FAST ground performers were in their element at the Tynedale Point-to-Point on Sunday.

A sun-drenched day at Downhills near Corbridge saw new course record times set in the 12st Riders Conditions Race, 11st Ladies’ Open Race, and 3m 5f men’s Open Race.

The odds-on favourite, Winged Crusader (Amie Waugh) completed a hat-trick for the season when galloping his seven rivals into submission in the Riders Conditions Race.

The eleven-year-old was hardly blowing at the finish after cruising home 10 lengths ahead of De Bee Keeper (Ross Wilson), with the veteran Settledoutofcourt (Ailsa McClung), a further two-and-a-half lengths away in third.

The victory extended Waugh’s lead over Laura Fenwick, of Forestburn Gate near Cambo, in the Northern Area Ladies Championship, to 12 points.

The complexion of the Open Maiden Race for four, five, six and seven-year-olds, changed when the pace-setting favourite, Classical Daytime (Tom Strawson) fell at the eighth.

This left Waugh’s Silver Prince in front from Just Don’t Know (Rory Bevin), before the latter ran wide on the home turn and carried out Waugh’s mount.

Peter Fahey’s promising four-year-old debutant, One For Dunstan (John Dawson) couldn’t respond when Frankies Fire (Nick Orpwood) swept past approaching the last to record an impressive eight lengths success on only her third start between the flags.

Abbeyview has performed consistently well for Fenwick since being bought out of Sheila Crow’s yard for £7,000 at Doncaster Sales in August 2017, and the partnership came up trumps in the ladies’ open race. The 12-year-old gelding was still about five lengths down in third place, but quickened up nicely from the next to head Iron Chancellor (Jessica Bedi) at the last and score by four lengths.

One Conemara’s bid for a fourth successive win in the 3m5f men’s open race was foiled by last month’s West Percy scorer, Gran Paradiso (Ross Wilson). Owned and trained by Sanquhar-based Norman Sanderson, this seven-year-old Galileo gelding has proved to be a bargain buy after changing hands for only £800 at Doncaster Sales last May. Always going well, he challenged One Conemara (John Dawson) for the lead from six out before taking it up at the second last and forged clear up the hill to secure a six lengths verdict.

Roderick Random (Charlotte Dun) and Relax (Will Ramsay) disputed the lead from the outset in the conditions race until the former asserted from three out and kept finding a bit extra up the home straight to beat the improving Formidableopponent (Connor Wood) by one and a half lengths.

The winner, owned by Liz Nixon and her partner, Bryan Stanners, is trained near Wark by Liz, who is a familiar face behind the counter in the Hexham Branch of Cranston’s butchers.

Buck Dancing (Jessica Bedi) led throughout the final mile of the restricted race and stayed on strongly from three out to beat Hardrock Davis (John Dawson) by eight lengths. Bought privately in August from Pat Kelly, trainer of Cheltenham Gold Cup favourite Presenting Percy, the 10-year-old carried the colours of Jessica’s grandmother, Sandra Barker.

The concluding maiden race for eight-year-olds and over saw debut success for Beyond Gold, owned and trained by Charles Robson and ridden by Aaron Anderson. The nine-year-old hit the front at the last and had two lengths to spare at the line over the rallying Emory (Tom Strawson).

The main action was preceded by two pony races sponsored by Mowden Hall School. The 138cm contest over four-and-a-half furlongs resulted in a pillar to post success for Ninfield Millionaire’s Splendour, ridden by 14-year-old Elliot Stockwell from Kiltinane Gleam (Sam Herdman) and Telynau Apollo (Lily McGhee).

The youngest jockey in action on the day was 10-year-old Shay Farmer, who partnered Indian River to victory in the 148cm race over six and a half furlongs. The minor placings were filled by Chilworth Dancer (Tara Stockwell) and Shorties Story (James Caldwell). The next local point-to-point fixture is the Haydon at Hexham Racecourse on Saturday, May 18.