28 April 2009 Report: York and Ainsty - Easingwold
by John Milburn
INTENSE SUSPENSE: and Tom Greenall on the way to winning the 1st Division of the Open Maiden
photo: Jon Hodd
The York and Ainsty held their Point-to-Point at Easingwold this weekend; the meeting was blessed with glorious sunshine and huge crowds and credit goes out to the course builders.
The day hosted some very competitive racing and there were several big achievements on the day, the main one been the Greenall brothers' double which started with Intense Suspense and Tom Greenall in Division I of the Maiden race.
Greenall settled his mount in midfield before hitting the front going out on the second circuit and was never headed after that, whilst the always-prominent Lewesdon Duchess could only find the one pace in second. The Real Rocker flew home late for third.
Division II went the way of the Guy Brewer mount Bossall Billy; the pair were always prominent and took up the running a long way from home, resisting the challenge of John Dawson and Nothing Left, who looked beat in the straight but rallied strongly up the hill. Fire In Cairo looked a danger but could only find the one pace in third.
Toby Greenall completed the family double on board Napalm in the finale, the Open Maiden. Napalm was always going well in midfield and took it up at the last, and Toby forced his mount out to deny the fast finishing Knoxhill Archie, who looks to be returning to his old form. The hot favourite Tabloid pulled too hard and was one paced back in third.
The Mens Open saw the most welcomed winner of the day as 13yo mare Queenies Girl romped home up the striaght. The mare was prominent from 4out and whilst the second, Lane Marshall, looked the winner jumping the last, Queenies Girl sprouted wings up the hill. L'oudon made his challenge two out but didn't find a great deal in third.
The Ladies Open saw possibly the best horse of the day, as well as a superb ride. Pip Tutty and Blandings Castle were settled in mid-division and after leading 4out were never going to be caught and won a shade cosily. Delfinia made rapid headway from the rear down the back straight and stayed on strongly but could only manage second. Jimmy's Duky rallied after the last to get third.
The Confined race saw a mammoth field of 18. The market leaders figured here and an excellent tactical ride from Miles Seston on Over To Joe won it as he kicked for home three out, stealing three lengths on Browns Beck who could never catch the winner and finished third, whilst Stroom Bank stayed on very strongly from two out to get up for second.
Miss Sunflower was sent off a short price favourite in the Restricted and although the track wouldn't have played to her strengths, Tina Jackson's mount was always well clear in front, however, Chummys Double travelled strongly to mount a challenge to the long time leader at the last before throwing away his chance up the hill. Riot Act who was always in rear stayed on for third.
The day got under way with the Hunt Members race; short priced favourite Gabor was attempting to make it back to back wins and was settled in behind leader Tirol Livit by Steve Magee before taking up the running four from home and staying on well to win by ten. Tirol Livit ran his best race yet under Rachel Clark, whilst Rare PresEnce did well in third after a lengthy lay off.
