As one of the four point to point classic races, the Grimthorpe Gold cup has a rich history tracing back over a century and the winners' roll of honour contains legendary names such as Michael Dickinson and Arthur Stephenson who won it on their way to racing fame. With the unseasonably dry spring reducing the fields across the country, the four-mile one furlong contest at the Middleton meeting, hosted by Mick Easterby at Sheriff Hutton on Sunday 6th April, drew a field of six who were bidding to add their name to the illustrious trophy which was once again sponsored by Lord Grimthorpe and the Beckett family.
As a previous winner over the marathon distance,the betting market found its favourite in the Lily Bradstock trained and ridden Myth Buster who had travelled up from Berkshire, and the pair set out to exploit that by leading from the outset. After chief market rival Red Opium unseated early on, his task looked to be made easier but Thomas Easterby and the mare Blue Sans were always travelling well in third and, having been produced to challenge two out under a well-judged ride the mare led at the last before quickening a length and a half clear to pass the post first at odds of 11/2.
Owned and trained by Charles and Emma Clark, Blue Sans was following up her win over the noted stayers course at Dalton Park two weeks ago. “I can't believe it!” exclaimed a stunned Charles. “She came from Fergal O'Brien and I bought her as a private sale via an advert on the Jumping For Fun website as I was looking for a fast ground horse to train. I didn't know if she would stay the trip but having won the Holderness Members and Farmers race twice I thought, why not give it a go? Thomas said she could have gone round again! All I’ve done is hack her round the farm”.
Blue Sans' triumph completed a double on the day for the Clark family which was instigated in the Resdev Conditions race when Emir Sacree was sent off the 5/4 favourite to go one better than his second to Largy Shark at Dalton Park a fortnight ago. Sent into an early lead by jockey Joe Wright, he put up a relentless gallop which saw his advantage steadily grow from fence to fence and he flew home a clear winner from Global Fame and John Dawson. The victory meant that all three of Charles and Emma's horses have now reached the winners enclosure this season which is no mean feat for true amateurs who do most of their training at home on their farm near York.
“I bought him out of Nicky Henderson's yard” explained Charles afterwards “ and they told me that he wanted quicker going. It was on the quick side of good here but perfectly safe and he loved it. He'll hopefully make a swift reappearance at the Bedale at Hornby Castle next weekend”.
The other double scorers on the day were novice jockey Isla John and trainer Cherry Coward whose yard is a mere five minutes away at Dalby. The first of these came in the opening race of the day the Guy Cunard Middleton Members, Subscribers and Farmers race. This proved to be something of a cat and mouse contest with Isla and her mount Zhiguli leading until Felix Foster sent Agirlcalledchloe on with a circuit to go. Having duelled for the lead from thereon, the pair took off in unison over the last before the Richard Morris Racing Club owned Zhiguli found a little bit extra to come home half a length ahead and back up his win earlier this season at Askham Bryan College.
“He jumped well and loved the good ground” commented a delighted Isla afterwards. With Cherry's daughter Jacqueline chipping in “It was really great to see the finish fought out by two young novice jockeys!”
The Coward and John double was completed in the Wrigley Ronan Property Open Maiden race via Dotre Dame, owned and home bred by her trainer. Having taken the lead from the fall of the starter's flag, Isla and her mount maintained a narrow advantage throughout and despite the rest of the field still breathing down their necks two fences from home Dotre Dame galloped on resolutely to hold all challengers at bay, passing the post a couple of lengths clear of Long Hop and Will Easterby to break her duck at the eighth attempt.
Explaining how the winner got her name Cherry said “she was born as Notre Dame was burning down in Paris and we also lost a friend called Dorothy at the same time so we combined the two”. Meanwhile Isla could only keep exclaiming “I can't believe it!” in disbelief after taking her career total to six winners and riding her first double.
The Moneyweb Restricted race saw Jack Teal's Malton yard continue its red-hot form when Whats The Solution maintained his steady progress up through the ranks and followed up his win last time out at Overton in Lanarkshire. Sent off the short priced favourite and ridden by his trainer, the winner was produced to challenge two out where he jumped to the front and then ran on strongly to beat Sunset On Fire and Rosie Howarth by four lengths.
Whats The Solution is owned by Gillian Smith who is deeply rooted in the fabric of pointing being Treasurer of the national Point To Point Owners and Riders Association, regularly officiates as the judge around the Yorkshire and northern area circuits as well as having served as secretary for the Hurworth meeting for twenty years. “He was sourced from Ireland by Andrew Pennock who ran him a couple of times before passing him on to us in a private deal. He was one of his cast offs!” laughed Gillian. “He loved this ground and the aim now, all being well, would be the Restricted final at Stratford at the end of the season”.
The last race of the day was the York Van Centre 4,5 and 6yo Maiden and, despite being a match, it didn't lack in excitement. The two who lined up were both inexperienced youngsters and there was some rather hairy jumping as they made their way steadily round. After more excitement at the last fence the pair matched strides on the run in before flashing past the post together in the day's closest finish with the judge's verdict going to Koyli and Felix Barlow ahead of Apieceofthemoon and Pippa Brown.
Koyli is owned by Peter Maddison who trains him just up the road from the course at Skewsby. “He is as green as a cabbage!” said Peter of his home bred six year old winner “He is a very, very nice horse and he will make a good horse one day. He hasn't done much at home at all and I will keep him pointing for now. Felix gave him a great ride and he is a good horseman. He deserves more chances”.
As a prelude to the point to points there was a pony race run over five furlongs on the flat. This was won by fourteen-year-old Kaden Beasley riding The Gentle Touch. Kaden's dad Connor Beasley had ridden a double on the $30.5 million dollar Dubai World Cup card the evening before but managed to jet back in time to see his son romp home fifteen lengths clear of Jack Gundry and Maesteg Ruth.
The next meeting in the Yorkshire season is the Bedale at Hornby Castle next Saturday 12th April where the first race is scheduled for 1.30pm.