Racegoers have been treated to some top quality action on the Northern Area circuit this season and last Sunday's Berwickshire fixture didn't disappoint with classy individuals Chameron and Diable De Sivola continuing to prove that age is just a number, while the North's leading jockey John Dawson recorded his fourth double of the campaign on Trust Me Nate and The Village Way, both trained by wife Alice.
Carrying 14lb less than he did when making all at last month's Jedforest meeting, Jackie Stephen's evergreen 12-year-old gelding Chameron produced another gutsy front-running display under final year Newcastle University student Emma Brown to land the 3m Mountfair Farming Mixed Open Race.
Given another positive ride, the 12-year-old maintained a relentless gallop at the head of affairs and, after finding another gear between the last two fences, wasn't stopping as he crossed the line three lengths ahead of Western Run (Sean Cameron), with West Lawn (Charlotte Tailford) a further half-length away in third.
Enjoying a new lease of life since being switched back between the flags, the winner will bid to complete a Friars Haugh hat-trick at the Buccleuch meeting on March 8.
Former 136-rated chaser Diable De Sivola made it four wins from his last five Pointing starts in the 3m Forsyth of Denny Ladies Open Race under another accomplished ride from Jesika Rennie. Always up with the pace, the 12-year-old was led down the hill on both circuits by Ashjan (Joanna Walton) before overturning a three-length deficit on the extended run from three out to lead at the next, and overcame a slow jump at the last to beat a rejuvenated Ashjan by two lengths.
This was another great result for the Jockey Start Scheme, the brainchild of former amateur rider Will Ramsay who also owns and trains Diable De Sivola, following previous wins this season for Jesika, Jess Jubb and Rebekah Duffy. Ramsay said: ''His next target with Jesika is a 2m5f Carlisle Hunters' Chase on March 9 and if he finishes in the frame will then head to the Aintree Foxhunters' a month later.''
Last month's impressive 2m4f Jedforest Maiden winner Trust Me Nate didn't see another rival when following up in the 2m4f Meadowhead PPORA Club Members Conditions Race to initiate a double for John Dawson.
The progressive 7-year-old, carrying the well known colours of John and Jenny Nellis, set a strong pace from the outset and was again very slick over his fences. Despite idling a bit in the closing stages after being out on his own for a long time, he still had a couple of lengths to spare over Fugitives Drift (Lucy Brown) at the finish. Suited by a strongly run contest over a shorter trip, his next target is a 2m Leicester Hunters' Chase on March 7.
After also getting off the mark at Friars Haugh three weeks ago, The Village Way showed that he is still on an upward curve by landing the 3m Matthew Lee Joinery Ltd and Multi Fuel Stove Company Ltd Restricted Race to complete Dawson's double.
Patiently ridden and always travelling well just behind the leaders, this 7-year-old half-brother to dual Grade 1 winning hurdler Crambo cruised up the inner on the home turn to hit the front two out and was always doing enough to score by a length from the promising Cinque Terre (Nick Orpwood). Spare a thought for jumps debutant Blue Indigo (Lucy Brown) who was about half-a-length down disputing second place on the run-in when clipping heels with the leader and fell on the flat, but thankfully both horse and rider were unscathed.
The winner, owned by Caroline Thompson and her brother Richard Smith, who rode 80 winners between the flags, might try to defy a 5lb penalty in the College Valley Restricted at Alnwick on February 23.
Former Irish pointer Whatudoing, bought privately out of Tom Keating's yard last year and now trained by Bonchester Bridge-based Diana Walton, opened his account in the 3m HPM Cooper (Building & Roofing) and Press Mains Farm Cottages PPORA Club Members Maiden Race.
Positively ridden from the off by his owner Joanna Walton, the 6-year-old was always in the leading trio and, after heading Major Champion (Amy Milburn) three out, kept his rivals at bay on the extended run to the next before staying on strongly down the home straight to beat Major Champion by five lengths.
This was a 35th career Pointing winner, including 10 in Ireland, for Joanna, who said: ''He's a bit slow but has plenty of stamina and didn't mind the soft ground.''
104-rated Irish hurdler Built By Rossies deserved a change of fortune after being brought down when travelling well on her British Pointing debut at Askham Bryan the previous week and duly got off the mark in the 2m4f Thorburn Group PPORA Club Members Maiden Race under a confident ride from her trainer Joe Wright.
Produced with a well-timed challenge to head Deerstalker (Isobel Mactaggart) after two out, the six-year-old found another gear when it mattered and had a cosy three lengths in hand at the line. This Walk In The Park mare, bought privately out of Thomas Gibney's yard since running over hurdles at Fairyhouse in October and now jointly owned by Wright and girlfriend Alex Duckitt, is a half-sister to Pointing and jumps winners Bothwell Bridge and Royalraise. The best of her four runs over hurdles in Ireland was at Punchestown in June when eleven lengths 4th of 15 to the Willie Mullins-trained Just For Love (now rated 125) and the winner was also in action last Sunday when finishing third in a Listed Mares' Novices' Hurdle at Navan. Wright has confirmed that Built By Rossies is now for sale.
Amma Lord (Lucy Brown) relished the soft ground when making a winning reappearance for the second time in three seasons in the 3m Ennova Law NPPA Area Conditions Race. The 9-year-old had a sustained duel with long time leader Watch Law (Nick Orpwood) from two out before edging in front near the finish to secure a short head verdict. Owner Kenny Lynn was relieved that his charge hadn't bled on this occasion and, all being well, will go straight to the valuable 2m7f Buccleuch Cup Maiden Hunters' Chase at Kelso on April 7.
The main action was preceded by pony racing, with both races attracting 8 runners. The 138cm contest, sponsored by Wild Plum Escapes, was won by Little Galway Girl (Neive O'Sullivan) from Silver (Freya Ainslie) and Kitty (Pippa Gibbon), while Judge Fox (Kaden Beasley) landed the Adam & Co Wealth Management-sponsored 148cm contest from She's A Corker (Freddie Robson) and Dino Royale (Robyn Coulson).
The next Northern Area fixture is the College Valley & North Northumberland at Alnwick on February 23.