ONE of the North's top amateur jockeys, William Easterby, took the riding honours at Hexham Races on Monday with a short-priced double on Smart Decision and Cullin Hills.
Despite conceding a minimum of 7lb to his five rivals, odds-on favourite Smart Decision further enhanced his reputation with a third win from four starts in the 2m EBF Junior 'National Hunt' Hurdle Race.
The four-year-old made every yard of the running and forged clear from the last to beat Cap Ricochet (Danny McMenamin) by eight lengths.
Easterby completed a first double under Rules on the Will Milburn-trained mare Cullin Hills in the 3m Pointing Pointers Open Hunters' Chase to take his his career tally under all codes to 145.
Always travelling well behind the pace-setting Loughermore (Natasha Cookson), the eight-year-old hit the front four out before drawing clear after the second last to score, with plenty in hand, by nine lengths from Lunar Contact (Bekah Duffy) - the latter making a brilliant recovery two out to keep the partnership intact.
Easterby was deputising for the mare's regular pilot Paddy Barlow, who is currently studying for his final veterinary exams at Nottingham University.
An emotional Milburn said: ''She was the National Champion Point-to-Point Horse in 2023, but then had a lengthy spell on the sidelines with a tendon injury, and it's great to get her back.
"She is very tough and her next target is the 3m1f Mares' Open Hunters' Chase at Cheltenham on May 2.
That One (Conor O'Farrell) was a very popular winner of the 2m Download The At The Races App 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle Race.
Owned, trained and bred by Hexham Mart chairman Jimmy Walton, the six-year-old led from the off and found a bit extra when it mattered on the run-in to repel challenges from Young Getaway (Sean Quinlan) and Blackwater Lilly (Craig Nichol) to score by three-quarters-of-a-length.
Back down in trip in the 2m Horslyx-For Horse's Health & Welfare Handicap Chase, Diamond Mix (Lilly Pinchin) got off the mark at the ninth attempt.
Always in the leading pair, the Paul Robson-trained six-year-old went on two out and did just enough in the closing stages to repel Kidman's late challenge by a neck.
Robson said: ''Lilly's a great rider and it's nice that she she's been coming into my Hazelrigg yard to help ride out on some days too.
"It looks like it could all work really well and hopefully it can be an avenue to have those opportunities opened in the north.''
A return to Hexham brought out the best in Kicksaftersix (Henry Brooke) as he recorded a rare victory in the 3m View Our Show Static Caravan Today Handicap Chase.
Hat-trick seeking Halfway House Lad (Charlie Price) made a bold bid for glory from the front but had nothing more to give when finally overhauled well inside the final furlong by Brooke's mount who stayed on strongly to win, going away, by four-and-a-half lengths.
Trained near Penrith by Martin Todhunter, this was only the nine-year-old's second success from 22 starts, with the other one also coming at Hexham back in June 2023.
After sending out Cracking Rhapsody to win the Scottish Champion Hurdle at Ayr two days earlier, Hawick trainer Ewan Whillans' purple patch continued when Blakey Boy (Craig Nichol) caused a 33-1 shock in the 2m4f Brocksbushes Farm Shop Handicap Hurdle Race.
The five-year-old made good headway up the hill after two out to lead approaching the last and kept on well to beat Waltham on the Wolds raider Larkfield Lusive (Danny McMenamin) by one-and-a-quarter lengths.
Last month's Newcastle winner Japetus (Danny McMenamin) followed up in great style in the 2m Angel Of Corbridge Open National Hunt Flat Race to send favourite backers home happy.
Always prominent, the Nicky Richards-trained four-year-old quickened clear down the home straight to beat promising newcomer Lipstick Traces (Joshua Thompson) by eleven lengths.
The Tynedale Point-to-Point fixture at Downhills near Corbridge takes centre stage on Easter Monday, with a bumper total of 91 entries received for a six race card which starts at 1.30pm.
Share