Tonne up for Tristan at Dumfriesshire Hunt point-to-point

Mr Shahady set the ball rolling when getting off the mark in an incident packed fourteen runner Roucan Loch Crematorium Open Maiden Race in which only three finished. Always in the leading pair, Davidson’s mount took it up a mile from home and was left out on his own when Ballyanrahan fell three out and brought down the favourite, Just Awake. Mr Shahady coasted home 12 lengths clear of Whisperdale to give Newton-by-the-Sea owner/trainer, Victor Thompson a welcome first success of the season. He bought the nine-year-old for £10,000 at Doncaster Sales in August 2011.
After being placed on his two previous starts this term at Alnwick, Sharivarry showed that he is on an upward curve by completing Davidson’s century in the NPPA Club Members Race. Always going well behind the leaders, the response was immediate when Davidson pressed the button after three out as his mount swept past Another Dark Rum as if he was standing still before strolling home ten lengths in front of Instant Shot.
The eight-year-old winner was originally bought by Thompson for £11,000 at Doncaster Sales in August 2011, before being sold privately after scoring twice at Alnwick in 2012. He subsequently failed to shine under Rules from James Ewart’s yard and was bought back by Thompson for only £3000 at Doncaster Sales in May 2013.
For the record, Davidson’s first winner came on Floruceva in the Cumberland Farmers Members Race at Dalston on March 13, 1999, and, in addition, he has ridden 14 winners under Rules.
Gunner Jack usually goes well fresh and duly repeated last year’s victory in the Bonhams Men’s Open Race. Given a positive front-running ride by Ed Wrigley, the 13-year-old comfortably brushed aside challenges from Ocarina and Tommysteel on the final circuit and still had two and a half lengths to spare over the former at the line. Wrigley said of the Clive Storey-trained winner: ‘’ He is a legend and that’s the tenth race he has won for me. He loves it round here, was able to dictate the pace on his favoured soft ground and kept up a relentless gallop. His next target is the 3m 5f Tynedale Men’s Open Race on March 2.’’
This latest success, the 18th of his career, came almost eight years after he scored on his racecourse debut in an Ayr bumper on March 11, 2006, when trained by Nicky Richards.
Rifle Shot was the most impressive winner of the day in the two and a half mile Scottish Performance Horse Clinic Open Maiden Race for four, five, six and seven-year-olds. Given a supremely confident ride by Ross Chapman, the seven-year-old settled well at the back of the 13 runner field from the off and was still 25 lengths behind the leaders heading out on the final circuit. He gradually eased his way into contention before slicing through the field like a knife through butter down the back straight to lie in third place three out.
Left in second spot when the favourite, Raynell fell at the next, Chapman’s mount quickened again to lead at the last and had a cosy four lengths in hand over Chandos at the line. This was a first training success of the campaign for Iveston-based farrier, Russell Ross, who bought the gelding privately last year out of Donald McCain’s yard. Chapman, 17, said: ‘’He did that nicely. I was sitting with a double handful as we turned into the home straight and didn’t have to move a muscle.’’
Present Potential supplemented last month’s Alnwick Maiden win in the Knight Frank Restricted Race. Patiently ridden by Kit Alexander, he reeled in the pace-setting Wacket Willie on the final circuit before hitting the front approaching two out and settled the issue in a matter of strides. Staying on strongly in the closing stages, he had eight lengths in hand at the finish. Winning owner/trainer, Nick Alexander said: ‘’He was highly regarded at one time in Ireland by his previous trainer, Mouse Morris but never reallised his true potential. He will be even better on a more galloping track but we had to change plans and run here after next Sunday’s Percy card at Alnwick was called off.’’
Gemma Cochrane, 22, enjoyed a first career win on ex-chaser, Tipsy Dara in the Turcan Connell Ladies Open Race. Always prominent, the 10 year old mare was sent on five out before forging clear up the home straight to beat Ashtonmore by a distance. Previously successful five times under Rules, all chases on soft or heavy ground in the hands of Lucy Alexander, the mare was bought privately from Mark Fleming last year by Cochrane’s father, Alistair. Gemma, who started riding out for Cumbrian trainer, Maurice Barnes last week, said: ‘’That was amazing. She has come on a lot for her seasonal debut at Kelso a fortnight ago and I couldn’t believe how far in front we were coming to the last.’’
The Northern Area season resumes on Sunday, March 2, with the Tynedale fixture at Corbridge.
 
LEADINGawards:
12.30pm 2m 4f open maiden race – 1, Rifle Shot (R Chapman) 5/1, 2, Chandos (N Orpwood), 3, Active In Milan (C Alexander), 13 Ran, 4l,15l, Mrs J Ross (Braes of Derwent).
1.05pm restricted race – 1, Present Potential (C Alexander) 7/2, 2, Wacket Willie (J Hamilton), 3, The Dapper Fox (C Dawson), 14 Ran, 8l,12l, Mr N Alexander (Fife).
1.40pm ladies open race – 1, Tipsy Dara (Miss G Cochrane) 5/1, 2, Ashtonmore (Miss K Bryson), 3, Miss Chatterbox (Miss E Young), 6 Ran, Dist,5l, Mr A Cochrane (Fife).
2.15pm men’s open race – 1, Gunner Jack (E Wrigley) 11/4, 2, Ocarina ( C Alexnder), 3, Tommysteel (T Davidson), 7 Ran, 2.5l,4l, Mr N Wrigley (College Valley & North Northumberland).
2.50pm open maiden race – 1, Mr Shahady (T Davidson) 5/1, 2, Whisperdale (J Hamilton), 3, Ballycarbery ( R Wilson), 14 Ran, 12l,8l, Mr V Thompson (Percy).
3.25pm NPPA Club members race – 1, Sharivarry (T Davidson) 3/1, 2, Instant Shot (F Campbell), 3, Dontpassgo (J Lyttle), 8 Ran, 10l, 2l , Mr V Thompson (Percy).