Batman and Wilde are heroes for Amy

AMY Coltherd is the new leader of the Northern Area Ladies Championship following her first double on stable companions Batman For Ever and Oscar Wilde at Overton Farm on Saturday.

After a barren spell under Rules since completing a four-timer in France in 2021, Batman For Ever got his career back on track in the 3m NPPA Area Conditions Race. Always up with pace and travelling strongly, the seven-year-old had a prolonged battle for the lead with market rival Hermann Clermont from six out before asserting on the run-in to score a shade cosily in the end by a length.

A rejuvenated Oscar Wilde brushed aside a 3lb penalty when following up last week’s Corbridge victory in the valuable Kilbryde Hospice Mixed Open Race. Left in front by default two out when tiring long lime leader Rock On Harry was pulled up quickly by Pippa Brown after sustaining a tendon injury, Coltherd’s mount coasted home eight lengths ahead of Fightfortheroses.

Last month’s Overton Maiden scorer Incisive dictated a modest pace in the Restricted Race under Nick Orpwood and still had plenty left in the tank as he crossed the line five lengths in front of Easter Glory. The next assignment for Ronnie Bartlett’s promising six-year-old Crillon gelding is the 2m1f Point-to-Point Bumper at Aintree on May 17.

Northumbrian raiders Blouebrav and First One D’Ana had the 2m4f Novice Riders Conditions Race between them from three out and, after jumping the last in unison, were still inseparable as they hit the line, and the announcement of a dead-heat was met with approval by both sets of connections.

First One D’Ana was a welcome first winner of the season for 41-year-old James Innes, while James Cookson-trained Blouebrav’s second course success means that daughter Natasha is 5pts behind Amy Coltherd in the Ladies Championship with only the season finale at Hexham on May 18 remaining.

Inviction turned the form book upside down with a first win for two years in the 3m Conditions Race under his trainer Ross Wilson in the best time of the day, overhauling front-runner Nick Lost inside the last fifty yards to deny Cookson a double.

Modder River landed the concluding 2m4f Maiden Race after being given a positive ride by Warwickshire-based multiple national ladies champion jockey Gina Andrews. Always in the first two in a strongly run affair, the five-year-old edged in front down the back straight approaching five out and, after drawing four lengths clear on the home turn, was always doing enough to keep She Is The Enemy at bay by a length.

Home-bred by Skewsbybased Peter Maddison and trained by Jack Teal, the youngster appreciated a sounder surface on only his second start over fences and was a first winner sired by Forever Now.

RESULTS

2.00pm, NPPA Area Conditions Race: 1, Batman For Ever (Miss A Coltherd) 5/2, 2, Hermann Clermont (J Dawson) 7/4 fav, 3, Watch Law (N Orpwood) 9/4, 7 Ran, 1,6.

2.30pm, Restricted Race: 1, Incisive (N Orpwood) 1/3 fav, 2, Easter Glory (P Barlow) 5/1, 3, Turnthelightsoff (T Easterby) 6/1, 5 Ran, 5,0.5.

3.00pm, 2m4f Novice Riders Conditions Race: 1, First One D’Ana (J Innes) 5/1 & Blouebrav (Miss N Cookson) 8/1, 3, Silvertown (P Atkinson) 8/1, 7 Ran, DdHt,Dist.

3.30pm, Mixed Open Race: 1, Oscar Wilde (MIss A Coltherd) Evens fav, 2, Fightfortheroses (Miss C Tailford) 9/2, 3, Avoid De Master (Miss E Brown) 3/1, 5 Ran, 8,6.

4.00pm, 3m Conditions Race: 1, Inviction (R Wilson) 10/1, 2, Nick Lost (Miss N Cookson) 7/2, 3, Bintheredonethat (Miss E Justice-Vose) 3/1, 6 Ran, 1,4.

4.30pm, 2m4f Maiden Race: 1, Modder River (Miss G Andrews) 5/1, 2, She Is The Enemy (R Wilson) 8/1, 3, Toucan Sam (W Hamilton) 2/1 fav, 12

Ran, 1,1.