By John Walsh

Last updated 12:08, Thursday, 17 April 2008

BLUEBIRD has rattled-up a quick hat-trick of wins in the puppy trails at Bower House since last Wednesday.

Table topper: Nick Wilson with puppy table leader Habana

Clearly a well-tuned youngster, with a good turn of foot on the finish, there seems to be plenty more to come from this talented bitch.
The daughter of Calzaghe/Toffee Girl is owned and trained by Joe Fearon, Bernadette Fearon and Brian Rowlandson, and she certainly appears to know where the bait tin is!
There’s also another important member of the owning partnership, junior member Jackson Nicholson who slips and catches the bitch, as well as the kennel’s other inmate Blue Bell Lady.
Razzamatazz was left in Bluebird’s slipstream on Wednesday; the same rival was unlucky to make a mistake in the closing stages on Saturday but there was no holding Bluebird who stormed home and on Monday the hat-trick was completed nicely with Razzmatazz the unfortunate victim again.
The three victories should be added to in the coming weeks as the pup gets more experience around the trail fields.
Another hound to impress at Bower House was Gigolo, now a three-year-old and looking a much more mature and stronger hound.
He was beaten by the fast finishing Miss Molly on Wednesday after she showed fifth on the finish and came with a smashing late run.
But on Saturday and Monday, it was Gigolo who held on gamely to hold-off the late challenge of Raymond and Glenis Farren’s charge.
There was compensation for the Arlecdon kennel on Saturday, however, as Miss Dido won the open maidens after a good battle with Foxparke Tiddleywink.
That was a really gutsy effort because it’s only eleven weeks, to the day, that Miss Dido had a caesarean operation for the birth of her one pup.
“She’s got over it really well so we decided to give her a run although we never expected her to win,” admitted Glenis.
The Farren’s have retained the dog pup and all being well he will run in 2009 as Utah Jazz!
Foxparke Tiddleywink had been tuned-up in the all-in on Wednesday, finishing second to Martaura. In Saturday’s all-in Tiddleywink’s kennel-mate Foxparke Warrior was the winner from Magenta.
The open restricted trail on Wednesday went to Owtlook, who beat Seven Four Seven and Brookdale in a regular procession to the line.
Brookdale went in the All-in on Monday and was the winner from Foxy Lady.
At Grange-in-Borrowdale last Thursday, the seniors got very strung out in the early stages. In the end Jack Flash won by a long way from Jimmy Quick, who was in turn well ahead of Mayfair.
There was a good finish to the 38-strong puppy trail, as Della came through well in the last field to beat Huntsman's Dazzler by about five yards for her first success.
In the open maidens, there were 38 as well and it was another good finish between two Lindale hounds. It was Sycamore who beat near-neighbour Cotton Eye Joe by a few lengths.
There was a kennel double in the All-In, as the Stan and Carole Jackson pair Crystal and Centenary were close together at the line.
On Saturday, they raced at Gamelsby and Alfresco appeared to have a nice lead when it hesitated at the beck and wouldn’t cross.
As a consequence Paris and Silent Star swept past and went clear with only half a length dividing them at the finish.
In the pups only three youngsters appeared to stick to the trail as the vast majority ran about. The three came together, spread right across but George Johnstone’s Wisla got the verdict from Rough Diamond and Lingbeck Shadow.
There were 22 hounds in the all-in trail and Splendid came past Glen Coe on the finish to win by three-quarters of a length.
On Sunday, there was a massive turn-out for the look round Lazonby Fell before the May Day fixture.
The smallest field was in the seniors, with 22 runners, but unfortunately due to a false slip the trail had to be declared void.
All the hounds got their look-round, but it was a frustrating way for them to do it and a disappointing start to the day. Westgate Kyza was first past the post in a tight finish.
The open maidens on the long trail ended in a duel between kennel-mates Huntsman's Ruler and Huntsman's Charm. There was just a length between them at the line, and they were a very long way clear of the rest.
The 43 pups had got rather split up, and on the finish there was only table leader Habana in evidence, going on to record her fifth win. White Diamond and Della headed the cavalry charge for the tickets.
Three hounds were very close together in the 39-strong open non winners trail with Jordan's Deal just pipping Cannavaro and Matty Brown.
A big slip of 60 contested the open restricted trail, and it was a close thing for the first two. In the end Jenny's Pride completed a great day for the Bland and Barrow partnership, finishing just ahead of Halloween.
The first of the Helton meetings is tonight and a challenge cup dating from 1901 will be given to the hound or puppy with most points in all grades of trail at all the Helton meetings during the season.
The first Tipster Competition will be for May Day, and forms will be out soon.
I’ve had an e-mail from John Coughlan concerning the forthcoming Irish International which will take place on Sunday, May 11 at Innishannon.
John tells me that this venue is approximately 12 miles from Cork City and it will be the first time that there has been a trail at this venue since 1986 when the All Ireland draghunt was held there.
The programme consists of four races - Senior, Senior Maiden, Puppy and Puppy Maiden.
John’s final message: “It promises to be a great days sport at a course that is totally open, clean running.”
Rogersceugh was the venue for Saturday's Border HTA meeting.
George and Lee Wall’s Denton Memory claimed his third senior win of the season from the consistent Fire Glory and Freedom.
Peter and Norma Mould’s On-Line made it all look very easy, in the senior maidens, leading from start to finish. Blaze was second and Springfield Lass third.
In the puppy trail, three pups made it through a bad scale with Fire Ranger crossing the line ahead of Jackpot and Polly.
In the veteran race, Elliott Borthwick’s Castle Brae was an easy winner from Eagle Gill and Mr Ed.

Saturday, April 12, Rogersceugh.

Seniors: 1, Denton Memory; 2, Fire Glory; 3, Freedom; 4, Mandesha; 5, Trust; 6, Marshman. 18 ran, time 27:47.
Senior Maidens: 1, On-Line; 2, Blaze; 3, Springfield Lass; 4, Blithe Spirit; 5, Spring Moss; 6, Fire Dream. 11 ran, time 28:47.
Pups: 1, Fire Ranger; 2, Jackpot; 3, Polly. Only three finished. 7 ran, time 20:16.
Puppy Maidens: Void over time.
Veterans: 1, Castle Brae; 2, Eagle Gill; 3, Mr Ed; 4, Molly; 5, No Go. 7 ran, time 20:14.

HTA RESULTS

Wednesday, April 9
Bower House
SENIORS: 1 Miss Molly; 2 Gigolo; 3 Salsa; 4 Hot Fuss; 5 Kinniside Dawn; 6 Sophisticated Lady.  13 ran; time, 28.56.
PUPPIES: 1 Bluebird; 2 Razzamatazz; 3 Newtown Ghost; 4 Bluebell Lady; 5 Ryan's Girl; 6 Ellie Vee.  26 ran; time, 18.32.
OPEN RESTRICTED:  1 Owtlook; 2 Seven Four Seven; 3 Brookdale; 4 Sophisticated Narnia; 5 Whitby Steps; 6 Downtown.  25 ran; time, 19.01.
ALLl-IN: 1 Martaura; 2 Foxparke Tiddleywink; 3 Foxparke Warrior; 4 Seven Sevens; 5 Lady Ryan's; 6 Black Poppy.  13 ran; time, 18.59.

Thursday, April 10
Grange-in-Borrowdale
SENIORS: 1 Jack Flash; 2 Jimmy Quick; 3 Mayfair; 4 Langdale Bouncer; 5 Glen Mist; 6 Langdale Trooper.  12 ran; time, 27.10.
PUPPIES: 1 Della; 2 Huntsman's Dazzler; 3 Westgate Lark; 4 Claymore; 5 Habana; 6 Snowflake.  38 ran; time, 18.00.
OPEN MAIDENS: 1 Sycamore; 2 Cotton Eye Joe; 3 Huntsman's Charm; 4 Magwa; 5 Maddison; 6 Huntsman's Chance.  38 ran; time, 17.35.
ALL-IN:  1 Crystal; 2 Centenary; 3 Pinfold Skye; 4 Midnight Express; 5 Halloween; 6 Pinfold Charm.  30 ran; time, 17.00.

Saturday, April 12
Gamelsby
SENIORS: 1 Paris; 2 Silent Star; 3 Alfresco; 4 Cracking Thore; 5 Lingbeck Ice; 6 Kinniside Dawn.  10 ran, time 27.33
PUPPIES: 1 Wisla; 2 Rough Diamond; 3 Lingbeck Shadow; 4 Amber; 5 Busy Future; 6 Miss Lulu.  19 ran; time, 22.05.
ALL-IN:  1 Splendid; 2 Glen Coe; 3 Reno; 4 Speculation; 5 Sara's Gift; 6 A Lot of Spots.  22 ran; time, 17.12.

Bower House
SENIORS: 1 Gigolo; 2 Miss Molly; 3 Lady Ryan's; 4 Jack Flash; 5 Dignity; 6 Venice.  13 ran; time, 28.09.
PUPPIES: 1 Bluebird; 2 Alles Springs; 3 Devon Lass; 4 Razzamatazz; 5 Woodbank Howe; 6 Ryan's Girl.  16 ran; time, 18.17.
OPEN MAIDENS: 1 Miss Dido; 2 Foxparke Tiddleywink; 3 Shady Lady; 4 Bushie; 5 Cameo; 6 Sevne Sevens.  15 ran; time,  19.22.
ALL-IN:  1 Foxparke Warrior; 2 Magenta; 3 Foxy Lady; 4 Black Poppy; 5 Molly Malone; 6 Lady of War.  9 ran; time, 19.15.

Sunday, April 13
Lazonby Fell
SENIORS: Void - false slip.  22 ran.
OPEN MAIDENS: 1 Huntsman's Ruler; 2 Huntsman's Charm; 3 Jordan's Miracle; 4 Splendid Star; 5 Congressman; 6 Glen Mist.  31 ran; time, 28.56.
PUPPIES: 1 Habana; 2 White Diamond; 3 Della; 4 Tarantino; 5 Claymore; 6 Huntsman's Dazzler.  43 ran; time, 18.56.
OPEN NON-WINNERS: 1 Jordan's Deal; 2 Cannavaro; 3 Matty Brown; 4 Wayward Lad; 5 Kelly-Mac; 6 Bluebell Lady.  39 ran; time, 17.28.
OPEN RESTRICTED:  1 Jenny's Pride; 2 Halloween; 3 Huntsman's Chance; 4 Lofty; 5 Martaura; 6 The Real Bandit.  60 ran; time, 16.24.

Monday, April 14
Bower House
SENIORS: 1 Gigolo; 2 Miss Molly; 3 Dignity; 4 Lady Ryan's; 5 Jack Flash; 6 Kinniside Dawn.  8 ran; time, 28.09.
PUPPIES: 1 Bluebird; 2 Razzamatazz; 3 Alles Springs; 4 Night Shadow; 5 Devon Lass; 6 Woodbank Howe.  17 ran; time,  17.36.
ALL-IN:  1 Brookdale; 2 Foxy Lady; 3 Sky Lady; 4 Ramblin' Rose; 5 Pinfold Charm; 6 Pinfold Skye.  15 ran; time, 17.59.

Tuesday, April 15
Kirkbride
SENIORS: 1= Westgate Kyza and Some Girl; 3 Silent Star; 4 Cracking Thore; 5 Congressman; 6 Bellgate.  12 ran; time,  26.27.
PUPPIES: 1 Cracking That; 2 Toffee Supreme; 3 Tell Tale; 4 Levi; 5 Aira Force; 6 The Penny Arcade.  17 ran; time,  16.00.
OPEN MAIDENS: 1 Jordan's Deal; 2 Reno; 3 Shane; 4 Cracking This; 5 April Lady; 6 Busy Future.  30 ran; time, 17.01.

HTA FIXTURES

CHAMPIONSHIP TRAILS

April
Thurs 17  Helton H, P, OR (6.00)
Sat 19   Gamelsby H, P, ONW (4.30)
   Grange-in-Borrowdale H, P, V, OR (5.30)
   St Helena H, P, OM, AI (12.00)
Sun 20   Helton H, M, P, ONW, OR (2.00)
Mon 21  St Helena H, P, ONW, AI (5.30)
Tues 22  Gamelsby H, P, OR (6.00)
   Threlkeld H, P, OR, AI (5.30)
Wed 23  St Helena H, P, OM, AI (5.30)
Thurs 24  Helton H, P, OR (6.00)
Sat 26   Cold Fell Gate H, P, OM, OR (1.00)
   Threlkeld H, P, V, AI (5.30)
Sun 27   Gamelsby H, P, ONW (4.30)
   Helton H, M, P, PM, OR (12.00)
Mon 28  St Helena H, P, OR (6.00)
Tues 29  Oulton H, P, OM (6.30)
Wed 30  St Helena H, P, OR (6.00)
May
Thurs 1   Oulton H, P, OR (6.30)
   Kendal H, P, OR, AI (6.00)
Sat 3   Gamelsby H, P, OM (5.30)
   Lamplugh P, OM, OR, H (1.00)
Mon 5   Lazonby Fell HTA H, M, P, PM, OR (1.30)
Tues 6   Oulton H, P, OR (6.30)
Wed 7   Lamplugh P, OM, H (6.00)
Thurs 8   Lazonby Fell H, P, OR (6.30)
   Sawrey
Sat 10    Kendal H, P, OR, V (2.00)
   Gamelsby H, P, OR (5.30)
   Lamplugh P, OM, OR, H (1.00)
Sun 11   Lazonby Fell H, P, ONW, OR (2.00)
   Sawrey
Mon 12  Kirkland
Tues 13  Lazonby Fell H, P, OM (6.30)
   Dean
   Cartmel
Wed 14  Kirkland
Thurs 15  Kendal H, P, OM, AI (6.00)
   Dean
Sat 17   Gamelsby H, P, OR (5.30)
   Cartmel
   Frizington
Mon 19  Rusland
   Crag Farm
Tues 20  Oulton H, P, OM (6.30)
Wed 21  Rusland
   Crag Farm
Thurs 22  Bridekirk
Sat 24   Gamelsby H, P, OM (5.30)
   Steel Brow
Sun 25   Lazonby Fell H, P, OM, OR (2.00)