Phil York once again showed that age is merely a number as he picked up a riding treble at Penshurst on Sunday. York’s first win of the day came in the opening race, the restricted, run over 2 miles 4 furlongs where he was riding D’Last Spez which he also owns and trains. D’Last Spez won a restricted at Chaddesley Corbett in May 2023, and then finished seventh in a hurdle race at Southwell in June 2023. He missed 2024 but finished second in a restricted race at Charing on February 23rd on his return to point-to-pointing. The early lead from the six runners was held by the bookmaker’s favourite Monrocco Moonlight ridden by Izzie Hill, with Tom Hutsby ridden Joe Kidd also prominent. Ballybit, trained and ridden by Jemima Taylor, was pulled up at fence ten leaving the other five runners tightly grouped. By fence twelve Intricate Pillar was also starting to struggle and pulled up as D’Last Spez and Ed Turner trained Mister Splash tracked the leading pair. Heading to the penultimate fence, York started his challenge and jumped into the lead at this point. His remaining rivals all tried to respond, but the only one who was able to stay with him was Joe Kidd. They took the last fence together but D’Last Spez was able to pull away from his rival on the race to the winning post to take the victory. Monrocco Moonlight took third with Mister Splash finishing in fourth.
The largest field of the day came in the following level two conditions race, which provided Phil York with his second winner of the day. The seven runners were all grouped together initially and setting a steady pace but one of the market favourites, Zee Man ridden by Tom Hutsby, was an early casualty with a fall at the fourth fence. The remaining six runners remained grouped together with everyone holding chance until the second open ditch, fence thirteen, where Phil York moved Definite Dilemma, trained by Ella Gillings for the Coveney Carrington Family, to lead. Charlie Marshall aboard Tim Underwood’s Stranger Danger led the chase but was unseated at the next fence which left Trappist Monk, Aikenbreakinheart, Wireless Operator and Southfield Royale chasing Definite Dilemma. They all remained in touch and chasing until they went through their starting point for the second time where Definite Dilemma started to open up an advantage over his rivals. By the penultimate fence which was his final jumping challenge his only danger was the fence as he had a twenty length advantage, with the fence cleared easily Definite Dilemma ran to the winning post unchallenged whilst the battle ensued for the minor placings. Aikenbreakinheart and Hugh Lillingston took second holding off the challenge of Wireless Operator and Oliver Chamings who finished in third. Southfield Royale and Jude Fernandes finished in fourth with Trappist Monk and Seb Mead the other finisher in fifth.
The ladies open was the third race on the card and only saw two runners but it produced one of the most exciting finishes of day. Dundrum Wood trained by Gina Andrews for Shona Westrope, and ridden by Shona’s granddaughter Martha Reeve, took on Monkey Puzzle, owned and trained by Sarah Ashby, and ridden by her daughter Mary Ashby. The pair of runners were happy to alternate the lead as they jumped around the course and only started to battle against each other as they raced out of the dip for the final time towards the penultimate fence. Monkey Puzzle had the lead and the advantage of the inside line into the final turn towards the final fence but Dundrum Wood jumped up beside Monkey Puzzle at the final fence and the duo battled side by side towards the winning post with Dundrum Wood managing to get the advantage to win by two lengths.
The men’s open saw five runners face the starter. Hannah Hickman-Jones trained Joy of Life took the early lead with three of his rivals, Imperial Esprit, Viva Lavilla and Mister Tickle, giving 16 year old Jack Etheridge his first race ride all close behind, whilst Harvey Carrington ridden Movethechains was held up a couple of lengths behind the others. The runners remained grouped with Movethechains a couple of lengths behind the others throughout their first two full circuits of the course. As they passed their starting point for the second time with four fences left to jump Viva Lavilla and Mister Tickle started to lose touch on the other three as the pace of the race increased and Movethechains moved up to join the leaders Joy of Life and Imperial Esprit. The three leaders started to pull away at the third fence from home with Imperial Esprit challenging Joy of Life for the lead, but running towards the penultimate fence Movethechains started his challenge. All three runners took the penultimate fence together but as the trio turned the final bend towards their final fence, Movethechains took the lead. Both Joy of Life and Imperial Esprit tried to battle back and regain the lead but Movethechains took the final fence with a two length advantage which neither of his rivals could claw back. Imperial Esprit took second ahead of Joy of Life in third. Jack Etheridge completed on Mister Tickle for fourth whilst Viva Lavilla pulled up at the penultimate fence.
The intermediate race sadly saw a walk over but was the third success of the day for Phil York aboard Karen York’s Touch Tight which is trained by Phil, giving him a training double as well as a riding treble on the day.
The maiden race was the final race of the day with four runners. Creapapy, trained by Hannah Hickman-Jones and ridden by Will Hickman, led from the drop of the starter’s flag with his three rivals Gold Bandit, ridden by Seb Mead, Who’s Houdini, ridden by Phil York and Bolberry Down ridden by his owner William Rekert all close behind. Once again the pace of the race increased as the four runners passed their starting point for the second time where Creapapy and Who’s Houdini opened up an eight length advantage over Gold Bandit and Bolberry Down. A four-timer looked a possibility for Phil York as the leading pair raced out of the dip towards the penultimate fence, however, just as he had taken the lead, Who’s Houdini got in close and clipped the top of the penultimate fence which caused him to unseat Phil York and leaving Creapapy clear. A safe jump over the final fence secured the victory for Creapapy. Bolberry Down finished in second whilst Gold Bandit pulled up after the penultimate fence.