Report – HAYDON (Saturday 16th May)

There was a perfect ending to the Haydon fixture at Hexham Racecourse on Saturday with first season trainer and member of the Haydon Point-to-Point committee Charlotte Crozier, who is based just 12 miles away at Broomley near Stocksfield, making it two winners from three runners in the last five weeks courtesy of Carrhill in the 3m Neville White Construction Restricted Race.

Patiently ridden by Nick Orpwood and still last of the 5 runners with a circuit to go behind pace-setting Flying Skipper (Natasha Cookson), the six-year-old made smooth headway down the back straight to dispute second behind new leader Royal Cave (Pippa Brown) three out. Still about two lengths down at the last, Orpwood’s mount found plenty when it mattered on the long run-in and, after heading Royal Cave inside the final half-furlong, won going away by two lengths despite carrying 12lb more than the placed horses.

This was a landmark 125th career winner between the flags for Orpwood, 38, who opened his account on Dere Street at Friars Haugh, Kelso in April 2006.

Bought as a foal for 65,000 euros by Ian Ferguson, Carrhill subsequently failed to fire under Rules in the well known black and white striped colours of Dave & Donna Armstrong but has been rejuvenated since they switched him to Pointing.

Charlotte said: ”A change of scenery, different routine, slower pace and drop in class have all helped to get his confidence back. He’s now enjoying his racing and will stay even further.”

The afternoon had started with a memorable first Pointing winner for Rebecca Hitchen, 19, on former 122-rated staying hurdler Liffeydale Dreamer in the 3m Galbraith Conditions Race.

Always lying handy and only three lengths off the pace in third three out, the eleven-year-old challenged odds-on favourite Townhill (Lucy Brown) for the lead at the last before asserting inside the last fifty yards to score by one-and-a-quarter lengths on her 9th start of the season.

A five-time winner at Cartmel in the past, the mare has proved to be an ideal schoolmaster for Rebecca who has worked full-time for Guiseley trainer Sam England since leaving Racing College.

The Hexham victory capped an amazing 12 months for Rebecca during which she won the 2025 Amateur Jockeys’ Association Novice Riders’ Flat Series after winning 3 of the 8 races in her first season as a licensed jockey, and she also partnered a first winner over hurdles at Catterick in December.

After being sent on approaching four out in the 3m Graham Reader Motor Engineer Maiden Race, South Wales raider Down The Valley (Amber Jackson-Fennell) was still one length up at the last from Tellmesam (Jack Teal), and found extra to keep Teal’s mount at bay when the chips were down in the closing stages.

Lightly raced Down The Valley was bought by former jumps jockey turned trainer Edward Rees for £10,000 at Goffs UK Doncaster Sales in May 2025, with the most notable winners in her pedigree being Major Malarkey and Banbridge. 

Distance is no object to Rees, who made two trips to Friars Haugh, Kelso earlier in the year and as on those occasions travelled up the day before. Gloucestershire-based Jackson-Fennell said: ”The reason we made the long trip was for better ground and I’m delighted she’s got her head in front.”

Molesden near Morpeth-based handler Kate Leckenby’s recent ex-Irish acquisition Orderly struck gold on his British debut under Paddy Barlow in the 2m4f Jacksons of Hexham Maiden Race.

Long time leader Claramount (Amy Milburn) was headed after three out by Yuledoforme (Jack Teal), with Orderly handily placed just off the pace. Yuledoforme and Orderly then had a prolonged duel from the last before Barlow’s mount edged in front inside the last fifty yards to score by half-a-length, with the same margin back to Boolamore Glory (Hannah Wainwright) in third.

The winner’s next assignment is likely to be at this week’s Goffs UK Doncaster Sales.

When asked how she acquired the four-year-old, who ran in a Punchestown Maiden three weeks ago, Kate replied: ”He came from the same source as Hardy Oscar, and it’s not what you know but who you know.”

Back down in grade and carrying much less weight than she had been in hunter chases earlier this season, Hollywood Harmon (Pippa Brown) got back on the winning trail in the 2m4f Insync Physiotherapy & Sports Injury Clinic Ladies Open Race.

Given a positive ride, the nine-year-old made all the running and, despite being hard pressed on both sides in a driving finish, was always doing enough to see off a determined challenge from Second Subaltern (Venetia Thompson) by a neck, with the rallying Watch Law (Joanna Walton) a neck away in third.

The winner is owned and trained by Brandsby-based Alexander Wilson, who said: ”She loves Cartmel and might head there next for a Hunters’ Chase on May 27.”

Sam Magee (Joe Wright) rounded off a season to remember for Wistow near Selby-based trainer and farmer Charles Clark when completing a four-timer in the featured 3m J S Hubbuck Ltd Mixed Open Race.

Sent straight to the front, the nine-year-old didn’t see another rival and, despite idling a bit in the closing stages, still had a comfortable two lengths to spare at the line over Western Run (Sean Cameron).

Clark has sent out a total of 10 winners this term from just a handful of horses, with the other contributors being Tag Man (4), Emir Sacree and Summerville Boy, all owned by his mother Emma.

He said of Sam Magee: ”I took him to Malton gallops on Tuesday and he went so well that he had run at Hexham.”

Clark, who was full of praise for those involved in watering to provide perfect jumping ground, added on Sunday: ”He’s come out of the race well and is now heading out to grass for the summer.”

The main action was preceded by Pony Racing, with all 3 contests sponsored by Northern Rug Repair.

The 138cm Novice Riders Race was won by Lindeth Wild Card (Willow Mechie), Sussex raider Ninfield Sweet Dreams (Lucie Rose Dale) supplemented previous wins at Ampton and Parham in the 138cm Open Race, while She’s On A Mission (Daniel Harrison) supplemented previous wins at Friars Haugh and Alnwick in the 148cm Open Race. Rounding off a great weekend, Lucie and Daniel both enjoyed wins on different ponies at Tabley on Sunday.

For the record, the 11 Northern Area Point-to-Point fixtures had a total of 433 runners with an average of 6.46 per race, while the ratio of runners to individual horses entered was a healthy 74.53%.

Nick Orpwood retained the Hexham Racecourse/Hexham Auction Mart-sponsored Men’s Jockeys Championship, Lucy Brown won the Perth Racecourse-sponsored Ladies Championship for the first time, while first season rider Fergal Holohan finished one point ahead of Frances Cromarty in the NPPA Novice Championship.

Jimmy Walton-trained High On The Hill was the leading mare and also won the Novice Horse Award on countback from Hurricane Harmony, the George White-sponsored Champion Horse Award was won by Whatdeawant who had form figures of 111133, while the Jedforest (64pts) won the Buccleuch Arms-sponsored Leading Hunt Award from the Border (34pts) and College Valley & North Northumberland (33pts).