Tynedale at CORBRIDGE
Saturday 4th March 2000
by David Scott (Pointer of the Northumberland Gazette)

A Pauline Robson treble was the highlight of an excellent days racing last week at the Tyndale Hunts meeting at Corbridge.

The first leg came aboard Little Brockwell in the Intermediate contest. As the field turned for home the well-supported Mr Bossman looked the likely winner. However he stopped to nothing after the second last and Harleyburn and Poynder Park were left to duel going to the last. Meanwhile in behind Pauline was conjuring a strong late run from Little Brockwell and she swooped to conquer in the last 100 yards. Poynder Park just outstayed Harleyburn for the runner up spot. The winner looked like she would improve for the race and further success seems likely.

Half an hour later the double was completed when Balisteros easily accounted for Across The Card and Pharmistice in the long distance Open. The winner won with plenty in hand and it would be no surprise to see him gain further successes in Hunter Chases. The runner up ran a game race and could be on course for a tilt at the 4 miler at Alnwick. Pauline’s treble came in the first division of the Restricted when Mountain Thyne held far too many guns for Storm Alive and Blyth Brook. The winner sat on the tail of the leaders before being produced between the last. He quickened nicely and drew steadily away on the run to the line, however the form of this race may not amount to a great deal as the second and third are well exposed types.

Elsewhere on the card Claywalls provided a first winner for Matthew Clayton in the Members race. Always prominent the gelding kept finding extra and in the end ran out a comfortable winner from Denim Blue who ran well after an absence of 2 years. On this evidence the winner can follow up.

The Confined fell to the improving Parade Racer who held off the renewed challenge of Charlieadams despite making one or two bad mistakes including one at the last. The winner looks Open class to me but he still has a tendency to hurdle his fences and this could hinder his progress to the top level. Charlieadams stuck on well after setting a blistering gallop and on this evidence a win should soon be forthcoming.

The betting in the Mens Open had the race as a match between Overflowing River and Ensign Ewart but the race itself proved vastly different. Overflowing River was under pressure and going nowhere with a circuit to run while Ensign Ewart cantering as they ran to 4 out was a spent force before the second last. Cool Yule under a vigorous ride from Wilson Renwick seized the initiative at the third last and from there on in simply stayed too well for his rivals. Ensign Ewart faded so badly up the hill he was passed by stablemate Dennet Lough and the fast finishing Concerto Collonges. The last named needs extreme distances and soft ground and if conditions came up like this at Alnwick he would be a major contender for the 4 miler. The winner stuck on well and deserved this success.

The second division of the Restricted was at the mercy of Geordies Express when he came to the last 10 lengths clear but his jumping again let him down, and he fell, leaving the race at the mercy of Broken English who came home 5 lengths clear of the strong finishing Shingle Beach. Dunnellie plugged on for third. The winner was completing for the first time but it is always difficult for Maidens who win a restricted to follow up. Geordies Express is becoming frustrating; he obviously has potential but the jumping problems he has will have to be ironed out.

The first division of the Maiden saw a touch landed by Border Farmer. Under a typical Val Jackson ride the winner confirmed the promise shown at Friars Haugh last time. Well backed from 16/1 to 4/1 he found a little too much for The Peeler and the somewhat one paced Nisbet. The second should win soon enough as he jumped well and galloped on resolutely when tackled by the winner.

Division two was a moderate affair and it was no surprise when the well backed debutante Border Burn, from the Ewart stable, held off the strong finishing Anotherhandyman. The winner is entitled to improve and the runner up would surely have won if it had been put in the race at any stage. The amount of ground it made up from the second last was phenomenal. The proximity of I Say Dancer to the principals casts grave doubt over the form.