The Percy held its point-to-point at Alnwick on Easter Saturday after surviving an inspection the previous day, but unfortunately the Morpeth due to be held on Easter Monday had to be abandoned because of waterlogging.

Peter Russell, father of Lucinda, had a memorable day when he twice saw his colours carried to victory, the first of these being in the club members race, when the very useful Quinder Spring recorded his fifth success of the season. The French-bred gelding was sent on two from home and went on to score comfortably by 15 lengths from Seaview Lass with the third horse, Indien Du Boulay a distance back in third. Still only six years old, Peter is keen to stay between the flags with him, as he had been disappointing under Rules in 2009. Jockey, Grant Cockburn, was winning for the sixth time this season, thus extending his lead in the Area’s novice championship.

Bear Dancing provided the owner with his second winner of the day, when taking the open maiden in good style from Rennington Blue. By the local stallion, Dancing High, the six-year-old was making amends for running through the wing at the last the previous week at Friars Haugh, when in with every chance. The win provided 24-year-old, Danny Ockenden, with his first point-to-point success. From Dundee, Danny had a successful career show jumping before changing tacks, when he joined Lucinda just over a year ago.

Victor Thompson has 12 in training and brought half his string to Ratcheugh with a runner in every race, which resulted in a winner and five places. The win in the members gave Victor his sixth of the season and jockey, Tristan Davidson, his eighth. Although only two went to post they made a good race of it before odds on favourite, Indian Print, went on to score by eight lengths from Bal Des Champs. Another six-year-old, the Blueprint gelding was recording his fourth success in 2010.

Six lined up in the restricted but the testing conditions and strong pace took its toll with favourite, Aikman, finishing alone. The hat-trick seeking winner may have been lucky, as Commonburn was ahead, when taking a heavy fall at the second last. Both horse and jockey, Nick Orpwood, walked away unscathed. The win gave Tristan Davidson, who also trains the horse, a double on the day.

The young horse maiden run over the shorter trip resulted in a victory for the Jeffreys family when Jollygoodwelldone went one better than at Friars Haugh. The home-bred gelding is owned by Johnny Jeffreys, trained by his sister in-law Jane, and ridden by his nephew, David. Matfen tried to make all but had to settle for second, when the winner went on at the second last to win by five lengths, with Clareburn back in third. The favourite, Coole Murphy, was pulled up very quickly after a circuit, but was later reported to be fine, and is one to watch on his reappearance.

The mixed open, which is the feature race in the Northern Area with £350 going to the winner, is run over four miles and took over 10 minutes to complete thereby verifying the trying conditions. The winner, Another Rum, took it up from long time leader, Jacksonville, three from home, giving jockey, Nick Orpwood, compensation for his earlier fall. Having won at the Cheltenham Festival in 2005 and been second in the Scottish National, the 12-year-old was sent to John Leadbetter by his godson, John Weymes last summer, having fallen out of love with racing. John took him hound exercise and hunted him all season, which seems to have had the desired effect to sweeten him up. This was his second win from two starts for John, and although he prefers good ground, the mud didn’t seem to inconvenience him.

LEADINGawards:

Members’ – 1, Indian Print, T Davidson, 2-9F; 2, Bal Des Champs, K Sinclair. Two ran. 8l. V Thompson (Percy). Restricted – 1, Aikman, T Davidson, 4-7F. Six ran. Finished alone. S Houliston (Cumberland Farmers). Open maiden 4, 5, 6 and 7 y o, 2m 4f – 1, Jollygoodwelldone, D Jeffreys, 3-1; 2, Maften, T Davidson; 3, Claresburn, J Corbett. Nine ran. sh/41/2l. JR Jeffreys (College Valley & North Northumberland). Mixed open 4m – 1, Another Rum, N Orpwood, 6-4F; 2, Jacksonville, M Ennis; 3, Anns Benefit, T Davidson. Six ran. 8l/31/2l. SJ Leadbetter (Berwickshire). NPPA Club members’ – 1, Quinder Spring, G Cockburn, 1-4F; 2, Seaview Lass, T Davidson; 3, Indien Du Boulay, G Martin. Three ran. 15l/ dist. P J S Russell (Kingdom Draghounds). Open maiden – 1, Bear Dancing, D Ockenden, 7-4; 2, Rennington Blue, K Sinclair; 3, Master Saddler, T Davidson. 9l/21/2l. PJS Russell (Kingdom Draghounds).