It might be more than 54 years since Victor Thompson sent out his first winner at Cheltenham but the Newton-by-the-Sea based owner/trainer is still as enthusiastic and passionate about racing as ever.
Glory and Clapton Hill gave him double cause for celebration at last Saturday's well supported Lanarkshire & Renfrewshire and Eglinton Point-to-Point at Overton Farm, while his other 4 runners all finished in the first four to secure the leading owner award. These results saw him head back to the North Northumberland coast with £1,850 of the record-breaking £7,750 prize fund on offer across the seven race card.
The versatile Glory (Shay Halton) set the ball rolling with a second career win between the flags in the 3m Complete Weed Control NPPA Area Conditions Race.
Never far off the pace, he moved to within a length of Ashjan (Joanna Walton) from five out before taking a fractional advantage with a great jump at the last and kept on strongly up the short run-in to win a shade cosily by three-quarters-of-a-length, with odds-on favourite Whatdeawant (Lisa O'Connor) three lengths away in third.
This was his 49th outing under all codes, having started off his racing career as a Richard Hannon-trained 2yo in 2018 during which he finished runner-up in 6f contests at Ascot and Newmarket, and ran to a mark of 80 on both occasions.
Clapton Hill doubled up for Thompson and Halton in the 2m4f Mackenzie Transport Services Ltd Maiden Race. The seven-year-old tracked Doyen For A Gin (Joe Wright) from the off and was still two lengths down two out before reeling in the leader approaching the last. At this point, the leader wandered off a true line and hampered Halton's mount who did well to recover before finding a bit extra when the chips were down to assert inside the last fifty yards and score by three-quarters-of-a-length.
This was a first double for Halton, 20, who is grateful for all the opportunities given to him this season by Thompson. Clapton Hill's win was given extra publicity the following day when it featured on 'Luck On Sunday' as the gelding had been purchased privately from Ben Pauling when the Naunton trainer and Thompson appeared as studio guests on the show twelve months ago.
Deerstalker (Isobel Mactaggart) maintained a relentless gallop from the outset to land the 2m4f Gouldings Garden Centre Conditions Race in a fast time. Vivas (Natasha Cookson) and Park Hind (Shay Halton) were unable to get on terms on the final circuit and the seven-year-old wasn't stopping as he crossed the line three lengths ahead of dual course winner Vivas.
This was a second Pointing winner for Isobel, 20, a 2nd year student at Stirling University who also rides out at Lucinda Russell's yard in her spare time. Bought privately last August from Ben Pauling, the winner might run next in the Buccleuch Cup Maiden Hunters' Chase at Kelso on April 7.
Whats The Solution was an impressive winner of the 3m Priory Bridge Landscaping Restricted Race in a fast time under his Malton-based trainer Jack Teal. On his favoured sound surface for the first time this season, Gillian Smith's charge was always close up behind pace-setting Hollywood Harmon (Pippa Brown) until hitting the front on the inner three out. The seven-year-old forged clear from the next to score by five lengths and has the scope to win again in a higher grade on quick ground.
Diamond Flush completed a training double for Teal in the 3m St Andrews Hospice Family Raceday Sunday 13th April 2025 Maiden Race.
Given a peach of a ride by younger sister Lois, the former Colin Bowe-trained five-year-old was always within a couple of lengths of pace-setting She Is The Enemy (Gregor Walkingshaw) before being sent on down the back straight on the final circuit. His jumping was immaculate and the youngster repelled a renewed challenge from She Is The Enemy off the home turn to win, going away, by three lengths.
Lois was working for Colin Bowe last Summer and through that connection she got the chance to buy Diamond Flush privately in late January.
Odds-on favourite Eagles Rock (John Dawson) set a modest pace from the sixth in the 3m Atlas Cranes Mixed Open Race but could never shake off winning hurdler Shantou Moon (Gregor Walkinshaw) and an upset looked on the cards when his Wassels Young-trained rival hit the front two out. They were in the air together at the last and Dawson's mount just did enough to regain the initiative inside the last fifty yards to secure a neck verdict. The 'Buccleuch Cup' is the next target for Vicky Russell's charge.
Two years after providing Ben Smith with his first winner at the corresponding meeting, locally trained Western Run did the same for 17-year-old Sean Cameron in the 3m Hillhouse Quarry Mixed Open Race for Novice Riders.
Always lying handy, he made smooth headway down the back straight on the final circuit to head Tanora (Pippa Brown) on the home turn before losing momentum with a bad mistake two out. Cameron did well to keep the partnership intact and his mount rallied to challenge Tanora and Paramaribo (Shay Halton) for the lead again at the last. In a blanket finish, the ten-year-old's late thrust proved just enough to secure a head verdict over his two rivals who dead-heated for second place.
Cameron works full time for Western Run's owner/trainer Mike Smith and has been riding out there since he was 15. The afternoon got even better for Smith when son Ben partnered the Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero-trained Kuzco to victory in the finale at Bangor-on-Dee.
The main action was preceded by 2 pony races sponsored by Get Ahead Hats. The 138cm Open contest was won by Mayday Black Mink (Jack Yardley) from Little Galway Girl (Neive O'Sullivan) and Silver (Freya Ainslie), while She's A Corker (Freddie Robson) was followed home by Lady Moondancer (Lowan Cruise Mills) and Judge Fox (Kaden Beasley) in the 148cm Open Race.
The next Northern Area meeting is the Morpeth at Tranwell on Saturday 29th March.