WITH a few abandonments because of the weather, it was a quiet spell on the National Hunt scene in the northern half of Britain in the period under review so Brian Hughes only managed to notch up five wins, recording doubles at Sedgefield on Monday and the following day at Kelso.

One of his successful Sedgefield partners was the Brian Ellison-trained Windsor Avenue, who was recording his second victory over timber when landing the National Hunt Novices’ Hurdle over two and a half miles. The now seven-year-old Winged Love gelding also has two bumper wins to his credit and he claimed a Loughbrickland maiden in November 2017 on the second of two starts for Stuart Crawford.

Windsor Avenue was bred by US-based, Co Down-born Jane Buchanan and is the second of seven foals out of her Zaffaran mare Zaffarella. The first, the three-time winner Ravenhill Road (by Exit To Nowhere), is also trained by Ellison and was among the entries for today’s Grade 2 novices’ chase at Doncaster. The fourth is the impressive dual bumper winner Malone Road (by Kalanisi) who, like Ravenhill Road, also had a one-run, one-win career between the flags with Crawford.

Another northern-bred winner, and point-to-point graduate, during the week was Church Hall who, ridden by Jamie Bargary, claimed the opening near three-mile handicap chase at Chepstow last Friday week for the Emma-Jane Bishop yard.

OUTSIDERS

Without a win since November 2017, the 11-year-old Craigsteel gelding was sent off one of three 50/1 outsiders in the 16-runner field. While he stayed on strongly to lead close home and win by half a length, the other pair pulled up.

Church Hall was bred by Robert McVeigh and is one of just four foals out of the unraced Religiously mare Island Religion, who was a half-sister to the seven-time winner Blaze Ahead (by Mohaajir).

Friday’s winner, who landed a Loughbrickland maiden in April 2013 on the last of six starts for Warren Ewing, is a half-brother to the 2005 Heron Island gelding Manger Hanagment, the winner of three chases and four hurdle races.