Despite the cold wind a good crowd gathered at Howick on Sunday to watch the resumption of Point to Pointing in Wales. The continuing dry weather left the fields not as large as the high entries would have promised but there was good racing on offer and some close and exciting finishes to keep the crowds entertained.
First off was the Hunt Members Farmers and Subscribers race. There was a time, not too many moons ago, where this race would been predominantly for local horses and indeed jockeys. It was a race in which many felt they could “have a go”. With the horse physically going hunting no longer a requirement with most Hunts, and the ability for an owner to join a Hunt anywhere in the country this has a contest more similar to an Open with winning horses carrying penalties. Some meetings have indeed removed it from the card altogether. Sunday’s contest saw six original entries with three hailing from the yard of Luke Price who put two forward on the day. James King had travelled to Wales with a full book of rides and started his day with a winner on neat First Preference (IRE) for Luke. Having taken the lead at the top of the hill the Publisher nine-year-old set sail and held off the challenge of stablemate Frisco Bay (IRE). Ancient Empire (IRE) and Holly Flynn had made the pace until this point and were still in contention when they lost their weight cloth and had to pull up.
The combined age of the owners of Hitdroadjack (IRE) is claimed to be one hundred and fifty, although their age would have felt immaterial as their ten-year-old Wareed gelding took the lead three out and ran home strongly to give James King a swift double on the day in the Conditions Race. This was the largest on the card with ten starters. Hitdroadjack has now won five of his fourteen starts and has been in the placings on six other occasions. He was chased home by Dr Des (IRE) who is still to get his head in front of the judge in Point to Points. Goldencard (IRE) was going well for Harriet Tudor and at one stage looked to have every chance of winning.
The Restricted race was a quieter affair with five runners. James King was hoping for another winner on the Luke Price trained Vermillion Cliffs (IRE) who was in with every chance as they approached two out but had to settle for the runner up slot behind Kauto No Risk (FR) and Zac Baker. Trainer Joanne Priest had swapped training for riding the previous day but had returned to her normal role to saddle the seven-year-old. The Gelding by No Risk At All would be classed in human terms as the “nephew” of the legendary Kauto Star being out of a full sister to Paul Nicholls late, great, steeplechaser.
Breeding was also to the fore in the case of Marcle Ridge (IRE) winner of Mixed Open contest. His owner breeder had a matrimonial discussion a number of years ago about the number of horses that he was breeding and keeping and agreed to sell the next one to come along.
This proved to be a half-brother to Marcle Ridge and was given the name Shishkin.
The rest as they say is history.
A big impressive gelding Marcle Ridge relished the sound surface and made that seven wins from eleven starts between the flags. The gallant grey Fiftyshades (IRE) fought off the challenge of Frankie Faulkner (IRE) to secure second and increase his tally of point-to-point wins to five. Ever consistent Fifty Shades is a former inmate of the Christian Williams yard where he amassed forty-two thousand pounds of prize money.
The two Maiden contests flanked the open the first being the young horse race for Four- and Five-year-olds. Only three came forward on the day with Tyleglaslass(GB) emerging the winner on the third time of asking. It was her rider James Jeavons sixteenth career victory on a mare he claimed “loved the ground and was light on her feet” taking the bends “like a motorbike”. Putemuderpressure (IRE) and You Can Smile (GB) filled the minor placings.
The meeting closed with a very popular victory for Welshman Mark Robinson and Debacle (GB) who saw off the challenge of favourites Dower Caves (IRE) and Bradley Gibbs. These were the only two finishers of the eight original starters. This was Mark’s second winner between the flags, and he had to wait for the official verdict of the photograph before beginning his celebrations in earnest. This was a very popular win and a reminder that the real grass roots sport is still alive and well, with the ten-year-old Debacle being trained by his owner, who also works a farm and ridden by a keen and determined amateur.