News

BLAZING BULL: winner of the Restricted
photo: Jon Hodd

This year's Bedale meeting differed from the past several years as the ground was riding very much on the testing side, making the races an emphasis on stamina. Although the damp weather persisted throughout the afternoon, the beer tent appeared to do exceptionally well, with people queuing out the door.

The first race on the card was the Confined Conditions race, which went the way of Laura Mason and Wantage Road. Laura held her mount up in the rear and slowly made good progress through the field and jumped to the lead at the last to be ridden out towards the line, much to the amazement of Laura's uncle (David Easterby), who believed the horse needed firm ground.

The Mason family made it a double on the day with the very progressive mare Poppy Day in the Ladies Open. Always going well, Joanna Mason had to work on her mount turning into the straight, but the stamina soon kicked in and the pair powered clear from two out to win emphatically. Poppy Day may now take her chances in the Grimthorpe Gold Cup and will surely be the one to catch if she does.

The Restricted race looked one of the more competitive races of its type this season and saw thirteen runners take part. Blazing Bull, Adieu Mari and Rich Hill all turned into the straight with a chance, but Blazing Bull sealed the win with a fine jump at the last, with a short gap back to Adieu Mari and an even longer gap back to Rich Hill. The winner towered over everything else and will stay Pointing for this season.

The Mens Open looked a one horse race on paper, but My Old Piano had to work very hard in the testing conditions. Several sketchy jumps had favourite backers worrying as the much improved Fox Point served it up. Fox Point jumped two lengths up at the last, however Jake Greenall galvanised his mount to win by a head, with That's Racing in a distant third.

The Open Maiden race was split and Division One saw only two of the twelve runners complete. What A Cliche led into the straight and looked the winner two out, but One More Gypsy was driven home and made very heavy weather of it to win. Reef Dancer was travelling very well until falling four out. David Easterby bred the winner and bought the dam Gypsy Race out of the money his mother had given him to buy a car when he was younger.

In Division Two three horses managed to finish and the race went the way of The Poor Man and Jake Greenall, giving the young jockey his first treble. The pair led between the last two and went on to win well. Second placed Red Roxy continues to improve, whilst Flag Hill filled third.

The Members race was very competitive and went the way of Lewesdon Duchess who took up the running three out and eventually went on to win easily, with Buckshaw staying on into second while trailblazer Texas Ranger, who could never really establish a big lead as he likes to, faded into third.

Back to Top