Glorious spring sunshine drew a very large and enthusiastic crowd to the scenic, once a year course in Skutterskelfe Park at Hutton Rudby. A total of 47 horses lined up on the six race card and produced a string of thrilling finishes to keep everyone well entertained.
The feature race of the day, the Rosedene Nurseries Mixed Open, carried an enhanced prize fund of £1000 and drew some classy performers to make a contest deserving of the money. The leading horse nationally for the 22/23 season Cullin Hills set out to make all but as they turned for home she faced a two pronged challenge and was overhauled by Red Opium and Summerville Boy and it was the latter who proved strongest on the uphill finish under jockey Thomas Easterby. Owned and trained at home on their farm by Charles and Emma Clark the winner bounced back from his defeat at Duncombe Park and showed that, at the age of 13, he still retains all his enthusiasm, the success coming almost seven years to the day since he won the Supreme Novices Hurdle at the Cheltenham festival, the highlight of his stellar career. “He scoped dirty after Duncombe Park” said a delighted Charles Clark afterwards “Tom said today he felt back to being the same horse who won at Askham Bryan. We haven't done a lot with him since, just hacked him round the farm. He's still loving it and it is great that point to pointing gives horses like him a chance to keep competing”.
Summerville Boy wasn't the only evergreen 13yo winner of the day to also boast a Cheltenham Festival connection. The Joslin Rhodes Veteran Horse Conditions (level 2) race saw a successful return to form for the Cookson family's Supremely Lucky who overhauled long-time leader Furax (Joe Wright) to come home a length and a half ahead. Owner trainer James Cookson from Morpeth said afterwards “he’s the most consistent horse we've had. He just missed out here last year and coming back was always the target. He is so honest and doesn't owe us a penny”. The winning jockey, Natasha Cookson was notching up her tenth career success and it wasn't her first appearance in the winner’s enclosure of the week having led up Bambino Fever who won the Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival on Wednesday.
Another trophy heading up to Morpeth was that for the Yorkshire Property Agency and Jockey Club Opportunity Conditions (level 3) for Grassroots Riders. Loughermore, ridden by Laura Fenwick, looked to be travelling the best from some way out and passed the post two lengths ahead of Foxinthebox (Isla John) clocking the fastest time of the day in the process. Restricted to jockeys who have ridden no more than 20 winners the success moved Laura on to a total of 12. Loughermore is owned by Simon Waugh and trained by daughter Amy who said afterwards “he has done a lot of hunting with the Zetland and I also did the Melton Hunt Club Ride on him. He's an all-rounder and he loves it”.
The award for ride of the day went to Rosie Howarth for her win in the Lynn Beane Restricted race. Most of the eight strong field still had a chance jumping the last and it was Rosie's mount Greater Glory who swept through the pack to take it up on the run in and see off dual previous winners The Village Way (John Dawson) and Great Notions (Will Easterby). The delighted winning owner trainer declared herself “well chuffed” afterwards “Rosie was Mrs Cool! She was too cool for me waiting like she did but she just said she just knew how much an engine the horse had”. Sent out from their yard at Dalby north of York, Cherry was quick to give the credit to daughter Sam saying “She does all the training”.
The award for leading rider of the day went to perennial Yorkshire Area champion jockey John Dawson. With the six races being won by six different jockeys, a second and a third place lifted him above the others to secure the trophy. John's winner came aboard Surprise Attack in the opening Lynas Engineers Hurworth Hunt Members, Subscribers and Farmers race. Under a typical Dawson hold up ride the winner cruised up to challenge Get With It (Will Brown) after turning for home and quickly drew away for an emphatic 25 length success. Trained by John's wife Alice, Surprise Attack runs in the colours of the Racy Ladies. After collecting the trophy, one of the partners Charlotte Covell commented “John and Alice are such a good team. He disappointed last time out but he seems to either like a course or he doesn't”. The trophy for the first farmer home went to Phil Greaves for finishing fourth on Kings Keeper.
The racing concluded with the Gemma Tutty Racing Maiden race which featured the largest field of the day with eleven. With many of them having recent placed form but no standout contender it was a very open betting heat however at the business end it proved to be a battle between a couple of those at the head of the market with Cali Dreamer and Henry Crow ultimately forging two lengths ahead of Bean Norty and Leah Cooper. The winner is owned by the Barker family and trained by Christopher Barker and had followed a promising third in a decent maiden at Duncombe Park by pulling up in a similar contest at Charm Park. Explaining what had gone wrong there, Christopher explained “She was unfortunate at Charm Park having been badly bumped twice by a loose horse. Hopefully there are good things to come now”.
The next meeting of the Yorkshire season is the Holderness next Sunday 23rd March. The course is at Dalton Park, South Dalton 5 miles north west of Beverley HU17 7PW and the first of the six races is due off at 1.30pm.