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 THE big trails have come thick and fast in the HTA at this time of the season – with the Bitch produce and International done and dusted.
On Saturday it’s the turn of the boys at Askam and, as usual, it’s the opposite sex who have been figuring in the puppy championship.
The leading juniors are all bitches but there have been one or two eye-catching wins from the dogs.
Brannigan, Huntsman’s Echo, Jenny’s Dream, Shiraz and Westgate Renney look to be the ones to be concentrating on with High Challenge and Sundown as other possibilities.
It’s not likely to be a big field either which suggests it could be a tightly competitive affair.
Matador has been running well recently but he’s a Non-Produce dog, otherwise he would have been right in contention.
I certainly put the mockers on Quiet Swallow in the Bitch Produce so connections might be aghast to read I am putting-up Huntsman’s Echo as the one to be on come Saturday.
They haven’t been able to use Askam since early in the season so there hasn’t been an opportunity for a run of late.
There’s a reminder too not to park on or block the lane to Askam trail field, as both sets of farmers who use this lane have requested this. Please respect their request so as not to put future trails in jeopardy.
It is also Ulverston Carnival and part of the A590 (County Road) will be closed for a short period of time, so try to avoid the area as this may delay your arrival to the trails.
Our look back at the week starts last Wednesday at Wath Brow where conditions were extremely hot – which may, or may have not, contributed to the disappointment of the opener.
The 14 seniors went-off ok but 13 of them returned to the start having gone round. Negress ploughed on regardless but when she got back to the beck the 45 minutes had elapsed and the trail was declared void – which seemed rather a shame after she alone had made such an effort.
Negress however did mange to negotiate the course and was in the river at the point of no return, 45 minutes - Void trail.
The pups got round without any problems and it proved to be a good race which was there for the winning – but was thrown away.
Alyssa looked nailed on coming out of the beck but she fluffed her lines and that let in Hot Flush who went on to win nicely by three lengths with Shiraz ten lengths away in third place.
Party Popper raced as Lyndhurst Charm last year and came up trumps for the Middleton brothers in the open restricted. She was enthusiastically shouted home coming clear on he finish to prevail by 25 lengths from Miss Molly.
They were at Grasmere on Thursday and again the weather was idyllic – although perhaps not for the dogs, some of whom were feeling the heat.
Fell specialist Westgate Ruby was sent-off the favourite and she looked to have opened-up a big lead going out of sight but at the final reckoning could only manage sixth spot.
Jenny’s Pride actually showed in front with about ten yards advantage but she was clearly tiring in the heat, which seemed to encourage her nearest pursuer Momento.
It was just enough and the Christine Brownlee charge summoned up one last surge to snatch victory on the line, to follow-up her recent victory at Crag Farm.
Just ten pups were sent on their way but they still produced an excellent finish – short in numbers perhaps, but not in class.
Huntsman’s Echo, Westgate Renney and Rose all came through the last gate virtually line abreast.
It was a thrilling battle to the line but Huntsman’s Echo always just seemed to have enough in hand and got there narrowly from the other two with the favourite Desire in fourth.
There was a big field of 34 for the open restricted and what’s that old horse-racing saying – the bigger the field, the bigger the certainty?
Well Chinatown was sent off favourite and just raced away with the spoils finishing a good minute clear of the second hound, Superseven.
They also raced at Gamelsby on Thursday and Show Girl battled through well to beat Quiet Pearl by two lengths.
Five or sic pups showed with a chance but it was High Challenge who emerged from the pack to go on and beat Quiet Swallow by three lengths.
It was a similar story in the open maidens where six showed with a chance and Hot as Hell got home by a length and a half to beat Splendid Star.
On Saturday at Coniston Tops heavy showers were seen passing over the fells and lake, but they managed to by-pass the trail-field.
In the end it was a pleasant evening’s racing with conditions near-perfect for racing.
In the seniors three came up the finish together but Nick, Trish and Yvonne Wilson’s Habana, finished very fast over the last few yards to win nicely by five lengths from the Barrow/Bland pair of Huntsman’s Charm and Huntsman’s Dazzler.
The long open maiden trail was a tight, very close finish with Liz and Charlotte Stobart’s Gifted taking the win from the Batty/Slee’ entry Farmer, although a look in the camera was needed.
The Pawley/Burrow/Hodgson’s Davina was a very close-up third.
Denise Bland and Denis Barrow took the spoils in the pups with Huntsman’s Echo who won by a considerable distance from Wendy Martin’s Mika and Denis Pears’ Valhalla.
They also raced at Crag Farm again on Saturday where Hot Fuss gradually wore down Owtlook to win the senior trail by two lengths.
Alyssa took the pups but actually made life hard for herself by running off a bit and a 20 length lead at that point was down to just eight from Chardonnay at the line.
Jealousy has been in great fettle recently and was set for a great battle with fellow International winner Newtown Ghost when they clashed in the open maidens.
In the end Jealousy battled through for her third win in the space of a fortnight, getting the verdict with a couple of lengths to spare.
A Dairy treble was in the offing when they went back to Redmain after the recent Bitch produce meeting.
Dairy Diamond and Dairy Singer had obliged on that occasion and although Dairy Diamond repeated her win in the open pups with a follow-up in Sunday’s puppy trail, that was the kennel’s sole success.
Dairy Song had been beaten by Owtback in the opening senior trail while Dairy Pearl finished behind Valhalla and Quiet Swift.
As usual the biggest field contested the open restricted and That’s a Deal, whose been showing good form of late, took the honours ahead of Maisie and Cracking Mischief.
On Monday back at Wath Brow there were no problems in the seniors this time. Alliance led all the way up the finish but had to hold-off a late challenge from Waltzing Matilda but had two lengths to spare at the line.
In the pups it was Hot Flush who led coming down the fell but Jet Rose came from third place to get the verdict by two lengths.
The open restricted trail produced a very good finish in which three hounds could have won. In the end Sunlight got the verdict by half a length from The Real Bandit with Amy Jo close-up and the other three ticketing hounds weren’t far away.
It was very hot and humid at Newlands on Tuesday, but there are great views of the fells and the hounds in action. It was also good to see quite a number of visitors there, including some re-homed hound owners, amazed at what the hounds do.
The only trouble with Newlands is that, after going through the fell close enough for reasonable identification, the hounds climb up again and go out of sight for three to four minutes, than have to cross the Catbells footpath to get the right line down the finish.
Some usually run on, but as they are out of sight it's impossible to see what happens.
However, the trails went off well. Lofty won the seniors by 10 yards from Gentle Lady, and these two were nicely clear of Westgate Ruby and the rest.
Trebor finished fast to take the senior maiden trail by five yards from Meadow Breeze, with a good race for the tickets.
In the pups, Sunshine came over the top in front and kept her lead all the way down, beating Westgate Renney, Huntsman's Echo and Sundown comfortably, and these four were well clear of the rest, who had probably run off behind the fell.
The night concluded with a good finish to the open restricted, as Deja Vu beat Pursuit and Tic Tac.
There was also a meeting at Grange Grassings which opened with a very competitive senior trail. Alfresco, Show Girl and Mayfair were neck and neck thundering towards the line.
Show Girl just seemed to ease off at the line and Alfresco came through to win by a length with Mayfair three quarters of a length away in third.
In the pups Matador showed his credentials with an easy win, by some 12 yards over Brannigan. A non-Produce son of Dairy One and Jigsaw, there will be a few more wins in the lock for John Grisedale and Heidi Messenger’s pup.
There as a tight finish to the open maidens with the veteran Sandy Bay just easing-out Splendid Star by half a length.
Latest results in the Border Association have been as follows:-
Tuesday 23rd June, Wintershields
Seniors: 1, Trust; 2, Marshman; 3, Farm Time; 4, Fire Ranger; 5, Denton Friendship; 6, On-Line. 11 ran, time 26.48.
Senior Maidens: 1, Skylark; 2, Lakeland Mist; 3, Fire Mist; 4, Spring Raider; 5, Jedi; 6, Maggie’s Dream. 6 ran, time 27.56.
Pups: 1, Spring Dream; 2, Bantry Bay; 3, Tune; 4, Jacko; 5, Gemini; 6, Fire Cracker. 18 ran, time 18.17.
Open Restricted: 1, Major; 2, Houxty Beck; 3, Gold Finger; 4, Mandesha; 5, Eagle Gill; 6, Silver Birch. 22 ran, time 18.10.
Thursday 25th June, Spadeadam Farm.
Seniors; 1, Trust; 2, Farm Time; 3, On-Line; 4, Major; 5, Marshman; 6, Jack Flash. 9 ran, time 27.17.
Pups: 1, Spring Dream; 2, Tune; 3, Gemini; 4, Jacko; 5, Prancer; 6, Bantry Bay. 9 ran, time 17.32.
Puppy maidens: 1, Spring Gale; 2, Summer Virtue; 3, Amber Gem. Only three finished, 7 ran, time 20.14.
Open Restricted: 1, Amber Salsa; 2, Silver Birch; 3, Hot Response; 4, Puzzle; 5, Gold Finger; 6, Houxty Bank. 20 ran, time 16.02.
Saturday 27th June, Sorbies Farm.
Seniors: 1, Marshman; 2, Farm Time; 3, Denton Friendship; 4, Fire Ranger; 5, On-Line; 6, Major. 10 ran, time 30.23.
Senior Maidens; 1, Mr Ed; 2, Lakeland Mist; 3, Castle Brae; 4, Spring Raider; 5, Lakeland Echo; 6, Maggie’s Dream. 8 ran, time 34:18.
Pups: 1, Storm; 2, Fire Cracker; 3, Spring Gale; 4, Jacko; 5, Gemini; 6, Castle Craig. 10 ran, time 17.08.
Puppy Maidens: 1, Amber Gem; 2, Kim; 3, Langdale; 4, Brooksie. 4 ran, time 20.03.
Open Restricted: 1, Eagle Gill; 2, Newman; 3, Silver Birch; 4, Puzzle; 5, Denton Memory; 6, Blythe Spirit. 12 ran, time 15.52.
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