This weekend was the start of the point-to-point season in Yorkshire, with the Yorkshire Area Point to Point Club meeting at Sheriff Hutton.
It was the second biggest crowd in attendance since the meeting began and the bar sold out after the third race, showing excellent support in raising money for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance. John Dawson continued where he left off last season with his dominance the Yorkshire Area by recording a treble aboard three potentially exciting recruits.
Johns first victory came in the opening Conditions race which was divided on entries. Mount Mews was a former recruit from Donald McCains where at his best was second in a Grade 1 hurdle at the Grand National meeting. Trained by Lucy Hughes, wife of Brian Hughes, the former Grade 2 winner came to challenge at the last and for a brief moment victory looked in doubt, but his class came through and the pair pulled clear on the run in to win cosily. Off the track since May 2021, this 12yo has been nursed back to fitness “he came from Donald McCain’s and he’s done it well in the end, there are no big targets with him, just to have some fun,” said Dawson. Path To Freedom ran a much better race in second, whilst Felix Barlow was having his first ride aboard The Dubai Way in third.
John quickly followed up in Division two of the Conditions race aboard the Cherry Coward trained Tom Cody. A four-time point winner last season who was last seen finishing third in the Heart Of All England, Tom Cody was another patiently ridden winner under Dawson, been produced late on to hold off The New Kid and Dale Peters, whilst Mammoth and Gina Andrews were back in third. A progressive son of Morozov the winner looks set to continue improving “he’s still improving and should make up into a nice Open horse” said John.
The Men’s Open was final part of Dawson’s sequence as he steered Black Op to an eventual easy success “I was going wide for better ground and Black Op wanted to go down the inside and once I gave him his head he took off!” said John, whom victory didn’t look certain two out, but when given his head he strode clear to win easily. The Cheltenham Foxhunters could be on the agenda for this impressive winner who is now unbeaten between the flags. The Unmentionable and Vent d’Automne forced the early pace and finished second and third respectably and will no doubt be both winning their fair share this season.
The Ladies Open went the way of Dubai Quest under Gina Andrews for trainer Tom Ellis, the pair of which were also recording a double. Leading three out the pair forged clear after the last to run out a ready winner and remain unbeaten in completed English points. A return trip to the Foxhunters is likely on the agenda for the 12-length winner after finishing fourth last year, Wheesht put up a good effort in second, with an even further gap back to Homme d’Un Soir in third.
The Restricted saw an impressive display from the Stephanie Easterby trained Fascinating Rhythm, piloted by Will Easterby. The set a good pace from early on along with runner up Caballo Diablo and although the chasing pack closed three out, the son of Bobbys Kitten quickened again up the home straight to win well “he jumped well and did it fairly comfortably, I’d say he’s an exciting young jumps prospect” said rider Will Easterby. Favorite Cullin Hills closed in two out but couldn’t match the winners turn of foot and came home in third.
The first of two maidens went the way of the Joe O’shea trained Legostar under Henry Crow. The pair were always to the fore and stayed on strongly to fend off a staying on Pocatello and Alice Stevens, whilst Roan was making a pleasing point debut back in third for the Will Easterby team. Formerly trained in Ireland where he was unsuccessful in eight attempts, O’shea has quickly worked his magic with victory on his third British appearance.
The final race of the day was a 2m 4f Maiden and Big City Roller would complete a double on the day for Gina Andrews and Tom Ellis, the pair forged clear on the flat and go one better from their debut fourth last time and win in taking style. J’habite En France was the only other finisher back in second for Fran Poste and Alice Stevens, a 22,000 euro purchase as a 3yo made a pleasing start to his career and can no doubt enter the winner’s enclosure in the near future.