Female trainers dominated proceedings at Hexham on Friday, October 6 by sending out the winners of all seven races, including popular successes for local handlers Susan Corbett and Ann Hamilton.

Corbett's recent acquisition Champ Royal scored on his first start for her Otterburn yard in the 2m7f Download The N-E Bet App Today Handicap Hurdle Race to give jockey Sam Coltherd a welcome tonic on his return to the saddle after being sidelined since May 28 with a shoulder injury.

Stable companion Atomic Angel (Edward Austin) set a good pace in front until headed approaching the last by Coltherd's mount who outstayed his rival to score by four-and-three-quarter lengths and give new owners The Northern Racing Club an instant return on their investment.

After saddling the first two home, Corbett said: ''That's not a bad feat for a small yard out in the sticks in Northumberland. Sam rides out for us most weeks and to get that win on your first day back must be a tremendous boost, even if the horse gave itself plenty to do in the first half of the race.''

On his first outing since undergoing wind surgery, Irish Pointing winner Dare To Shout (Brian Hughes) landed the 2m4f At The Races App Form Study Handicap Hurdle Race to make it three wins from five starts since joining Ann Hamilton's Great Bavington stable in December 2022.

In touch with the leaders with a circuit to go, the six-year-old took it up after two out and was always doing enough to keep Monochromix (Derek Fox) at bay by a length on the run-in despite conceding 17lb to his rival.

A great weekend for Hamilton's yard was rounded off by stable star Tommy's Oscar (Sean Quinlan) at Kelso on Sunday. The eight-year-old outclassed his five rivals under top weight of 12st when making a successful reappearance in the valuable 2m1f NSPCC School Service (Class 2) Simply Ned Handicap Chase.

Whistle Stop Tour, Chapel Green and Return Fire provided in-form Kinross trainer Lucinda Russell with a treble.

Whistle Stop Tour made every yard of the running under Derek Fox in the 2m Langley Castle An Outstanding Small Hotel 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle Race and forged clear off the home turn to beat Jeepydoff Meel (Joe Williamson) by eighteen lengths.

Bought for £115,000 at Tattersalls Cheltenham Sale in April, less than a month after landing a Loughrea Maiden Point-to-Point contest on Soft to Heavy ground, the highly regarded five-year-old is related to prolific jumping winners Kicking King and Kalashnikov.

Fox said: ''He travelled and jumped well, has done everything right and might be stepped up in trip next time.''

Winning hurdler Chapel Green (Stephen Mulqueen) made a successful debut over fences in the 2m Martin Bowler Memorial Novices' Handicap Chase. Always in touch with the leaders, the six-year-old headed General Officer (Brian Hughes) before the last and stayed on well to score by two-and-three-quarter lengths.

Mulqueen said: ''He's an accurate jumper who doesn't waste much time in the air and was almost travelling too well when making his only mistake at one of the downhill fences.''

Return Fire (Patrick Wadge) relished the testing underfoot conditions when overcoming a big drop in trip to land the 2m4f Bet Cash With Hexham Bookmakers Handicap Chase. Making sure the contest was a true test of stamina, Wadge made all the running on the seven-year-old who repelled a late challenge from En Meme Temps (Sam Coltherd) to win, going away, by two-and-three-quarter lengths.

Russell's yard went on to compete another treble at Kelso on Sunday to make it nine jumps winners from 23 runners in the last fortnight.

Wigton trainer Lisa Harrison remains on course for her best season since the 2017/18 campaign following Solway Molly's pillar-to-post victory under Conor Rabbitt in the 2m4f equestrianeye.com For All Things Equine Mares' Handicap Hurdle Race.

A switch to front-running tactics worked the oracle for the home-bred nine-year-old who didn't see another rival and, despite idling on the run-in, was always doing enough to score by half-a-length from course winner Noble Affair (Jamie Hamilton).

Staffordshire raider Tommydan (Sean Quinlan) upset more fancied rivals when defying top weight of 12st in the 3m Follow Hexham Racecourse On Facebook Novices' Handicap Chase.

Patiently ridden, the eight-year-old looked beaten when still four lengths behind Lights Are Green (Edward Austin) approaching the final fence before staying on strongly to eventually overhaul the leader inside the last fifty yards and win a shade cosily in the end by two-and-three-quarter lengths.

Owners, trainers and racegoers will be hoping for a much drier afternoon at the Newcastle Falcons & Events-sponsored fixture on Saturday, where a seven race card starts at 1.35pm.