Double delight for Harry Reed at Hexham race meeting

After finishing runner-up on three of his last four starts over hurdles in Ireland for Thomas Coyle, Divilabother struck gold at the first time of asking since joining Tristan Davidson's in-form Irthington near Brampton yard.

Still only fifth, but making headway two out in the 2m4f Joanne Colledge 50th Birthday Celebrations Handicap Hurdle Race, Divilabother got a clear run up the inner before the home turn as he swept into the lead and then kept on well up the run-in to beat Haverfordwest raider Seasett (James Bowen) by three-and-a-quarter lengths, with long-time leader O'Faolain's Glory (Aaron Anderson) finishing a gallant fourth.

Following Paper Doll's victory on the Flat at Musselburgh earlier in the day, Divilabother's success made it three winners and three placed from just nine runners in the last fortnight for Davidson's yard.

This was a landmark 150th career winner under Rules for Wiltshire-based Reed, who said: ''Tristan has a proven track record of improving horses he gets from other yards and has done the business again.

''I didn't want to hit the front too soon but had no option when the gap appeared up the inner and you've got to take opportunities like that when they come along.''

Reed completed a first Hexham double on Royal Deeside in the 2m4f At The Races App Market Movers Handicap Chase. 

Always prominent from the off behind pace-setting Le Jeune Bresil (Danny McMenamin), Reed's mount hit the front at the last before being headed a furlong out by Huit Reflets (Jamie Hamilton) and, after looking beaten, the five-year-old rallied to snatch a head verdict on the line.

Reed said: ''I was brought up 10 miles from Hexham and it's great to have a lot of family and friends here tonight.

''I couldn't get a breather into Royal Deeside with all the fences missed out up the home straight due to the low sun and thought he was beaten when Jamie went past, but he got a second wind halfway up the run-in and luckily his head was down at the right time as we hit the line.''

Mohawk Chief (James Bowen) made the 860-mile round trip from Mickey Bowen's Haverfordwest yard in South West Wales worthwhile by landing the 2m4f Sky Sports Racing 415 Novices' Hurdle Race.

Still with plenty to do in third place behind Jentobello (Brian Hughes) after two out, the five-year-old went second approaching the last before taking it up inside the final half-furlong and won, going away, by two lengths.

The winning jockey said: ''He's always a bit hard work, but I sort of dropped him out more than I usually do today and that seemed to do the trick.

''The plan was always to ride him for a run after the last and it worked out well in the end.

''It seemed to help his jumping being held up and not going flat out, and I was fairly confident he'd win when Jentobello came back to us.''

This was a 28th winner of the new jumps season for trainer Mickey Bowen, and leaves him only six behind Championship leader James Owen.

Harry Reed looked to have delivered Divilabother's stable companion Getaway Frankie with a perfectly timed challenge when heading long time leader Malangen (Peter Kavanagh) after two out in the 2m Free Tips Daily On attheraces.com Handicap Hurdle Race but his mount had nothing more to give when overhauled at the last by Gemini Man (Danny McMenamin) at the last and then dropped to fifth in the closing stages.

The versatile Iain Jardine-trained Gemini Man, a winner and twice runner-up on the Flat in recent months, quickly asserted after hitting the front and had three-and-a-half lengths to spare at the line over the rallying Malangen.

This was a 298th career winner for Cumbrian jockey McMenamin, who said of the seven-year-old: ''Iain has given him plenty of time and things are now starting to click over hurdles.''

All five fences up the home straight were omitted due to the low sun in the 3m Sterling Clift 60th Birthday Celebrations Handicap Chase won by Upfordebate (Brian Hughes).

Produced to head pace-setting Killybegs Jet Lady (Alan Doyle) after touching down at the last, the six-year-old found plenty up the run-in to repel a renewed challenge from his rival by half-a-length.

Former champion jockey Hughes said: ''He obviously wasn't suited by Cartmel on his chasing debut last month as he's a big old boy and needs this type of galloping track.

''He's still a bit inexperienced but was very brave at the last jumping between Ribeye and Killybegs Jet Lady, and is probably less exposed than some of the others.''

Leyburn trainer Patrick Neville added: ''He's still a big raw horse and we'll hopefully have some fun with him over the winter.''

Jennie Candlish's debutante Peace Belle (Sean Quinlan) claimed the scalps of several more fancied rivals in the concluding 2m At The Races App Expert Tips Mares' Open National Hunt Flat Race.

After being patiently ridden at the back of the field from the off and still second last a mile from the finish, the four-year-old made smooth headway on the outer off the home turn and cruised into the lead a furlong out before running on strongly in the closing stages to beat Lambourn raider Opale De Maine (Gavin Sheehan) by a comfortable two-and-a-half lengths, and provide Quinlan, 41, with a 640th career winner.

Alan O'Keeffe, partner of in-form Staffordshire-based trainer Jennie Candlish, said of the winner: ''She has always shown plenty of natural speed and done everything right at home, but today's trip was a slight concern.

''Her full brother Peace Motivator also made a winning debut in a Worcester Bumper for trainer Alison Thorpe last September.''

Wednesday's crowd of 1400 was the highest midweek attendance at Hexham in 2025.

The next two meetings are on Friday, October 3, (First Race at 2.10pm) and Saturday, October 11, (First Race at 1.55pm).