Don't know if it makes a blind bit of difference but the terrain is very different to your neck of the woods mate or say Wales, even to Gloustershire or the midlands.......no stone walls, smaller fields, high trees in the hedge rows.....I can't imagine that you would get as long a point and a hard ride like you would further up country.
Then again, what the f**k do I know.....I have only ever been out with fell hounds or on a quad !! Lol lol
What I do know is, the country is definitely not as open.
Cheers