The first Jedforest fixture at Friars Haugh, Kelso, for three years was a resounding success on Sunday with 62 runners, including plenty of long distance travellers, on a seven race card in front of a bumper crowd.
John Dawson's good start to the season continued with a double on The Village Way and Trust Me Nate, both trained by wife Alice, while it was also a day to remember for Jesika Rennie and Jess Jubb, both riding under the Jockey Start scheme, who enjoyed their first winners on Diable De Sivola and Not The Chablis respectively.
Always lying handy in the 3m J A Wilson Contractors and A & S Clarkson Engineering Maiden Race, The Village Way headed She Is The Enemy (Gregor Walkinshaw) two out before losing momentum with a slow jump at the last but rallied well on the flat to score by two lengths. Bought privately out of Nick Pearce's Warwickshire yard in early December, the seven-year-old winner is owned by Richard Smith and married sister Caroline Thompson.
Carrying the colours of John and Jenny Nellis, Trust Me Nate was an even more impressive winner of the 2m4f R & B Painters and Gillon Bloodstock Maiden Race. Sent on at the top of the hill before four out, the seven-year-old cruised home eight lengths ahead of the promising Phantoms Cave (Paddy Barlow) in a fast time despite running without the declared tongue-tie as they couldn't get it fitted. Dawson said: ''He was very slick over his fences and it felt like we were just cantering. He'll be back here on February 9 for the Berwickshire meeting.''
Gina Andrews set out to make every yard of the running on Loughan in the 2m4f Harbro PPORA Ladies Open Race but, after looking home and dry when still eight lengths clear three out, her mount had nothing more to give when headed approaching the last by the Will Ramsay-trained Diable De Sivola who forged clear up the short run-in to score by six lengths and give Jesika Rennie, 21, a memorable first winner on only her second ride between the flags.
Rennie has been working alongside Jess Jubb at Nick Alexander's Kinneston yard since 2022 and it also proved to be a red letter day for Jubb, 22, as the Kit Alexander-trained Not The Chablis provided her with a first winner in the 3m Jockey Club Opportunity & Rowley Mile Equine Grass Roots Riders Conditions Race.
A winner of a bumper, hurdle and chase in the past, it was good to see the eleven-year-old get his head in front again. He was produced with a well-timed challenge to overhaul long-time leader Loughermore (Laura Fenwick) after two out and stayed on strongly to score by three lengths, with Humps And Bumps (Ruby Wyld) only a length away in third on her reappearance.
Last season's ladies national champion jockey Izzie Hill's first visit to Friars Haugh was a winning one on Oxfordshire raider Learntalot in the valuable 3m4f Jockeys & Trainers Supporting Point-To-Pointing Northern Area Feature Mixed Open Race. Returning from a 232-day break, the Alan Hill-trained gelding had all the answers and, despite being sent to the front sooner than intended four out, never looked like being reeled in by hat-trick seeking favourite Wild Romance (Shay Halton) who was still four lengths down at the line.
Winning connections had enjoyed an overnight stay with Ian and Tocky McKie at Lanton near Wooler before having the luxury of a short trip to Kelso on Sunday morning, much better for their two runners (Monrocco Mooonlight had earlier finished third in the 2m4f Maiden for Joe Hill) than making the 340-mile journey on the day from Aston Rowant.
Cheshire raider For One Night Only reaped the benefit of last month's pipe-opener at Alnwick when landing a gamble in the 3m Marsh Riddell Gibson Restricted Race after being backed down from 6/1 to 2/1. The Fred Timmis-trained six-year-old had a prolonged duel with Whats The Solution (Jack Teal) from four out and handed the initiative to his rival with a slow jump at the last before rallying gamely inside the last fifty yards to snatch a head verdict in a driving finish with jockey Huw Edwards punching the air as they crossed the line.
Almost nine years since making his racecourse debut in France, the evergreen Chameron proved that he still retains plenty of ability when taking the concluding 3m Turnbull & Scott and Midburn Construction Scottish Hunts Conditions Race under a bold front-running ride from Newcastle University student Emma Brown. Despite not always being fluent at his fences, the Jackie Stephen-trained twelve-year-old found extra when the chips were down from two out and still had plenty left in the tank as he crossed the line two lengths ahead of favourite Eagles Rock (John Dawson), with the promising Annie Magic (Lucy Brown) a further four lengths away in third.
Rated 149 at his peak in 2017 when trained by Paul Nicholls, the winner had lost his way a bit under Rules recently but clearly appreciated a return to the less demanding fences between the flags having previously enjoyed plenty of Pointing successes in the South West back in 2021 and 2022.
For the record, the total of 62 runners was the most at this fixture since 2009.
The main action was preceded by 2 pony races, both sponsored by CL Equestrian, Quality Stabling Solutions. The 138cm contest (6 runners) was won by Tigga (Memphis Tacy-Tyler) from Silver (Freya Ainslie) and Chaceside Catwalk (Neive O'Sullivan), while the winner of the 148cm contest was She's A Corker (Freddie Robson) with the minor placings filled by Judge Fox (Kaden Beasley) and The Cork Man (Nancie Pigg).
The Northern Area season continues on Sunday, January 26 with the Percy fixture at Alnwick.