28 April 2008 York & Ainsty - Easingwold
Mystically: one of Oliver Greenall's treble, and Cherry Coward's double, at the meeting
Despite heavy rain during the morning the York & Ainsty Point-to-Point had a successful meeting on Sunday, with all horseboxes having to be towed in and out. The meeting attracted 83 runners, for the 8 races, with the young horse Maiden split on the day.
There is no stopping Oliver Greenall at the moment, and 4 winners over the weekend saw him go 11 winners clear in his quest to be Men's National Champion. He rode 1 winner on Saturday at the Grafton meeting at Guilsborough, and followed up with a treble at the York & Ainsty.
His first winner was on the Cherry Coward owned and trained Mystically, who had chased home the hugely impressive Qollioure at Mordon last time out. Starting the 6-4 favourite, the pair led at the 2nd last and held on in a driving finish to hold the fast finishing Treehouse by half a length.
Eric Brook's Chorizo provided Greenall with his second winner of the day, at odds of 1-3 favourite, in the Men's Open. The pair took up the running at the 2nd last and stayed on stoutly to resist the persistent challenge of Over To Joe by 2 lengths. This was Chorizo's 5th win of the season and he now heads to Hexham for the Heart of All England HC on Saturday.
Eric Brook and trainer David Easterby achieved their doubles, and Greenall his treble, when Bow School won the Restricted from Easterby's other runner, Malton. The pair staying on the better to win by 2 lengths.
Malton based jockey Mark Walford showed why he is one of the most accomplished riders on the Yorkshire circuit by riding a double. His first winner was on Come On Pops, who came fast and late to beat the front running Hello Noddy, in the first division of the young horse Maiden division who won by a neck. This win also gave the trainer, Cherry Coward, a double at the meeting.
Walford's double came courtesy of Culbann who was backed from 5-1 to 2-1 favourite to win the concluding Maiden race. Their task was made easier when the leader, Lewesdon View, fell at the 3rd last, leaving the favourite to come away to beat Nina Chester by an easy 8 lengths.
The most competitive race of the day was the 14 runner Confined race, but provided the easiest winner of the meeting when Cop Howe won his third race of the season under Jacqueline Coward. The pair had disappointed eight weeks ago at Charm Park, but it transpired that the horse had a back problem after making a 1st fence blunder. Subsequent therapy obviously did the trick and the Primitive Rising gelding, trained by David Shields, took up the running at the third last to scoot away to win easing down by 8 lengths.
Briscoe Place travelled down from Scotland in search of decent ground he needs, and made all the running to win the Ladies Open under Caroline Hurley. The pair were all out to withstand the flying finish of Be The Tops, and Emma Dwyer, by half a length, whilst the opening Members race also produced a close finish when Gabor, under Steve Magee, held on to beat the front running Pinnacle Ridge by half a length.