The decision to switch the date of the Tynedale Point-to-Point fixture at Downhills, Corbridge from late February to Easter Monday paid off handsomely with a bumper crowd in attendance on a warm, sunny afternoon.

It proved to be a red letter day for the Yorkshire Area's leading jockey, John Dawson who took his career tally under all codes to 200, comprising 160 between the flags and 40 under Rules, with a short-priced double on Black Op and Path To Freedom. For the record, Dawson opened his account on Benwell in the Cleveland Members Race at Mordon on 15 April, 2007.

Former top class chaser Black Op delivered the goods on his first start for Selby handler, Emma Clark in the Brewin Dolphin Men's Open Race. There was nothing much to choose between Black Op and Monbeg Chit Chat (Christy Furness) until Dawson's mount gradually asserted from four out and the 11-year-old survived a slow jump at the last to win as he liked by a distance.

The gelding is owned by Clark's son, Charles who said: "I made the 12-hour round trip to Tom George's Gloucestershire yard at the end of February after unexpectedly getting the chance to acquire him from previous owner, Roger Brookhouse who has been a good friend of mine for many years. I've been riding him out somewhere different every day on our arable farm and the change of scenery combined with the individual attention he's been getting from my mother has done the trick."

Close House and Stellar Notion also came from the same source in recent years with the former winning a Perth Hunters' Chase in April 2017 and the latter scoring at Hornby Castle in April 2021 and Dalton Park last month.

Following a string of placed efforts this term, Path To Freedom's consistency was duly rewarded in the Galbraith Group Conditions Race, a 10th career success between the flags for Cherry Coward's charge. Always in touch with the leaders, the 10-year-old took it up after two out from Purcell's Bridge (Callum Pritchard) and went six lengths clear approaching the last but was running on empty near the finish as he had to pull out all the stops to hold on by a rapidly diminishing half length margin from Alone No More (Emma Brown).

Rosie Howarth maintained her slender lead in the National Ladies Novice Riders' Championship with a 9th winner of the season on Ballydonagh Boy in the Lycetts Insurance Brokers Veteran & Novice Riders Conditions Race. Always up with the pace, the 8-year-old went on four out and never looked like being pegged back by Fairy Mix (Lily Frank) in the closing stages. This initiated a training double for Cherry Coward completed by Path To Freedom to take her seasonal tally to 16.

First season jockey, Amy Coltherd made it two wins from three rides on ex-chaser, Oscar Wilde in the Womble Bond Dickinson Ladies Open Race. As usual, the former Willie Mullins-trained gelding, Vent D'Automne set out to make all the running under Lily Frank and was still four lengths ahead of Oscar Wilde two out before tiring badly up the finishing straight. Coltherd's mount held a fractional advantage at the last and, in a slow motion finish, prevailed by a neck. The 8-year-old winner, owner and trained by her father Stuart, is entered to run again at Overton on Saturday.

In-form Malton trainer, Jack Teal made it eight winners from the last 12 runners with Macavity's impressive victory in the Tilney Financial Planning Restricted Race. The 4-year-old found plenty when the chips were down as he forged clear under Jack Power from two out to beat Cullin Hills (Paddy Barlow) by five lengths in the colours of The Sigsworth Partnership.

Lepashe made it five wins on the day for Yorkshire raiders in the concluding Duck House Pantry Maiden Race. The 5-year-old headed Paris Cercy (John Dawson) with a slicker jump at the last and stayed on strongly to score by three lengths to make it a worthwhile six and a half hour round trip for jockey Paddy Barlow, who is studying Veterinary Science at Nottingham University. Lepashe's next assignment is likely to be at next month's Goffs Doncaster Sales and trainer, Will Milburn will be hoping to make a healthy profit after picking him up for only £2,200 as an unbroken 3-year-old at the Goffs UK Summer Sale in July 2020. His half brother, Loop Head was sold for £80,000 at Goffs Aintree Sale on April 7.

The main action was preceded by 3 pony races sponsored by Mowden Hall School. The 138cm Maiden Race was won by 9-year-old Henry Barker on Casterton Ferrari and the 138cm Open Race went to The Gentle Touch in the hands of 12-year-old Bridgend-based rider Bruce Vaughan. Corbridge specialist, Judge Fox secured a sixth course win since 2012 in the 148cm Open Race under 17-year-old Scarlett Frank.