Double delight on local track

THE Northern Area season got back on track after a six-week break with Sunday's Percy fixture at the Ratcheugh Farm course near Alnwick, which had somehow managed to miss the worst of last week's heavy rain.

- By PETER BURGON

It proved to be a red letter day for Flotterton near Rothbury farmer and Hexham Mart chairman Jimmy Walton as home-bred duo High On The Hill and Eastern Storm provided him with a training double at his local track.

After several near misses in recent seasons, High On The Hill finally got off the mark in the 3m Maiden Race.

Never too far off the pace under Joanna Walton, the eight-year-old mare was held on to as long as possible before being produced to challenge Where's Willy (Nick Orpwood) for the lead at the last. There was nothing to choose between the pair all the way to the line, with a photo finish confirming that High On The Hill had secured a short head verdict to give Joanna a long overdue first Alnwick winner.

Given a confident ride by Nick Orpwood in the 2m4f Mixed Open Race, Eastern Storm came from last to first on the final circuit to score with plenty in hand. Sent on up the hill after four out, the six-year-old gradually forged clear from the next to beat Brandy McQueen (Lucy Brown) by 13 lengths and still appears to be on an upward curve.

Mindrum-based jockey Orpwood had earlier initiated his own double on Morag Herdman’s home-bred debutant William Crump, who he also trains, in the 2m4f Maiden Race.