Phil York celebrated his birthday at Peper Harow on Saturday but more importantly he recorded his 400th win in the opening race of the day. With a patient ride, York followed behind his two rivals the bookmaker’s favourite Too Many Diamonds, trained by Anthony Ward-Thomas, and The Turner Family’s Take To Heart, in the veteran and novice rider race before making a move before the seventeenth fence to take up the running. With the inside line turning up the centre of the course to the winning post York aboard Tim Underwood’s Must Have Hope, opened up an advantage over his rivals who were both chasing but unable to close and came home three lengths ahead of Too Many Diamonds with Take To Heart a further six lengths behind in third.
The following restricted race saw Luke Price trained Hold Your Fort with James King doing the steering make all and comfortably win finishing thirty lengths ahead of his closest rival. Steve Spice’s Jasmin des Bordes was in contention until the final half mile of the course when Hold Your Fort increased the pace and opened up a clear advantage but finished second ahead of Hannah Grissell trained Westtara and Alan Hill trained Da Boy Charlie whilst Super Dawn from Nigel Padfield’s stable pulled up.
The men’s open provided the first part of a double for local trainer Rob Varnham on the day when Imperial Esprit and Keagan Kirkby followed a similar tactic to York’s ride in the opening race waiting behind his rivals Reikers Island, Cracking Find and Skipthecuddles until the run to the third fence from home to make a move. Reikers Island stayed in touch until the penultimate fence but then lost touch with Imperial Esprit, whilst Cracking Find held on to third place ahead of Skipthecuddles.
The ladies open gave Varnham his second success as Ella Herbison rode Count Simon from the front to victory by a length over the bookmaker’s favourite Solomon Grey from Victoria Collins stable. Solomon Grey joined Count Simon from the seventeenth fence and the pair battled over the final three fences but Count Simon was able to find the extra needed to take the win. Hannah Grissell trained Ballintara ridden by Ellie Holder, and Alan Hill trained Knight Batchelor ridden by Izzie Marshall, had their own battle for third place and passed the line together in a dead-heat. Nikki Henton’s Hyberry ran out at the penultimate fence leaving Jackfield and Beth Mellish to finish in fifth.
The maiden race that followed proved to be the most eventful race of the day, on the way to the start David Phelan trained Lou Cristiano decided he didn’t need his jockey Seb Mead, but the pair were reunited at the start and lined up with their six rivals. Phil York’s day took a dive as he was unseated from Delightful Guest at the second fence reducing the field to six and they were all in contention until the fourteenth fence where David Phelan’s second runner, Panorama Ridge blundered and unseated Nicole Lockhead-Anderson. James King and Luke Price looked as if they were going to record their second victory of the day with Oh Mo Shrone but again on the long run to the third fence from the finish Charlie Marshall, aboard Hannah Clarke trained Frontieres Lad, moved up to challenge. The pair remained locked together at the penultimate fence but with the inside advantage on the turn to the winning post Frontieres Lad got his head in front and then opened up a couple of lengths advantage to go on and lose his maiden status. Nigel Padfield’s Vango Vick lost touch with the leading pair over the final stages of the race but completed for third place whilst Lou Cristiano and David Bingham’s Down the Gearagh both pulled up.
The fixture concluded with a level two conditions race and Lexi New aboard Jaisalmer set the pace and made all to easily win the race. Alan Hill trained Clondaw Westie took second whilst the judge was once again challenged as Flaminger and Instant Replay crossed the line together three lengths behind Clondaw Westie with a dead-heat again being called. Luke Price’s Los Alamos finished fifth whilst Buffalo Sabre and Tempelpirate both pulled up before the third fence from the finish