21 April 2008 Cleveland - Mordon
Narciso: stamped his authority in the Ladies' Open
Sheriff Hutton based jockey Oliver Greenall extended his lead in the Men's National Point-to-Point Championship at the weekend by riding three winners - two on Saturday and one on Sunday. His nearest challenger, Richard Burton, only managed one victory so Greenall now has a seven-winner lead over his pursuer.
Riding at the Cleveland meeting at Mordon, on Sunday, Greenall won the award for the leading jockey by riding one winner and three seconds. He also fell at the last on Network Oscar with victory in sight.
His victory came on Lord Gee in the Restricted, where the pair appeared to have the measure of the Kelly Bryson ridden favourite, Silk Parasol, when that pair fell at the last fence to allow Greenall to coast home to win by 8 lengths.
Bryson had earlier ridden Qollioure to win the first and fastest Maiden division in the style of a useful prospect. The pair led at the 13th fence and once into top gear they scooted clear to win easing down by an easy 15 lengths.
The other Maiden division went to the Robin Tate's home bred, Chummy's Double, ridden by Mark Walford. The 5 year old had looked a future winner when chasing home the classy Flaco at Whitwell and on this occasion made all the running, quickening nicely when challenged by the Greenall ridden newcomer, Crow Spinney, at the 2nd last to win by 6 lengths.
The finish of the Ladies' Open was a repeat of the last meeting at Mordon when the Jacqueline Coward ridden Narciso had beaten Serena Brotherton on Welcome to Unos by 1 length. This time Narciso won again but with more authority. The pair quickened nicely at the 2nd last to win going away by 6 lengths.
The Men's Open saw the two most senior jockeys' on the Yorkshire circuit fight out the finish. Andre Chenier, who won the Men's Open at the last meeting at Mordon under Guy Brewer, had the assistance of his owner Chris Cundall and it appeared that a double may be on the cards when the pair led at the 2nd last; but Nigel Tutty came to challenge at the last, on Bobby Buttons, and the pair prevailed in a driving finish to win by half a length. This was Tutty's 144th winner, his first came at this corresponding meeting 30 years ago, and following this season he intends to hang up his boots.
The Confined race gave Middleham jockey Charlie Johnston his second career win when riding his mother's Monte Cristo to victory. The pair were left clear to win by 25 lengths when the odds on favourite, Network Oscar, fell at the last with the race at his mercy.
The concluding Maiden race saw victory go to Lucy Bell and Jimmys Duky who made most of the running to win by 6 lengths, whilst 18 year old Andrew Glass rode his first winner on Alisons Treasure in the Members. It was also a first winner for trainer Trevor Glass and Owners' Pat and Barry Garbutt.