The York & Ainsty and West of Yore point to point meeting on Sunday 2nd February was blessed with a beautiful winter's day and a large crowd was treated to some good racing hosted by Askham Bryan College.
Star turn of the afternoon was Summerville Boy, the easy seven length winner of the Noble Foods Mens Open ahead of useful rival Paul Marvel (Huw Edwards). Having had a stellar career racing under rules for Tom George and latterly Henry De Bromhead, the highlight of which was winning the Supreme Novices Hurdle at the 2018 Cheltenham Festival, he is now in the care of Charles and Emma Clark who farm just 20 minutes from Askham Bryan. “We are true amateurs training our own point to pointers. We've had success in the past with the likes of Black Op but we'd lost a bit of confidence lately due to a lack of success” said a clearly delighted Charles afterwards. “ he's such a lovely horse and when we talked with Henry De Bromhead at the sales he told us that when his son, Jack, was tragically killed in a pony racing accident,the comfort he got from Summerville Boy was one of the things that helped him get through, such is his kind nature” A quick reappearance at next Saturday's Brocklesby meeting is under consideration for the winner.
The Haighs Farm Shop Ladies Open was a competitive contest which saw Bardenstown Lad and Emily Costello come home strongly ahead of the ever-consistent Ballydonagh Boy (Rosie Howarth). The winner is trained at Tern Hill in Shropshire by Sarah Loughnane on behalf of the Stay Between The Ditches Syndicate. Following the trophy presentation, the winning jockey was in a rush to catch a flight home to Ireland from Birmingham Airport, having travelled over in the day for just the one ride. “I've ridden three winners previously” said Emily “one in point to points and two under rules. The hope has been to get him qualified for the St James Place Festival Challenge Cup Hunters' Chase but it has been hard going so far getting it done”.
Another winner with his sights set on higher targets was Barton Snow who cruised home 12 lengths clear of Carriglux (Joe Wright) in the Noble Feeds Intermediate race. Owned by the MMI Partnership and trained on their behalf by Joe O'Shea, the winner was sent off a hot favourite and never gave his supporters much to worry about. Having won at Knightwick in early season, Barton Snow was then beaten into second last time out at Chaddesley Corbett of which winning jockey Huw Edwards said afterwards “He ran very well when beaten there that day as the testing ground wasn't ideal and he preferred the better going today”, Barton Snow will be looking to add to Joe O'Shea's record as one of the leading Hunter Chase trainers of the day and he confirmed afterwards that the Intermediate Final at Cheltenham and Restricted Final at Stratford are both being targeted.
The opening contest of the day was the Askham Bryan College Yorkshire Area Conditions race (Level 2). Having run third in a good contest at Friars Haugh last time out the Richard Morris Racing Club owned Zhiguli was made hot favourite and he lead from pillar to post under Isla John, repelling the persistent challenge of Deep Charm and Tom Easterby by two and a half lengths. “The plan was to go out in front and let him enjoy himself” said Isla afterwards, which he certainly seemed to be doing. Winning trainer Cherry Coward reported that former stable jockey Jack Andrews, who is now based down south, had advised them to buy Zhiguli. “He's a good old soul” said Cherry of the winner “Jack thought all he needed was sweetening up”.
The Bailey Livestock Maiden race over the shorter distance of two miles four furlongs featured the only runner sent up from the top stable of Gina Andrews in Warwickshire. Despite making his racecourse debut, Radical Optimism (Jack Andrews) was sent off clear favourite and he travelled like the winner for much of the contest in behind leader Hollywood Harmon however, when they turned for home the favourite ran out of petrol and his rival drew clear again for a decisive victory. Hollywood Harmon (Pippa Brown) was a very popular local winner for the Wilson family being owned by dad Cooper Wilson, known to many through his book “The True Story Of The Yorkshire Horseman” and trained by son Alexander who stables his small string at Foulrice Farm at Brandsby near York, from where Peter Beaumont sent out Jodami to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup. “I bought her to support Alexander who is now in his fourth season training” said a delighted Cooper whose own father Tommy was huntsman of the York and Ainsty pack for many seasons “she only cost me 1000 guineas out of Sam Englands' yard and she's a mare with a really big heart”.
The concluding race of the day was the Holmefield Farm Services Maiden (no weight for age allowances) and it provided another hugely popular winner when the Golden Syndicate's Titanium Bullet winged his way round under 18 year old Felix Foster, galloping home strongly twelve lengths clear to give him a first ever winner on his fourth ride. Based at Menston near Ilkley, where Felix trains his two point to pointers, Titanium Bullet had come across from mum Jo who trained him under rules. “He was placed a few times for mum and has always had ability” said a delighted Felix “from my four rides so far I’ve had a third then a second and now a winner. The plan is to keep him point to pointing now”
The next meeting of the Yorkshire Area season is the Sinnington fixture (Helmsley Races) in the beautiful setting of Duncombe Park on Sunday 16th February.