THE Northern Area point-to-point season resumes after a three week break with the Tyendale fixture at Downhills, near Corbridge, on Sunday.

The meeting has attracted 102 entries on a seven race card, with the main action starting at 12.30pm following two pony races from 11.30am.

The opening race has 15 runners and, while Dica landed the 2016 renewal first time out, he faces a stiff task in his follow-up bid against the likes of Auldthunder, Klepht and The Highlander. The latter has gone from strength-to-strength after getting off the mark at Downhills last year, while ex-chaser Auldthunder should be in the mix in the hands of Hexham’s MP Guy Opperman.

The dark horse in the Mick Watson Memorial Open Maiden Race for four, five, six and seven-year-olds is the unraced Diamond Brig, after his full brother Over To Sam landed the corresponding contest on his debut last season.

The meeting also features the two main stamina tests of the season with both open races run over three miles and five furlongs.

Stable companions Pena Dorada and Wind of Hope head the nine entries in the ladies’ open, while proven stayer One Conemara heads the 16 entries in the men’s open.

Pena Dorada lost nothing in defeat when fourth in a valuable Musselburgh Hunter’s Chase ealier in the month, while Wind of Hope was beaten by just a neck at Friars Haugh in January.

Pyjama Game is the only one of the 18 runners in the following race with winning form this season following his success at Percy last time out.

My Lady West posted a career best effort when just losing out to Pyjama Game, and reproduction of that form could see Victor Thompson’s mare take the restricted race.

On the back of two third place finishes at Alnwick, Lord Usher tops the ratings of the 10 entries in the concluding open maiden race for eight-year-olds and over.