The Northern Area Point-to-Point season started on a positive note at Hexham with 49 runners on a six race card at the Border fixture, where it was a case of doubles all round for jockey John Dawson and trainer Hannah Roach.
It proved to be a landmark occasion for Dawson, 34, as debutant Carlenrig provided him with a 200th career winner between the flags in the 3m Maiden Race, while Jack The Lad's victory on debut in the concluding 2m4f Maiden Race was his 250th winner under all codes.
Carlenrig gradually eased his way into contention on the final circuit of the 3m Ward Hadaway Maiden Race before taking it up after two out and the four-year-old stayed on well to score by ten lengths from Jimmy Walton's promising home-bred mare High On The Hill (Lyall Hodgins).
This Soldier of Fortune gelding, trained by Lesley Coltherd and bought in Ireland as a foal by Ian Herbert, is now for sale at the right price. Coltherd's son Sam said: ''He's still a bit raw but had schooled really well for me and the heavy ground was ideal.'' The winner is related to multiple jumps winners including Wee Robbie, Isn't That Lucky and Blast Freeze.
For the record, Dawson's first Pointing winner came on Benwell in the Cleveland Members Race at Mordon on April 15, 2007.
He doubled up on exciting four-year-old prospect Jack The Lad, who he also trains, and the youngster could not have been more impressive in the attritional underfoot conditions.
Always travelling well and never far behind the leaders in the 2m4f Lycetts Maiden Race, Jack The Lad cruised past Hollywood Harmon (Pippa Brown) as they bypassed three out. In command from the home turn, Dawson's mount was a dozen lengths clear when diving at the last but didn't lose much momentum and had doubled that advantage as they crossed the line.
Time Leader (Clara Brewitt) initiated a double for in-form Nantwich trainer Hannah Roach in the 2m4f Newton Hall Ladies Open Race.
Always close up, the odds-on favourite was sent on three out and quickly put the race to bed before coasting home twenty-five lengths ahead of Kingrullah (Laura Fenwick).
This was a third career winner for Shropshire-based Brewitt, 22, who works for Phil and Mel Rowley. She said: ''He made it easy for me on that ground,'' while Roach added: ''His main targets will again be the Cheltenham and Aintree Foxhunters.''
Last month's Knightwick scorer Rewritetherules (Huw Edwards) provided Roach with a sixth winner from just eight runners this season in the 2m4f Northern Structures Conditions Race.
Sent to the front approaching the home turn, David O'Brien's rejuvenated ten-year-old gelding forged clear in the straight to score by eighteen lengths from Haverfordwest raider Chilinlikeavillain (Harvey Barfoot-Saunt).
Roach was denied a treble when odds-on favourite Paul Marvel (Huw Edwards) had to settle for second behind Wild Romance (Shay Halton) in the 3m Robson & Cowan Mixed Open Race.
In the leading pair from the off, Halton's mount drew clear with Paul Marvel from four out and left their rivals trailing well behind on the long downhill run to the next. There still wasn't much between them at the last before Wild Romance found a bit extra when the chips were down, asserting half-way up the run-in to win, going away, by two-and-a-half lengths.
There was a fairytale outcome to the opening 3m Carr's Billington NPPA Area Conditions Race as Otterburn-based Rebecca Duffy, 22, enjoyed a winning debut ride on former 119-rated hurdler Wild Polly, trained by her boss Susan Corbett.
Produced with a perfectly-timed challenge to head long-time leader Shantou Moon (Paddy Barlow) after touching down at the last, Wild Polly was always doing enough up the long run-in to repel West Lawn's late thrust by a neck.
On loan to Susan Corbett from Rose Dobbin and one of the three horses in Will Ramsay's Jockey Start Syndicate, the ten-year-old who hadn't run between the flags since landing a Largy Mares Maiden contest in April 2018 is related to numerous jumps winners in France including Luzcadou and Le Ponant.
The Tony Ward Memorial Trophy, awarded to the leading jockey at the Haydon and Border fixtures each calendar year, was won by John Dawson (12pts), with the minor placings filled by Huw Edwards (7pts) and Charlotte Tailford (6pts).
The next Northern Area Point-to-Point is the Ratcheugh Racing Club fixture at Alnwick on Sunday, December 15.