall Hodgins) in the Galbraith Conditions Race.
The main action was preceded by 3 pony races sponsored by Mowden Hall School. Braving the worst of the weather, the contests were won by Greenbarrow Goldsmith (Hugo Murray), Stretcholt Carousel (Warren Fentiman) and Judge Fox (Kaden Beasley) with the latter partnership recording a 4th success of the season.