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BEAU DANDY: game winner of the Restricted
photo: Grace Beresford

Commercial Express returned to the winner's enclosure for the first time since July 2007 in last Saturday's Lanarkshire & Renfrewshire and Eglinton Point-to-Point at Overton Farm, Crossford.

Well ridden by Kit Alexander, the 10-year-old tracked favourite Cuigny from five out before taking it up at the second last and his mount stayed on well up the run-in to secure a three lengths verdict in the S.T. Construction Services Ltd NPPA Club Members race.

Alexander, 19, a first year maths student at Durham University, said of the winner:"He always seems to be going flat out but has a high cruising speed and found extra when asked to quicken approaching two out."

A memorable day for the Alexander family was completed by the victory of Almost Blue in the Brogan Fuels Confined Hunts race. Owned and ridden by Jamie and trained by his brother Nick, the nine-year-old was always close up and finally got the better of the odds-on favourite Scotch Warrior after two out before pulling four lengths clear on the flat.

Nick Alexander said of his charge: "He had become rather quirky and we decided it was time for a change of tactics. A combination of first time cheek-pieces and being ridden more prominently seems to have worked."

Consett amateur Siobhan Doolan is on the crest of a wave at present and steered Tiger Billy to another win in the Hillhouse Quarry Group Ltd Ladies Open race. She didn't panic when the favourite, Itzacliche, set sail for home under Joey Richards after three out. Her mount gradually reeled him in before taking it up at the last and they had four lengths in hand at the line.

Doolan, who rides out for Crook Trainer Howard Johnson, said of her ex-Irish gelding: "He's very versatile and, all being well, will go the hat-trick in next Saturday's Berwickshire meeting at Kelso."

Tristan Davidson's week started badly when he was given a six-day ban by the Kelso Stewards on Monday, but ended on a brighter note as he lifted his career tally to 75, including 11 under Rules, on Indian Print in the Goulding's Garden Centre Mens Open race.

Returning after a three week break, the 7-year-old was always going well and quickly settled the issue after going clear approaching two out. Eased down on the flat, he had eight lengths to spare over Noir Et Vert and is also heading to Kelso in search of a fifth win of the season.

Very few amateur jockeys can match Davidson's dedication, as he is up at 3.15am six days a week delivering milk and papers in the Irthington area, with lambing an additional workload for the next few weeks.

John Dawson was hard at work on Beau Dandy a mile from home in the Norrie Drummond Castle Bookmakers Restricted race but the six-year-old gamely responded to pressure and collared Amour Daria inside the last hundred yards to secure a half-length verdict, with long time leader Little Vantage a further five lengths away in third.

This was a first Crossford winner for Sedgefield-based Owner / Trainer John Hellens, who is also a Joint Master of the South Durham Hunt. Hellens said of his charge, bought privately in Ireland as an unraced four-year-old:
"He is a real handful at home. I told John to hold him up and hit the front at the last but thought he may have overdone it."

Another Dark Rum could be called the winner a long way out in the 2m4f NFU Mutual Open Maiden race for 4, 5, 6 & 7-year-olds. Formerly trained by John Weymes, the seven-year-old was given to John Leadbetter last summer after showing promise in three of his last four starts over fences.

Always prominent, he didn't give Nick Orpwood an anxious moment on the final circuit and had far more in hand over Tweedys Choice than the winning margin of two lengths might suggest.

Favourite backers were sent home happy when Arch got off the mark in the concluding three mile Albert Bartlett Open Maiden race for six-year-olds and over. Gillon Crow's mount took it up from Sierra Peak five out and survived his only serious mistake at the second last to score by four lengths.

He was placed in a Kelso Bumper on his racecourse debut four years ago but has been plagued by sore shins and dropped into selling company last August. A change of scenery betwwen the flags seems to have worked the oracle and the eight-year-old's victory for Bonjedward handler Caroline Crow came just a week after her only other Pointer, Pistolet Time, won at Kelso.

The 2011 Northern Area season has now reached the half-way mark, with Tristan Davidson 27 points ahead of Gillon Crow in the Mens title race. Kelly Bryson and Catherine Walton share the lead in the Ladies Championship on 25 points, while Siobhan Doolan is two ahead of Kit Alexander in the Novice Riders table.

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