Great week for Cumbrian trainers

No dominance from the Greystoke stable and few runners and no winners for in-form Maurice Barnes but a spate of success for a number of other Cumbrian trainers under both codes across the northern circuit.

Tristan Davidson started the sequence with the progressive Greengage notching a third win from her last four outings under top-weight at Newcastle.

Greengage has shown a liking for the tapeta surface and perhaps the most remarkable feature of her victory was her generous starting price of 8/1.

The admirable Phil Dennis who had partnered Greengage so effectively at Wolverhampton was again in the saddle.

He is familiar with Greengage’s best style of running and allowed her to bide her time before bringing her with a well timed challenge to lead close home and score a shade cosily.

Greengage had no problems getting the trip and though creeping up the ratings should be capable of further success.

Back over the jumps at Catterick, it was the turn of Barbara Butterworth to regain the winning habit with the ever popular Snowed In.

Now almost white with increasing age, Snowed In was gaining his first win of the season but his followers will not have forgotten his tendency to come good at Catterick on New Year’s Day.

This time round he left it a week later but despite his price of 8/1 his return to winning form was by no means a surprise as he had steadily improved over the winter and at the same time was still on a favourable mark.

Given the ideal positive ride by Sean Quinlan Snowed In made virtually all the running and fended off the closers with courageous tenacity.

Snowed In has, in the past, run well at Carlisle and he would be an interesting proposition if entered at the local venue when racing resumes in early February.

The going was testing at Kelso last Sunday which caused several late absentees including the well-fancied Greystoke chasing recruit Chapel Stile. This will have been a disappointment to Ryan Day, his booked rider, but happily for Ryan he gained quick compensation aboard King’s Eclipse in the 2m 7f handicap chase.

Owned and trained by Andrew Wilson at Orton, King’s Eclipse had landed a career high when partnered by Ryan Day he brought off a surprise win on Northern Lights Finals Day in December 2018.

That win resulted in Andrew Wilson’s gelding fighting a losing battle against the handicapper.

His jumping has also been erratic and he was far from foot perfect at Kelso last Sunday with Ryan having to sit tight on several occasions.

The pair still had plenty to do leaving the back straight for the final time but Ryan never gives up and for once 'the curse of Kelso' actually played into his hands.

That dreaded dazzling low sun had caused multiple obstacles to be omitted and the usual third last was in fact the final fence to be crossed on Sunday leaving a run in of some six furlongs.

King’s Eclipse may not be the most fluent jumper but he lacks nothing in guts and determination and with Ryan sensing an upset the duo set off in pursuit and furlong by furlong they steadily closed the gap.

With 100 yards to run they hit the front and passing the line they were deserving winners.

King’s Eclipse was actually down to the same mark at Kelso as he was carrying when he won on Finals Day at Carlisle.

One just hopes that the handicapper uses common sense and accepts that Sunday’s win was achieved in extraordinary circumstances and leaves him on the same mark.

If he does so then Andrew Wilson can anticipate a follow up success.

Many racegoers at Kelso left 'the get out' stakes to Brian Hughes and the warm favourite Starplex but Brian has hit a temporary flat spot in his tussle with Richard Johnson for the jockeys' title and it was another Cumbrian trainer who enjoyed the last laugh.

Horses trained by Martin Todhunter have been running really well since before Christmas without gaining their deserved returns.

In this final Kelso encounter Martin saddled SouthEast Rose.

At first glance the mare did not seem to have a leading chance on the book.

She had been well outpointed in her previous two outings back in the mid-autumn at Ayr and Kelso but earlier she had finished an encouraging fourth at Musselburgh and since being well beaten at Kelso had undergone surgery to clear her wind.

Sean Quinlan rode her last Sunday when she was quietly fancied and raced prominently throughout.

SouthEast Rose was joined by Starplex at the final flight but the mare proved there was little wrong with her breathing and with Quinlan at his strongest in the finish wrested the honours in the final strides.

On this showing the mare must be followed and Martin Todhunter could have another winning day at Ayr this coming Sunday.