This weekend was the Sinnington point to point, held at Duncombe Park Helmsley. Despite the wintry weather the crowds still massed and enjoyed an exciting day’s racing, including seven races which resulted in a double from local trainer and rider Will Easterby. Both trained by Will he only partnered one to success with the other going to younger brother Thomas. It would also be another narrow success for leading Yorkshire pointer Mount Mews, who has only had his colours lowered once in the last two seasons and contribute to a double for John Dawson. Yorkshire’s next meeting will take place at Askham Bryan College on Sunday 18th February.
Will Easterby’s first success came in the opening Hunt members race, and on paper it looked a very competitive race, with former Grimthorpe Gold Cup winner Point The Way setting the standard. However it would be the Easterby trained Rue Galilee who after disputing the lead down the back straight quickened away impressively to win with a good bit in hand “I think he’s still eligible to win two restrictions, so he’ll probably go to Askham and then Charm Park, we’ll just see how he is” said a delighted Easterby. Also overjoyed with the success, were the members of the Habton Racing Club “I went racing over twenty times last season and the feeling of getting a winner even pointing is just amazing!” said one enthusiastic member. Second went the way of Alma de Dios and John Dawson, bred by Richard Burridge from the family of the great Desert Orchid, she stayed on eye catchingly on racecourse debut to split two useful rivals.
Will would book end the meeting by scoring in the bumper, however this time it was younger brother Thomas who did the steering aboard Longtime Listener, a 4yo son of Telescope out of the winning hurdler Theatre Act, he showed a nice turn of foot turning for home to win by just over a length. Easterby also went on to saddle the second and third horses as well, next best was Stress Reaction and Jack Teal, whilst Will’s pick of the trio Alltalknoaction ran on well in third and was most definitely the pick of the paddock and could likely be the best long term prospect. All purchased as either foals or yearlings, Easterby hopes they can all progress on to better things “the winner is quite sharp, he’s got a bit of a turn of foot, I’m happy with them all, we haven’t been able to gallop on the grass due to the weather so they’ll have all learnt a lot there!” said Will.
The Restricted saw Fire In Her Eyes complete a quick double for trainer Jack Teal, the Sheriff Hutton winner dead-heated with her rival Wottinger on her British debut, but stoutly put the John Dawson rival in its place this time as she stayed on strongly up the home straight to win. Wottinger looked to find little close to home and may prefer an easier trip, whilst Jeux d’Eau was third. A progressive mare who never troubled the judge in Ireland seems to have thrived for new connections “she’s a nice mare, the lads at home thought she was better than a pointer…we’ll just tip away with her and see how we get on” said Teal.
Jack’s first winner came courtesy of Camdonian in the Conditions race, partnered by Christy Furness, the pair had only to navigate the course and pull clear over the final two fences and win by an eased down 25 lengths and recorded the fastest time of the day. Donnas Delight ran on to retake second under Natasha Cookson, whilst Silvertown was third. With a very creditable fourth at the Cheltenham Hunter Chase meeting last season, novice hunter chases could be an option later in the year for this improving pointer.
The Maiden continued the good form of Fiona Needham and her team, as they scored impressively the day prior with the hugely talented Sine Nomine at Wetherby. This time however it was a wide margin winner for Red Delta and John Dawson, the winner had shown steady progress in his three previous runs and improved massively here to bound clear towards the line “he’s such a lovely stamp of a horse and he was only going to improve with time” said Fiona who only paid the bargain sum of £3000 for this son of Ocovango “he’s a gorgeous type but the mare had bred nothing decent, luckily my last bid got him!”. Buy Some Time made up a huge amount of ground late on under Thomas Easterby and take second, whilst the favourite Where’s Hector weakened after the last to come home in third.
The Mixed Open saw the 13yo Mount Mews make it six wins between the flags in the last two seasons under John Dawson, however it was a very cosy success as the ever consistent Torygraph made him work to the line under Lyall Hodgins with only a head between them at the finish. Avoid de Master was back in third under Emma Brown.
The Veterans’ race went to the Northern raiders with Supremely Lucky, trained by James Cookson and piloted by Natasha Cookson, the pair led from a long way out and stayed on strongly up the home straight and win easily, a consistent performer over the last two seasons and this was a much deserved victory. Jimmil who looked at his best over staying trips in Ireland stayed on well from the rear and could be seen to good effect on a stiffer track under Will Brown, whilst third was Fresh New Dawn and Rosie Howarth who will no doubt come into their element in the spring time.