They say good things come to those who wait and that was the case for Dalkeith-based owner/trainer, Hannah McMahon who finally got off the mark with former 129-rated chaser, Wonderoftheworld, her 41st runner since May 2019, in the TMP Wealth Management Men's Open at the Morpeth Point-to-Point Races on Saturday.

Always close up, Henry Crow's mount was left out on his own when Midlands raider, Vinnie Lewis (George Chatterton) fell six out. Despite tiring in the closing stages, the ten-year-old never looked like being pegged back by Cuneo (John Dawson) and still had six lengths in hand at the line. Campaigned at venues as far away as Ampton, Ffos Las and Revesby Park in the last five months, this was the gelding's eleventh outing of the season and McMahon plans to keep him on the go as she needs more winners to achieve her ultimate aim of a BHA trainers' licence.

Blazing Tom carried the claret and blue colours of Burnley to victory in the TMP Wealth Management Ladies Open under Natalya Irvine, granddaughter of former club legend Willie Irvine, who made 126 appearances in the 1960's and scored 78 goals. 

The eleven-year-old, who is owned by her father Stephen, made virtually every yard of the running and found another gear when pressed after five out by ex-chaser, Oscar Wilde (Amy Coltherd) to score impressively by a cosy four lengths after being eased down near the finish.

Irvine said: "We came up with the idea last year as a whole family as we wanted to represent my home town of Burnley with my silks. He usually prefers to get a lead in his races and then pass his rivals late on but did it well from the front today and will bid for a ninth successive Pointing win in the Tynedale Ladies Open at Corbridge on Easter Monday."

Lyall Hodgins extended his lead over Nick Orpwood in the Northern Area Jockeys Championship to six points with a seventh winner of the season on the Brian Harding-trained Westerner gelding, Cedar Row in the concluding 2m Newcastle Racecourse Point-to-Point Flat Race. Carrying the famous emerald green and yellow quartered colours of the late Trevor Hemmings, the five-year-old cruised through the contest before powering clear three furlongs from home to beat Pop The Question (John Dawson) by a distance without coming off the bridle.

Equine vet, Meisha Micklewright made her first visit to Tranwell one to remember when partnering ex-hurdler Santon to victory in the 2m4f Ben Robson Builder Maiden Race. Sent on a mile from home, the seven-year-old was always doing enough to keep Easter With Yeats (Kit Alexander) and Calling Arc (Lyall Hodgins) at bay on the run-in but it might have been a different story had debutant Can We Keep Him (John Dawson) not run out through the wing at the second last when disputing the lead.

After drawing a blank for almost three years, this was her second winner in the space of a fortnight. She said of Kelly Morgan's charge: "A wind operation in January has clearly worked. He was very slick at his fences and that took him to the front earlier than planned. Despite idling in the closing stages, I always felt he would hang on."

Morgan's Waltham-on-the-Wolds yard is enjoying a great season and this latest success made it 15 winners from 34 runners between the flags.

Laura Fenwick took her career tally between the flags to 10 with a pillar to post win on Rushour Ryan in the Go As You Please Funerals Members Race. The nine-year-old was always a few lengths ahead of Purcell's Bridge (Callum Pritchard) on the second circuit before before forging clear from two out to score by fourteen lengths.

Fenwick said: "He's a different horse when he gets his own way in front and had a first-time tongue-tie fitted today."

Bocasien Desbois provided Holly Taylor with a memorable first winner on only her third ride in the Jockey Club & ROR Veteran Horse Conditions Race. Taylor, 20, who works for Rebecca Menzies, said: "I actually fell off him at home in early January and broke some ribs. A change of scenery and training regime seems to have rekindled his love for racing again after he refused to start one day at Hornby Castle last season and was then pulled up twice. I kept him wide in search of better ground and was always confident of winning after taking it up three out."

This was a first training success for Alex Garven, who also works for Rebecca Menzies. She said: "He wasn't quite right last year and 

enjoyed a long lay-off in the summer. I've always had a soft spot for him as my first ride under Rules was on him at Catterick in February 2019."

Rosie Howarth moved into the outright lead in the National Ladies Novice Riders Championship with her seventh winner of the season on Ballydonagh Boy in the PPORA Club Members Veteran & Novice Riders Conditions Race. The eight-year-old tracked the pace-setting Ardbruce (Abby Robertson) before taking over six out and settled the issue in a matter of strides. He was ten lengths clear at the next and still had plenty left in the tank as he crossed the line sixteen lengths ahead of The Kitchenmecanic (Ailsa McClung) for his third win from eight starts this term.

The main action was preceded by 2 Open Pony Races over one-mile which were sponsored by Mitford Estates. The 138cm and under contest was won by Avalon Dancer (Bruce Vaughan) and the 148cm contest went to I'm Taking It (Cara Tuke).

The next Northern Area fixture is the Tynedale at Downhills, Corbridge on Easter Monday April 18.