Another British point-to-point graduate scored under rules when Pop The Question scored in a Hexham hurdle race on Sunday at odds of 50/1.
Then Kilmore Rock, another horse who was racing in British point-to-points last season, won the second division of Hexham's same hurdle at 8/1. Kilmore Rock finished second at Corbridge in April on his first start in a British point-to-point when trained and ridden by Joe Wright. He has since joined the stable of Susan Corbett.
Pop The Question is trained in Yorkshire by former British women’s champion Jacqueline Coward. Her mare turned the final bend with one hurdle to jump lying last of eight horses still racing, but under a superb ride from Brian Hughes she weaved through rivals, led on the run-in and prevailed in a tight finish.
Quoted in today’s Racing Post, Coward said: “She’s not had her ground throughout the whole point-to-point season, so finally it’s stopped raining and she’s got it and she was able to show her true colours.”
Pop The Question ran six times last season but raced on going without the word ‘soft’ in it just once – that was on good ground at Witton Castle in early May and she won a maiden race (pictured above under John Dawson) as the 7/4 favourite. However, later in the month the ground was slightly easier when she lined up in the Jockey Club Mares’ Maiden Final at Chaddesley Corbett and she pulled up.
Jacqueline Coward, who trains Pop The Question for her aunt, Susan Mason
Pop The Question is owned and was bred by Susan Mason having been foaled by Poppy Day, who in 2010 won The Grimthorpe Gold Cup when it was held at Whitwell-on-the-Hill. The jockey on that occasion, and for 24 of Poppy Day’s 26 runs, was the breeder’s daughter, Jo, who is now a leading Flat jockey. Jacqueline Coward and Oliver Greenall – both now licensed trainers – rode her on the other two occasions.
John Dawson, who trained and rode Pop The Question during the latest point-to-point season, also had an association with another graduate of the sport who scored under rules recently.
Dawson was in the saddle when That’ll Do Moss, who he trained for his wife Alice, won at Brocklesby Park in February. The runner-up, Imperial Pride, went on to win the Jockey Club Maiden Mares’ Final at Chaddesley Corbett.
That’ll Do Moss, a five-year-old son of Black Sam Bellamy, was then entered but withdrawn from Tattersalls’ March Sale in Newmarket, and he next appeared in a bumper at Uttoxeter under jockey Johnny Burke. Now trained by Fergal O’Brien, he won at 4/1.
That'll Do Moss (no.9, John Dawson) making his point-to-point debut at Chaddesley Corbett in December