MICKY Hammond's evergreen gelding Roxyfet (Emma Smith-Chaston) rolled back the years with a heartwarming half length victory on his 110th career start in the 2m Sky Sports Racing On Page 415 Handicap Chase at Hexham on Monday.

This was the first time the 12-year-old had managed to get his head in front since scoring at Sedgefield in March 2020.

Stable companion, Bandit D'Ainay (Alain Cawley) led from the fourth and was still a length up at the final fence but had nothing more to give when Roxyfet asserted inside the last hundred yards.

Emma said: ''He had heart problems last year and the owners have been very patient. I thought he had the turn of foot to get past Alain's mount on the run-in and his winning days are not finished yet.''

Recent form figures between the flags of P0UP from Merrion Avenue didn't inspire confidence but Rosie Howarth's mount unexpectedly produced a career-best effort to land the 3m Happy 21st Birthday Anna Robson Open Hunters' Chase by a head from the unfancied Purple Harry (Jess Bedi).

Under pressure a long way from home, the 8-year-old kept responding for Howarth and headed Purple Harry approaching the last before doing just enough to prevail after a prolonged duel up the run-in.

Pickering-based Howarth, who also owns and trains the winner, is enjoying her best ever Point-to-Point season with 8 winners and leads the National Ladies' Novice Riders Championship. She couldn't explain the improvement in form and might bring him to the Tyne Valley again on Easter Monday for the Tynedale Ladies Open at Corbridge.

Clear White Light (Edward Austin) was the most impressive winner of the day in the 2m Thornton Firkin 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle Race to continue the good form of Yetholm trainer, Sandy Forster.

Cheshire raider, Lou Trek (Brian Hughes) tried hard to make all the running but had to settle for minor honours after Austin's mount swept into the lead approaching the final flight before sprinting further clear on the flat to score by fourteen lengths.

Marsh Wren's victory in the 2m4f Horslyx Balanced Nutritional Support Mares' Novices' Hurdle Race under Ciaran Gethings made it a day to remember for Newport Pagnell trainer Stuart Edmonds on his first visit to Hexham and the 255-mile return journey would seem a lot shorter.

After cruising into the lead on the home turn, odds-on favourite Fonzarelli (Nathan Moscrop) was still two lengths ahead of Marsh Wren at the final flight but Gethings' mount found another gear when it mattered to snatch an unlikely win on the line by a nose.

Gypsy Lee Rose (Bruce Lynn) ended a long losing run in the 3m Download The N-E Bet App Today Handicap Chase for the in-form Nick Alexander yard. Always going well, the 8-year-old finally collared long time leader Real Armani (Harry Reed) approaching the last before drawing three and a half lengths clear of stable companion Wavelength (Sean Quinlan) on the run-in. Coincidentally, the mare's only other win came three years ago to the day over hurdles at Limerick.

Lynn said: ''She was unlucky here last month when unseating four out after being badly hampered. Always in a good rhythm today, she felt a totally different horse on the drying ground and the visor helped her concentrate.''

East Street (Thomas Willmott) relished the step up in trip when landing the valuable 2m4f Discover Northumberland's Only Racecourse Handicap Hurdle Race in receipt of plenty of weight from his seven rivals.

Always lying handy, the Sue Smith-trained gelding took it up at the second last and stayed on strongly in the closing stages to beat Foster'sisland (Emma Smith-Chaston) by one and three quarter lengths and provide Willmott with his 16th winner of the season.

The concluding 2m Follow @hexhamraces On Twitter Open National Hunt Flat Race was won by Cartmel raider, BIngoo in the hands of Charlotte Jones.

The 6-year-old made good headway down the outside of the 10-runner field as the pace quickened three furlongs from home and reeled in the leaders coming up the hill. In front with a furlong to go. he kept on well to repel a late challenge from Theatre Man (Harry Bannister) by half a length.

The next meeting at Hexham is on Saturday, April 30 with the first race at 5.15pm.

AFTER a three year break, point-to-point racing makes a welcome return to the Downhills course near Corbridge on Easter Monday April 18 where the Tynedale fixture has 63 entries on a six race card. It starts at 1.00pm with the main action preceded by three pony races from noon.

Ballydonagh Boy has won three of his last 5 starts and looks the one to beat in the opening Novice Riders Conditions Races on a day that might well be dominated by Yorkshire raiders. Merrion Avenue bounced back to form at Hexham Races on Monday and can strike again in the Ladies Open, while the useful Monbeg Chit Chat heads the 6 entries for the Men's Open Race.

The ultra-consistent Sartorial Elegance should go close under John Dawson in the Conditions Race, Cullin Hills is top rated for the Restricted Race, while Chris Dawson's 4-year-old gelding, Can We Keep Him can make amends for running out through the wing at the second last when poised to win on debut at Tranwell a fortnight ago by landing the Maiden Race.