REPORT – MORPETH RACES (SATURDAY 28TH MARCH)

Jimmy Walton’s home-bred Telescope gelding Eastern Storm further enhanced his reputation when completing a four-timer in the 3m Newcastle Racecourse Mixed Open on Saturday’s well supported Morpeth Races card at Tranwell which had a total of 41 runners.

Given a patient ride by Nick Orpwood in a slowly run affair and still last of the five runners heading out on the final circuit, the six-year-old made smooth headway on the long run to five out and was right in the mix as they turned for home.

There wasn’t much to choose between the evergreen Summerville Boy (Thomas Easterby) and Eastern Storm from four out before Orpwood’s mount went on with a slick jump at the last, and then found another gear up the run-in to score by a length.

His next outing is likely to be in the prestigious Heart Of All England Maiden Hunters’ Chase at Hexham on Saturday, May 9.

It was good to see the colours of 1988 Northern Area Men’s Champion jockey Raymond Shiels back in the winners’ enclosure following the victory of debutante Sweetjetapsycho (Lucy Brown) in the 2m Ryecroft Glenton Point-to-Point Flat Race.

Sent on more than two furlongs from home, the five-year-old Jet Away mare found plenty when the chips were down to keep another debutant Rhythm Of The Rye (Thomas Easterby) at bay by two lengths, with Run Happy (John Dawson) a further length away in third.

This was an unexpected first winner with her first runner for Jedburgh-based handler Georgina Shiels, daughter of Raymond, who indicated that the youngster might now head to the Sales.

The mare was bought privately in Wales as a foal and hadn’t even been away from home for a racecourse gallop prior to Saturday. She is a half-sister to Neil King-trained 128-rated three-time winning hurdler Rubber Ball, while her dam Psychocandy was placed in 8 of 21 starts under Rules for Ian Williams.

For the record, Raymond partnered a total of 56 winners between the flags, including 2 on Mr Spot and 4 on Dundyvan in his title-winning season. The last of his 56 winners came on High Hopes at Dalston in March 1997, on an eleven-race card with a total of 117 runners.

Odds-on favourite Boley Bob (Henry Crow) made it three wins from four starts this season since joining Cheltenham Foxhunters’ winning trainer Joe O’Shea in the 3m Hammer Contracting Northern Area Conditions Race.

Confidently ridden and always going well just behind the leaders, Crow’s mount took it up from High On The Hill (Joanna Walton) approaching two out and was kept up to his work in the closing stages to score by a comfortable four-and-a-half lengths in the colours of Stephen Allen and Jim Broomfield.

He will probably run next at Sandon on April 4, before heading to Warwick on May 1 for the Intermediate Final.

The progressive Boley Bob is related to several winners under Rules including Christy’s Pride, Ballinure and the ill-fated Corbetts Cross, while his dam Robyns Pride was a dual Pointing winner in Ireland.

After Lois and John Teal had both been in hospital earlier in the week, there was a welcome tonic for the Teal family when My Caraline made a winning debut in the 2m4f PPORA Club Members Maiden Race.

The five-year-old Telescope mare gradually warmed to her task and was right in the mix as they turned for home with four to jump. Follow The Leader (Nick Orpwood) was produced with a well-timed challenge to press My Caraline (Jack Teal) at the last, but Teal’s mount found a bit extra on the flat to score by three-quarters-of-a-length, with long-time leader Claramount (Joanna Walton) a further two-and-a-half lengths away in third.

The winner was home-bred by Steve Knowles. Her dam Caraline won eight times under Rules including 6 Chases and 1 Hurdle for Micky Hammond, while this was also a first debut winner of the season for Teal’s Malton yard.

After being sidelined for five weeks with a broken collarbone, John Dawson made a winning return to the saddle on Wottinger in the 3m Jacksons Jewellers Conditions Race.

Patiently ridden in the last pair for the first two miles, the lightly raced eight-year-old then reeled in the leaders on the long run to five out before hitting the front at the second last. Dawson’s mount quickly put the race to bed and kept on strongly to beat Diable De Sivola (Abi Embleton) by four lengths in the best time of the day.

The step up in trip seemed to suit the winner who had undergone a soft palate operation since finishing twenty lengths 3rd in a 2m4f Stratford Hunters’ Chase earlier in the month, and it opens up more options for the rest of the season.

Odds-on favourite Tag Man (Lucy Brown) and Watch Law (Joanna Walton) had the 3m David Auld & Co Solicitors Ladies Open Race between them on the final circuit and, after being sent three lengths clear approaching four out, Tag Man was still two lengths ahead as they crossed the line before the placings were reversed following a lengths stewards’ enquiry.

After touching down a length in front at the last, Tag Man had drifted markedly left into Watch Law causing Joanna to take a pull and momentarily stop riding, before hampering his rival again inside the last fifty yards.

The main action was preceded by Pony Racing, with both contests sponsored by Mitford Estates. The 138cm Open was won by Warmwell Lizzie (Angus Dixon) from Silver (Freya Ainslie), while the 148cm Open resulted in another wide-margin victory for Judge Fox (Kaden Beasley).

After 8 Northern Area meetings, the average number of runners per race is a healthy 7.04, while the ratio of runners to individual horses entered is 76.84%.

The remaining fixtures are at Overton Farm (April 12), Pusk (April 25) and Hexham (May 16).