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College Valley and North Northumberland review 2025
By Peter Burgon
Joe Wright enjoyed a first and last race double on the Jack Teal-trained debutants Matterofexpression and Royal Maggs at Sunday's College Valley & North Northumberland fixture at Alnwick, where 55 runners faced the starter to make it a total of 153 runners at this season's 3 meetings at the Ratcheugh Farm course.
Matterofexpression (left) set the ball rolling with an impressive wide margin debut success in the 2m4f Bedmax Fred Scott Memorial Maiden Race. Always travelling well, the five-year-old had just edged in front of the pace-setting Phantoms Cave (Paddy Barlow) when his rival fell three out. Wright gave his mount a squeeze and the response was immediate, putting the race to bed in a matter of strides before cruising home a distance in front of Theoldboggroad (James Innes).
Related to numerous jumps winners, the youngster was bought for £15,000 at Goffs UK Doncaster Store Sale in May 2023.Teal's sister Lois said: ''We've had to be patient as he was coughing in early January but he'd been giving all the right signals in his recent work at home and will now head straight to the Sales.''
Withdrawn on veterinary advice after being kicked at the start at Duncombe Park the previous week, Royal Maggs' (right) delayed debut was worth waiting for as the five-year-old turned the closing stages of the 2m Land Rover Flat Race into a procession to complete doubles for Wright and Teal. The minor placings were filled by Mix The Music (John Dawson) and Warwickshire raider Colibri Bleu (Will Thirlby).
It was good to see the mare's owner/breeder Steve Knowles making a rare visit to Alnwick. Some of his other home-bred winners down the years include Hafajay who landed the 2019 renewal of the Heart Of All England Maiden Hunters' Chase at Hexham, J-J-Henry who won the 1991 Topham Trophy at Aintree, and Bramble Vodka who won a 16-runner Alnwick Maiden on debut in December 2013.
Making a quick reappearance after finishing third at Duncombe Park, last month's Percy Maiden winner Great Notions showed his liking for Alnwick with a second course success in the 3m Lycetts Restricted Race. Sent on a mile from home by John Dawson, the Robin Tate-trained six-year-old had a sustained duel with Joe Wright's mount Slaney Opera down the home straight before being left on his own when Slaney Opera, who was upsides at the time and holding every chance, fell at the last. The valuable Heart Of All England Maiden Hunters' Chase at Hexham on May 10 is now on the agenda for the winner.
After long time leader Jimmil (Pippa Brown) was headed three out in the 3m Saffery Mixed Open Race, the business end of the contest saw proven stayer Wild Romance (right light blue sleeves, Shay Halton) edge ahead of Alnwick specialist Dundrum Wood (Martha Reeve) well inside the last fifty yards to score by a neck.
Runner-up to Does He Know in a 2m5f Grade 2 Cheltenham Novices' Hurdle back in November 2020 when trained by Dan Skelton, the mare has enjoyed a new lease of life between the flags since joining current connections and this was her 5th win under Halton, including 3 at Alnwick, from 10 Pointing starts in the last fifteen months. Her next targets are the Holderness Mixed Open and the 4m1f Grimthorpe Gold Cup.
Last season's 2m4f Overton Maiden scorer Bellaney Lord (left) was an easy winner of the 2m4f Womble Bond Dickinson Conditions Race under Thomas Easterby. Sent on up the hill after four out, the nine-year-old had the prize sewn up before the second last and was still twelve lengths ahead of Furax (Joe Wright) at the finish.
Easterby said: ''He is ideally suited by a strong pace at this trip and wouldn't want much further. He runs next in a 2m5f Carlisle Hunters' Chase on March 9.''
For the record, the first 6 Northern Area meetings of the season have attracted a total of 305 runners with a healthy average of 7.82 per race, while the ratio of runners to individual horses entered is 78%.
The 3 Northern Area meetings in March all take place on a Saturday at Friars Haugh (March 8), Overton (March 22) and Tranwell (March 29), with the Overton card again offering a record total prize fund of £7,500 across seven races.
After taking it up two out in the 3m Alncom NPPA Area Conditions Race, Fife raider Not The Chablis (right, Jess Jubb) quickly settled the issue and went on to score by an eased down eight lengths from Frankies Fire (Charlotte Tailford). This was yet another success for the Jockey Start Syndicate Scheme, and a second of the season for Jess who is the new leader in the Northern Area Novice Riders' Championship.
