Victories for Cumbrian trainers at Hexham race meeting

Colby near Appleby-based Bewley was celebrating after soft ground specialist Robert d'Ores made it three wins from his last six visits to Hexham in the 2m7f Pest Arrest Pest Control North East Handicap Hurdle Race.

Always in the first four in the hands of son Jonathon, the eight-year-old went second behind pace-setting Lelantos (Brian Hughes) heading out on the final circuit before taking it up approaching two out.

Bewley's mount kept on well in the closing stages to beat Lelantos a shade cosily by one-and-three-quarter lengths.

Pure Gold is the form of her life and the five-year-old, trained at Aldoth near Abbeytown by Lisa Harrison, made it three wins from her last four starts in the valuable 2m Carol & Malcolm Humble 20th Wedding Anniversary Handicap Hurdle Race.

Given a confident ride by Peter Kavanagh, the mare was held up last of the quintet until making headway behind long-time leader Double Digits (Danny McMenamin) a mile from home. After reeling in Double Digits up the hill from two out, Kavanagh's mount led at the last before going clear on the run-in to score by seven lengths and still looks to be ahead of the handicapper.

Kavanagh completed a double on Ballydangan in the 3m Lee 'Bazza' Jenkinson Memorial Handicap Chase.

Still eight lengths behind Wholly Boley (Danny McMenamin) two out, the Hugh Burns-trained eight-year-old powered up the hill to hit the front off the home turn before forging clear after the last to win, going away, by ten lengths in a contest that turned into a war of attrition with only three finishers.

His only other success in 25 previous starts under Rules also came at Hexham over this trip in June and his course form now reads 3311.

Formerly trained near Capheaton by Pauline Robson, Heeztheboy (Jack Hogan) struck gold on his first start for Cheshire trainer Gary Hanmer in the 2m4f Congratulations Luke England & Jessica Lee Handicap Chase.

Always prominent, the eight-year-old cruised clear up the hill after two out and turned the closing stages into a procession as he cantered home fifteen lengths ahead of Too Cool Forshrule (Dylan Johnston).

Bought for only £4,000 at Goffs UK Doncaster Sales in May, the gelding's only other win came on his favoured soft ground at Hexham in December 2023.

Two-time Grand National-winning jockey Derek Fox partnered his first winner since returning from the serious injury that sidelined him for six months.

Fox, 33, was unseated at Sedgefield in March, suffering fractures to his L1 vertebra, collarbone and a rib. But he was back in business on Spadestep, trained at Milnathort near Kinross by Lucinda Russell and Michael Scudamore, who obliged as an odds-on favourite should in the 2m Greenhead Hotel 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle Race.

Fox won the National on One For Arthur in 2017 and Corach Rambler two years ago, both for Russell, who said: ''It's brilliant for Derek to get the win as he's had a rough time. It was probably the worst injury he's ever had, so it's been hard for him to come back.''

The six-year-old Spadestep made all the running and stayed on strongly up the home straight to beat 80-1 chance Mornington Beach (Jonathon Bewley) by a comfortable five lengths. This gave Russell a third consecutive win in the race following the victories of Whistle Stop Tour in 2023 and Kingston James last year.

''I really like him,'' said Russell. ''It's a brilliant track where we like running our novices. He seems to have improved over the summer, he jumps really well and that's probably what won him the race. But his ability to keep galloping is just as impressive and he might go over fences next time.''

The winner was bought for £50,000 at Tattersalls Cheltenham Sale last November, four weeks after making a successful debut between the flags at Loughanmore.

Russell and Scudamore doubled up when the well-backed Knomorediamonds ran out a 57-length winner in the 2m4f Gordon Scorer Birthday Celebration Handicap Hurdle Race, breaking his duck at the eleventh attempt under Alan Doyle.

There was another upset in the 2m4f Martin Bowler Memorial Novices' Limited Handicap Hurdle Race as You Did (Craig Nichol) came from off the pace to land the spoils at odds of 10-1. 

The Brian Ellison-trained five-year-old found plenty when the chips were down and asserted inside the last fifty yards to beat Longstone Cowboy (Charlie Maggs) by half-a-length.

The penny finally seems to have dropped for the youngster who showed no form between the flags last season from Jack Teal's yard, and was sold for £10,000 at Goffs UK Doncaster Sales in May.

A big crowd is expected at Hexham on Saturday for the Newcastle Rugby Foundation Raceday, where the action starts at 1.55pm.