REPORT – LANARKSHIRE & RENFREWSHIRE AND EGLINTON

It was a case of doubles all round for jockey Henry Crow, owner Vicky Russell and trainer Mike Cregan at Saturday’s Lanarkshire & Renfrewshire and Eglinton fixture in front of a bumper 3000 crowd at a sun-drenched Overton Farm.

Cheltenham Festival Hunters’ Chase winning jockey Henry Crow’s first ever ride at the South Lanarkshire course was a winning one on Phantoms Cave in the 2m4f Gouldings Garden Centre Conditions Race.

After being sent straight to the front, the progressive seven-year-old was very slick at his fences and, after a prolonged duel with ex-chaser Itwasfate (Fergal Holohan) on the final circuit, forged clear approaching two out before coasting home fifteen lengths clear of his rival in a good time.

An hour later, Crow’s victory on Eagles Rock in the 3m Atlas Cranes UK Mixed Open Race completed a first double as an owner for North Berwick-based Vicky Russell and a first training double for Mosshouses-based Mike Cregan.

Confidently ridden by the in-form Crow, 25, who rounded off a great weekend with another double at Dalton Park on Sunday, Eagles Rock made virtually all the running from the fourth until being headed two out by Whats The Solution (Jack Teal). However, after initially looking beaten, Crow’s mount quickened up again to assert approaching the last and won a shade cosily in the end by five lengths.

Russell indicated after the race that her charge’s next outing is likely to be at Kelso on April 20 in the 2m7f Buccleuch Cup Maiden Hunters’ Chase, in which he finished runner-up to Slaney Opera last year.

2025 course winner Deerstalker proved that he’s just as effective over a longer trip under a well-judged ride from Stirling University student Isobel Mactaggart, 21, in the 3m Complete Weed Control SSE Ltd Northern Area Conditions Race.

Always travelling well just behind the pace-setting duo Everyday Champagne (Joanna Walton) and Not The Chablis (Jess Jubb), Isobel’s mount was sent two lengths clear three out and never looked like being pegged back by the rallying odds-on favourite Townhill (Lucy Brown) up the home straight, with the latter still two-and-a-half lengths adrift at the line.

Isobel said: ”We knew he’d go well after his last run behind Whats The Solution at Friars Haugh, and he loves it round here.”

You had to feel sorry for connections of long distance raider Somptueux (Marina Bealby) who jumped well and made virtually all the running in the 3m Hillhouse Quarry Group Mixed Open Race for Novice Riders until being headed after the last and weakening into third. Having looked as though he was booked for second place two out and still one length down at the last, Nick Orpwood-trained Theoldboggroad (James Innes) stayed on gamely to claim an unlikely victory, with For One Night Only (Sam Herdman) rallying well to snatch second close home.

More than 21 years after making his debut on General Jake at Friars Haugh, Innes, 43, remains as enthusiastic as ever and this was a third Pointing winner since returning from a 13-year sabbatical in January 2022 on what was his 50th career ride under all codes. The next target for his own seven-year-old gelding is the aforementioned Buccleuch Cup at Kelso in which he finished third last year.

After a couple of narrow defeats at Friars Haugh, Hurricane Harmony deservedly got his head in front in the 2m4f Euro Steel Shutters Ltd Maiden Race to provide jockey Nick Orpwood, 37, who also owns and trains the six-year-old, with a 120th career winner between the flags.

Content to track Neska Blue (Jack Teal) and Bentley Road (Amy Coltherd) from the outset, Orpwood’s mount was produced with a perfectly timed challenge to lead by half-a-length at the last and maintained that advantage to the line over Bentley Road. Teal’s mount was a further two lengths away in third but it might have been a different story had the six-year-old mare not made crucial mistakes four out and two out.

Hurricane Harmony, a half-brother to winning Pointer and four-time winning staying hurdler Coillte Eile, was bought for £10,000 at Goffs UK Doncaster Sale in May 2024 by Orpwood who is now reaping the benefit of a new all-weather gallop installed last summer at his Mindrum yard.

The concluding Tummelbridge Construction Ltd Maiden Race was dominated from the outset by Pip Pirrip (Huw Edwards) and Helm Bar (Thomas Easterby), with the former setting the pace until headed two out. Helm Bar gradually extended his lead approaching the last and kept on well up the run-in to score by three lengths.

Carrying the colours of former Point-to-Point Authority CEO Peter Wright, the five-year-old Shirocco gelding, bought privately from his breeder Bruce Mactaggart, was a first runner at Overton for octogenarian Robin Tate who rode between the flags from 1953 to 1998.

This was a 9th Pointing success in the space of six weeks for Easterby, 20, who is looking forward to riding recent Friars Haugh and Carlisle scorer Bellaney Lord in the 2m5f Aintree Foxhunters’ Chase on April 9. He said of Helm Bar: ”He’s still very green and immature, and when he learns to race he’ll be a very good horse.”

Field sizes continue to hold up very well on the Northern Area circuit, with a season’s best ratio of runners (40) to individual horses entered (47) of 85.1% at Overton.

The main action was preceded by Pony Racing, with both contests sponsored by the George Crawford Legacy Trust. 

The 138cm Open resulted in another win for Ingle Harry Brown (Robyn Coulson) from Little Galway Girl (Neive O’Sullivan), while prolific winner Judge Fox (Kaden Beasley) got the better of a prolonged duel with She’s On A Mission (Daniel Harrison) in the 148cm Open.

The last 4 Northern Area fixtures are Morpeth Races (March 28), Overton Races (April 12), Leuchars Races (April 25) and the Haydon (May 16).