17 February 2008 Sinnington - Duncombe Park
Duchess Account: made all the running to take the Ladies' Open under Emma Brader
The Sinnington Hunt Point-to-Point went ahead on Saturday following two inspections for frost.
With several frozen patches still around an hour before the 1st race, racing was put back 30 minutes to allow temperatures to rise and allow the frost to clear.
The star of the show was Duchess Account who, under Emma Brader, made all the running in the Ladies Open and, despite been challenged at the last fence by Jacqueline Coward riding the favourite One Five Eight, the pair quickened clear up the hill to win by 4 lengths. The long term objective for the winner is the Grimthorpe Gold Cup.
Oliver Greenall took his seasonal tally to 11 wins with a double. His first winner was on Well Presented who, despite hanging badly left near the finish, got up to beat Laura Mason on West Coater in the Confined. The incident did not go unnoticed by the stewards and Greenall was fined £75 for careless riding.
Greenall's second winner was much easier when riding Amicelli in the Mens Open. The pair hardly came out of a canter to beat Europa by 12 lengths despite being eased near the finish. This second Mens Open win now qualifies Amicelli for the Cheltenham Foxhunters' which will be his next race.
Jacqueline Coward, who was beaten in the Ladies Open, took the opening Members race on Pam Shields home bred Cop Howe who recorded his 3rd victory from only seven starts - his first ever run being in this race last year. Taking up the running at the 12th fence the pair stayed on strongly from the last to beat Nectar de Guye by an easy 3 lengths.
Alpha Lima made Simon Walker's long journey from his base at Southampton worthwhile when the pair quickened clear on the flat to win the Restricted for delighted owners Jo Hilling and Christine Spalding, and gave trainer Chris Pimlott his first winner of the season.
The ride of the day goes to Malton based jockey Mark Walford who won the first maiden division on Jackie Sawney's The Viking who is trained by his mother Gill. The pair bided their time at the rear of the field and, despite only being in 6th position jumping the last, Walford timed his run to perfection to get up at the finish to beat long time leader Go Moss Go by a length.
The second maiden division caused an upset when 20-1 outsider Messager, ridden by Nial Moscrop and owned by National Hunt trainer Ferdy Murphy, stayed on best to beat the odds on favourite Pristine Condition by 3 lengths and deny Oliver Greenall his treble. This was a first training success for 23 year old Gemma Bilton, with her first runner, who does the horse on an afternoon when not working for her boss, the winning owner.
