Fifty years of racing in the grand setting of Duncombe Park at Helmsley was celebrated in some style on Sunday 16th February. Now rebranded as Helmsley Races the meeting attracted a very large crowd of spectators who, undeterred by the cold and grey weather, were rewarded by some fantastic racing on a bumper eight race card in which 66 horses lined up.
Both riding and training honours on the day went to Dale Peters who brought a team of three up from his base at Sawtry near Huntingdon and very nearly went home with a treble. The stable's successful day was kicked off by Wereinthistogether who won a pretty hot renewal of The Bedding Barn Free Delivery Restricted race when getting the better of a dual with Whats The Solution (Jack Teal) and drawing eight lengths clear on the run for home. Owned by a partnership comprising his trainer/ rider and Toby Hunt, the eight year old Wereinthistogether has only been seen once on a racecourse since he fell on debut four years ago but despite the almost two year absence since winning a Dingley maiden in April 2023 he was still sent off favourite. Speaking afterwards, part owner Toby Hunt said “ we bought him as a three year old store and he is related to several winners but unfortunately he's fragile. Because of that the plan is to go hunter chasing in the very near future whilst we have him right”.
The second winner for the Peters' yard came via the six year old Line Em Up in division one of the Carter Jonas Maiden race who was sent off favourite after running second to the impressive Ideal Du Tabert at Sheriff Hutton a month ago. Owned by Mrs Beryl Close the son of Diamond Boy always looked likely to hold off a persistent challenge from the Gina Andrews' newcomer Nice One Nelson (Jack Andrews) although a late rally meant the winning distance diminished to three quarters of a length at the line. “ He's a lovely horse” said Dale. “ He's a big baby who's still learning. In a year or two's time he could hopefully be quite smart. We've had a good day and it has been well worth the journey”.
The Peters' stable treble was foiled in the Eccles Heddon Solicitors Veteran Horse Conditions race (level 2) in which the twelve runners who faced the starter comprised the largest field of the day. The finish saw a great battle between Dale's Thunderstruck and the favourite Jetaway Joey and it was the latter who ultimately proved the stronger when running out a two length winner for jockey Jack Andrews, sister Gina the trainer and owner Mrs Barbara Hester. There was a nervous wait afterwards as a stewards enquiry was called but all was well for the Warwickshire based winner as the placings remained unaltered. “ He was entitled to win that” commented Jack afterwards “ he's been running in better class races against very good horses and dropping in grade and carrying a penalty suited him better today. He's got a lot of talent but he's a bit of a monkey”.
The Spillers Mixed Open race saw some very talented horses line up. The high class Summerville Boy ( Tom Easterby) was sent off the hot favourite on the back of his easy win at Askham Bryan a fortnight ago, on his first run since his transfer to point to pointing, but he had to give best to two rivals who are both prolific winners in the sphere. The consistent Go Go Geronimo ran his usual ultra game race for Tom Chatfield-Roberts but as hard as he tried he couldn't hold off Camdonian who stayed on strongly to come home four lengths clear and chalk up his eighth victory from his ten point to point runs plus a fourth in a Cheltenham hunter chase. Owned by Grania Furness who lives near Thirsk and who did a lot of work at home with him at home before his transfer to Jack Teal's Malton yard, Camdonian was ridden as always by son Christy Furness who lives and works in London but travels back north to race ride at weekends “ I'm thrilled and very excited. It was a good race” he said afterwards. As far as future plans go said Christy “ we just take things one race at a time and we don't look too far ahead”.
The MoneyWeb Conditions race (level 2) saw perennial Yorkshire mens champion jockey John Dawson move on to nine winners nationally for the season with victory on the Racy Ladies Partnership owned Surprise Attack, although having drawn a blank in the area's first two fixtures this was the first to actually count towards defending his crown. The race itself proved very exciting with four horses jumping the last fence with no more than a length between them. Surprise Attack had travelled well throughout under one of John's typical hold up rides and he took it up on the run in before being driven out to hold off the consistent Red Opium (Rosie Howarth) by a couple of lengths. Speaking afterwards about the winning horse who is trained by wife Alice “He didn't handle the track at Revesby Park last time out and he was much better on the more conventional course here today. The addition of cheek pieces also helped and hopefully he will keep progressing now”.
Another long distance traveller who made the journey well worthwhile was Walk Easy who was steered home ten lengths clear by Henry Crow in the second division of the Carter Jonas Maiden. Meelick Island (Joe Wright) came home in second place with the field strung out behind. The winner, an eight year old son of Walk In The Park, had travelled all the way from Welshpool in Powys and is owned by Craig Lodge and trained by Rhiannon Lodge. Having come from Ireland where he had finished runner up on five consecutive outings before one run for the yard last season Walk Easy was making his seasonal debut here. Rhiannon reported afterwards that she had given him the summer off “He's a quirky ride but he's done the job right this time. We'll see how he comes out of this before making plans. We always seem to have more luck on our trips north than when we go south”.
The day's easiest winner came via the Sarah Easterby owned Lou Marvelous in the opening Ripon Farm Services Members, Farmers And Subscribers race. Trained by son Sarah's Will who also took the ride, Lou Marvelous was sent off 4/6 favourite having won three of his six points thus far, including a stylish success at Sheriff Hutton last time out and he never gave his supporters a moments worry, travelling well on the heels of the leaders before being brought to take the lead jumping the last and pulling twelve lengths clear in effortless fashion. “He's a really nice horse” commented Will afterwards “ We always like to support this race as the family have a very long association with the Sinnington Hunt and I act as field master for them on a Wednesday. The Conditions race at Charm Park in a fortnight is the next target where I'm clerk of the course”. Deep Charm came home in second place for owner, trainer, rider Bertie Hayton who got reward for her efforts in organising meeting in her role as secretary as that earned her the trophy for the first farmer home.
The last race of the day was the Malton Marquees Four, Five and Six Year Old's Flat Race and it produced the closest finish of the day. Happy Hobbit (Ellie Callwood) turned into the home straight with a few lengths lead and it looked like she was going to take some catching however the Teal family's Appy Chappy came with a very strong late run on his racecourse debut to catch the leader in the very last stride with the winning distance announced as just a nose. Owned and trained by Jack Teal at Malton and ridden by his sister Lois the winner is a six year old son of Malinas. “ When I bought him as a store his dam had already produced four winners but he was a bit of an ugly duckling and he hasn't grown into the swan I thought he might” said Jack “ He hasn't been highly tried beforehand though. The intention is to keep running him in points until the end of the season”.
The next meeting of the Yorkshire season is the Yorkshire Jockeys Club (Scarborough Races) at Charm Park on Sunday 2nd March. The course is near Wykeham on the A170 six miles west of Scarborough and the first race is due off at 12.30pm.