14 April 2009 Report: Staintondale - Charm Park
CLEVER NORA & BEAUCHAMP ORACLE: jump the last together in the Novice Riders
The Staintondale Point-to-Point took place at Charm Park on Bank Holiday Monday and despite the gloomy weather, strong fields and huge holiday crowds meant it was a very successful day.
Doubles were the thing of the day, as Chris Dawson, Tom Greenall and Maxine Stirk all secured two wins.
The most impressive performers of the day came from the Maxine Stirk duo, the first of these came from Clever Nora and Henry Brooke in the Novices race. Clever Nora never came off the bridle until the last and was pushed out to give Henry Brooke his first winner. Beauchamp Oracle challenged over the final four fences but could not find enough, whilst Astral Prince, who made a lot of the running for Gemma Tutty, surpassed her expectations by finishing third.
Maxine Stirk completed her double in the Mens Open with Eliza Doalott. Restrained to the rear, Brewer managed to avoid interference as Johnny Venture and L'Oudon came down, leaving Le Passing with an enormous thirty lengths lead over Eliza Doalott going out on the final circuit. Brewer was very calm and steadily reeled the long time leader in and sailed past two out to beat the very weary Le Passing by 20 lengths. Zaville ran very respectably in third.
Tom Greenall rode his first winner of the day on My Old Piano, who was heavily backed and never had to come off the bridle in the Confined race to beat Over To Joe. Stroom Bank, who looked the danger three out, weakened up the run-in into third.
Greenall's double came in the Open Maiden which saw Apollo Saturn Five and Calopocus battle all the way up the run-in, with Greenall just getting up on the line. Cherryland was with the leading pair three out but could only find the one pace back in third.
The Restricted race saw the highly respected Persian Prince win for the John Wade yard. Always travelling well, Chris Dawson travelled strongly to the lead two out and stayed on well to beat the unfortunate Oaklands Bobby, who had tack problems early on in the race and ran extremely well to get second. Riot Act, who continues to progress, finished third.
The day ended with the Conditions Maiden and saw John Wade and Chris Dawson complete their double with Blazing Bull who was heavily backed. Despite jumping green the pair travelled up strongly and was ridden out after the last; more can be expected. Was It You was a clear second whilst Mark Walford and Ping Pong only just got up for third.
