THERE was another bumper crowd at Hexham last Saturday for the 'Promoting Shared Ownership' evening card, where it was a case of doubles all round for jockeys Sam Twiston-Davies and Ryan Mania as well as trainer Harry Derham.
Twiston-Davies, 33, set the ball rolling on the Paul Nicholls-trained mare Seeyouinmydreams in the 2m mybettingsites.com/ie Everything New On Irish Bookies Selling Hurdle Race.
Sent straight to the front, the eight-year-old odds-on favourite didn't see another rival and, despite being eased down on the run-in, still won in a canter by thirty four lengths from Demoiselle Kap (Sean Quinlan).
There was plenty of interest in the winner at the subsequent auction and she was eventually knocked down to Warwickshire trainer Tom Ellis for £26,000, while the runner-up was claimed for £6,000 by Sophie Leech.
For the record, Seeyouinmydreams previously changed hands for £235,000 after making a successful Point-to-Point debut at Largy in April 2022.
Twiston-Davies again kept things simple when doubling up on Ben Haslam-trained Passing Diamond in the first division of the 2m Bobby Roberts Memorial Maiden Hurdle Race, to make it five winners from his last nine rides.
The six-year-old made all the running to score by four lengths from Crest Of Arms (Ben Godfrey), and should be worth following in forthcoming meetings at Hexham or Cartmel.
Terrano initiated doubles for jockey Ryan Mania, 37, and Newbury trainer Harry Derham in the second division of the 2m Bobby Roberts Memorial Maiden Hurdle Race.
Always prominent, the five-year-old rallied off the home turn to press leader Blue Skies Ahead (David Bass) at the last before asserting in the final half-furlong to win, going away, by two lengths.
Mania said: “It's great to get a winner on the first day of the new jumps season, and I'm delighted to have such a good link-up with Harry's yard.
“I was mindful that Terrano is still very green and rode him sympathetically through the race, but in the end he has won with a bit in hand.”
The outsider of five, Kingston Narcissus (Charlie Maggs) made a winning start over fences in the valuable 2m4f Max And Naomi Are Getting Married Novices' Limited Handicap Chase.
After being held up in last place from the off, the seven-year-old made steady headway on the final circuit to head Rubber Ball (Jack Quinlan) approaching the last and then forged clear up the run-in to win impressively by seventeen lengths. The next assignment for John Johnson's charge is likely to be at Goffs UK Doncaster Sales in a fortnight.
Maggs said: “He was almost travelling too well down the hill and in danger of getting there too soon, but a mistake at the ditch gave me the chance to fill him up.
“He travelled best up the hill into the home straight and just kept on galloping to win as he liked.”
Mania and Grade 1-winning trainer Derham doubled up with last month's Newcastle scorer Filibustering in the valuable 2m mybettingsites.com Handicap Hurdle Race.
Always in the first two, the five-year-old took it up two out before quickening clear going to the last and was kept up to his work in the closing stages to win by two-and-three-quarter lengths from locally trained Double Digits (Danny McMenamin).
Mania said: “He was too keen the whole way round but still got home, and I'm delighted with that.
“He's got a fair engine, was very slick at his hurdles and seems to spring off this good ground.”
Last season's Morpeth Point-to-Point Flat Race winner Scairp Dubh came from an unpromising position in fifth after two out to land an incident-packed 2m4f Elizabeth Elliott Birthday Celebration Handicap Chase under a well-judged ride from Peter Kavanagh.
Still four lengths down at the last, the six-year-old stayed on strongly to overhaul Jack Doyen (Jack Quinlan) near the finish and score by three-quarters-of-a-length, with the consistent Royal Deeside (Charlie Maggs) a further length away in third.
Spare a thought for jockey Conor Rabbitt who was unseated at the second from Uncle Al and sustained a hairline fracture of the fibula.
On his first outing for Cartmel trainer Jimmy Moffatt, former Maurice Barnes-trained Halfway House Lad (Charlotte Jones) ended a long losing run in the 3m drainrat.co.uk Rat Entry Diagnosis Specialist Handicap Chase.
Always prominent and jumping soundly, the seven-year-old wasn't headed from seven out and galloped clear down the home straight to beat Killybegs Jet Lady (Alan Doyle) by four-and-three-quarter lengths.
After a tough time with injuries last season, Jones was chuffed to ride a winner on the first day of the new campaign.
She said: “He was brilliant and I couldn't fault him.
“A change of scenery has probably done him more good than anything.”
Moffatt added: “He was in wonderful condition when he came to me seven weeks ago after Maurice retired, and will now head to Cartmel at the end of May.”
In fading light, Susan Corbett's Otterburn yard was celebrating after Wee Alki (Nathan Moscrop) recorded a second course win in the concluding 2m7f Winchcombe Working Mens FC Tour 2026 Handicap Hurdle Race.
The seven-year-old pressed pace-setting Dusky Days (Charlotte Jones) before being sent on after three out, and stayed on well to beat favourite My Boy Christy (Peter Kavanagh) by four-and-three-quarter lengths.
The next two Hexham fixtures are on Saturday, May 9 (First Race at 3.20pm) and Tuesday, May 19 (First Race at 5.50pm), while the course also hosts the Haydon Point-to-Point card on Saturday, May 16 (First Race at 2pm).
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