Hexham races sees the return of National Hunt season

Favourite backers didn't have an anxious moment in the opening 2m4f Langley Castle An Outstanding Small Hotel Novices' Hurdle Race as County Meath raider Lisnamult Lad made every yard of the running under Ben Harvey.

The six-year-old already had the prize sewn up when forging clear off the home turn to score by 37 lengths from Belle Of Annandale (Brian Hughes). His trainer John McConnell has now saddled 11 winners from 23 runners at the track in the last few seasons.

First-time blinkers worked a treat with Colonel Manderson (Derek Fox) who came up trumps at odds of 33/1 in the 2m7f Sue Heslop Loves Phil Kirby Racing Handicap Hurdle Race.

Always lying handy, the seven-year-old was still three lengths down in second place behind long-time leader Haveyougotmymoney (Craig Nichol) at the last before staying on strongly to overhaul Nichol's mount well inside the final furlong and score by three quarters of a length.

The winner is one of only four horses in training with South Lanarkshire-based permit holder Wassels Young and was bought privately for £5,000 out of Dan Skelton's yard earlier in the year.

Former 148-rated hurdler Dallas Des Pictons (Conor Rabbitt) upset more fancied rivals in the 2m4f At The Races App Form Study Handicap Hurdle Race with a shock 40/1 success.

Now running off an official rating of 116, 19lb below his last winning mark, the ten-year-old was always in touch with the pace-setting Fenna's Loss (Jamie Hamilton) and, after hitting the front at the last, found plenty when the chips were down in a prolonged duel on the run-in to secure a half length verdict.

Trained at Hackthorpe near Penrith by Dianne Sayer, the Mary Lewis-owned winner was bought for £22,000 out of Gordon Elliott's yard at Goffs UK Doncaster Sale last September. He clearly appreciated the drop in grade having raced exclusively in Class 2 and Class 3 contests on his nine previous starts since joining the yard.

This was a 21st career winner for Conor Rabbitt, who said: ''We knew he had the ability but he's an old rogue who just needs things to go his own way and if he doesn't want to do it, he won't. He didn't enjoy wearing blinkers at Cartmel last time and was tailed off when pulled up before three out, so we dispensed with them here.''

Former 148-rated hurdler Dallas Des Pictons (Conor Rabbitt) appreciated a big drop in class in the 2m4f Handicap Hurdle (Image: Peter Burgon)

Sheriff Hutton-based Mark Walford, the leading trainer at Hexham in 2022, joined John McConnell and Nicky Richards at the head of this year's standings following Allbetsoff's impressive victory under Jamie Hamilton in the 2m Sky Sports Racing 415 Handicap Hurdle Race.

Travelling strongly from the off, the seven-year-old didn't see another rival and drew clear from two out to win as he liked by 18 lengths from previous Hexham scorer Horn Cape (Richie McLernon).

Walford said: ''He did that really well and has grown in confidence since coming to us in August 2022. That was a good performance on his first run at the track and he is still potentially well handicapped.''

Finalshot (Alex Edwards) was a first Hexham winner for Shropshire trainer Mel Rowley in the 2m At The Races App Market Movers Handicap Chase on only her second visit to the track.

Always prominent, he tracked the pace-setting Sea Prince (Richie McLernon) from four out until hitting the front at the last. After being left four lengths clear when the tiring Sea Prince fell, the ten-year-old maintained that advantage to the line over top weight Heros Des Moutiers (Brian Hughes).

Winning owner/breeder Neale Dalton said: ''Harry Cobden gave me three pieces of advice after riding Finalshot at Newton Abbot in July - take the hood off, try a first-time tongue strap and drop him back in trip - and they have proved to be a winning combination.''

Edwards added: ''I just let him enjoy it and his jumping kept him in contention. He appreciates better ground and hopefully can go in again in this grade.''

The well handicapped Hapy La Vie followed up his last time out win at Hexham in June under a positive ride from Danny McMenamin in the 3m At The Race App Expert Tips Handicap Chase to send favourite backers home happy.

Jumping well in front all the way, the six-year-old's lead was reduced on the run-in but he still had more in hand over Irish raider Ahead Of The Field (Ben Harvey) than the winning margin of one-and-a-quarter lengths might suggest.

Langholm trainer James Ewart was relieved that only four of the 19 fences were omitted due to low sun after withdrawing his charge shortly before the start at Market Rasen recently when 6 of the 14 fences were taken out for the same reason.

The next meetings at Hexham are on Friday, October 6 and Saturday, October 14.