After a three week break the Yorkshire area season resumes on bank holiday Monday 5th May with the Zetland fixture at Witton Castle in County Durham. The organising team continue to work hard watering the course daily using the ample on site supply in order to ensure safe racing ground and they have been rewarded with an entry of 65.
The opening contest of the day is the Todds Highway Maintenance Conditions Race (level 2) 5yo and up and it looks a competitive one on paper. Whats The Solution has hit a rich vein of form on better ground this spring and completed his hat trick when winning easily at Overton three weeks ago and if carrying on that progression he looks the one to beat. Sunset On Fire chased Whats The Solution home at the Middleton previously and has just over three lengths to find and will be 3lbs better off at the weights which may not be enough to reverse the result. Watch Law has also found his form this spring and has won his last two although this means he has the double penalty to carry which won't make his life easy so perhaps the main danger could be Pete The Brief who put up a super effort at Dalton Park on his first attempt between the flags when chasing home his stablemate Largy Shark which was a very promising effort.
Of the others, Felix Foster has the choice between Agirlcalledchloe and Titanium Bullet with the former preferred having proved she handles fast ground whilst Foxinthebox and Glencorp have both posted some solid efforts without winning as yet this season. Finally, following a year's absence, Moonlight Flit has taken a while to rediscover his winning form from 2023 but he showed signs he was on the way back when fourth at the Holderness last time out.
Race two is the Low Grange Quarry Conditions (level 2) 8yo and up and this looks very much at the mercy of the Charles and Emma Clark pair of Blue Sans and Emir Sacree who both won at the Middleton in early April. The former was a good winner of the Grimthorpe Gold Cup and whilst this will be a much different test, she is at the top of her form. Emir Sacree meanwhile was an easy winner of the level 2 conditions coming home well clear of Global Fame who reopposes here and with the pair both liking a sound surface,whichever the stable select will take all the beating.
Killer Clown has had a very good season and won last time out in the Bedale Ladies race though as a result he has to concede weight to all but one of his rivals but looks sure to go well again. Zhiguli is another who arrives on the back of a win at the Middleton and he proved he won't mind the shorter course he'll find here when winning at Askham Bryan. Conversely, Morozov Cocktail, though another dual winner this season, looks like he'd prefer more of a stamina test than Witton will provide. Lastly Imperial Imp won over course and distance in 2024 and ran very well when second on his belated seasonal reappearance at the Bedale and that puts him in the mix too.
The third race is the Latimer Hinks Restricted and the standout looks to be the Jack Teal trained Diamond Flush who won a maiden and a restricted at the two Overton meetings. Consequently he has the 5lb penalty to carry but as a young horse, very much on the up, that may not stop him. Chief danger may be Jardin Carre who won the maiden at the Bedale as he is well regarded by his connections who have had a great deal of success with their small string already this season and he could easily follow up. Benefact chased him home there and reopposes but the 5lb pull in the weights is unlikely to be enough to turn things round.
Of the others, Dotre Dame improved to win at Sheriff Hutton and could well progress enough to feature here too, Moonlight Flit holds this as an alternative engagement and would be a danger to all if back to his 2023 form whilst Felix Foster has a choice of two with Agirlcalledchloe looking to be the more likely of the pair.
Race four is the Sherwoods Mens Open where the entry of eight features several with a realistic chance. Top of the shortlist has to be Surprise Attack who has won four times already this season and he cruised home to win on the bridle at Hornby Castle last time out. Emir Sacree holds an alternative entry here and if running to the level he did when winning at Sheriff Hutton he would warrant serious consideration. Get With It has also been in good form of late having progressed with every run as the ground dried up and he looks sure to go well again as should Watch Law who has also won his last two outings. Both will be stepping up in grade but are well worth a try at open level. Of the others, Imperial Imp also has the option here but may take up the entry in the earlier conditions race in preference whilst Pop The Question is hard to assess. She lost her maiden tag here in 2024 before winning on her subsequent first attempt over hurdles. Having completely lost her form afterwards she returned to pointing to win a modest affair at Askham Bryan in late March and assessing that in relation to the form of the best of these requires a bit of speculation.
Race five is the S G Petch Ladies Open and it looks like an ideal opportunity for Killer Clown to follow up his win in the Ladies Open at the Bedale and the emphasis on speed rather than stamina here will suit him. Fightfortheroses will be looking to win this race for the second year running and should go well once again whilst Deerstalker has had a solid season and won over two and a half miles at Overton so will be another suited by the easier track. Royal Chant has to warrant a mention being a course specialist having won four times at Witton previously. He hasn't won for three years however and age may be catching up with him though if he is to get his head in front again it is most likely to be here. The wild card in the line up could prove to be Do No Wrong who has yet to make an appearance between the flags. A decent performer at his level under rules he is trained by Justin Landy who has a great strike rate with his pointers over the years and for that reason his runner must be given the utmost respect here.
The final race of the day is the Ripon Farm Services Maiden and this could well go to one of the Jack Teal entries. The stable's maidens have been in flying form all year and both of the inmates entered here look surefire future winners. Royal Maggs followed up her win in an Alnwick flat race with a good second at Overton on her first try over fences whilst Wherearethejudges put up a lovely performance on debut at Tranwell in late March when fourth beaten eight lengths in total. Looking elsewhere, Dear Dot also put up a great effort when fourth on debut at Alnwick in December but hasn't been seen for almost five months which is a slight negative. The Easterby brothers Will and Thomas have three to choose from. Benefact has had plenty of chances and whilst he was second at Hornby Castle he doesn't always look willing, Long Hop has been going the right way and may have more scope for improvement whilst Thomas trains an interesting Order Of St George four year old newcomer Rye's Words who cost £20,000 as a store and has an attractive pedigree. Of the others, Ballywhatsit, Cinque Terre and Phantoms Cave have all been placed with the last named in particular being of interest having the benefit of experience over some of his rivals and it would be no surprise at all if he proved good enough to win this.
The first race is due off at 2pm and the bank below the castle provides a superb natural grandstand which affords racegoers with a great view of the racing around the lakes below. Entrance on the gate is £15 per person with under 16s free. There will be food outlets and trade stands and well behaved dogs are welcome on a lead. The course is located five miles west of Bishop Auckland near the A68 and the postcode is DL14 0DE.