PREVIEW: HELMSLEY RACES (SUNDAY 15TH FEBRURARY

Duncombe Park at Helmsley provides the spectacular backdrop for this Sunday’s Helmsley Races where the Yorkshire season gets back on track after a weather disrupted opening. With a very healthy entry of 107 horses, drawn from far and wide, and plenty of classy horses on show the day should once again attract a large and enthusiastic crowd to enjoy a good day’s sport.

The first of seven scheduled races is due off at 12 noon with the Ripon Farm Services Sinnington Hunt Members’ Farmers’ and Subscribers’ and this looks to be very much at the mercy of the Easterby family who have three good entries to choose from. The pick of the two with previous point to point form looks to be Morozov Cocktail who was never out of the frame last season during which he won twice. A very solid fifth place in a big field at Sheriff Hutton last month should have put him spot on for this although he does have to concede weight due the five pound penalty. The second of the yard’s entries is Rue Galilee who won this in 2024 but hadn’t been since since until he reappeared at Sheriff Hutton where he ran well enough before pulling up. The dark horse of the three is The Story So Far who has been bought from Ireland. As a relatively lightly raced seven year old with a decent record over hurdles, which earned him an official rating in the 120s, he has the potential to thrive in points.

Of the others, Legalized has one win in his pointing career at a relatively modest level, Drop Flight has spent much of his recent career showing little at a much higher level whilst Celestial Horizon and Getupearly also make the transition to points. The former hasn’t shown much form for quite a while, whereas the latter has placed form at a modest level.

Race two is the Spillers Yorkshire Area Only Conditions (level 2). Three of these come here on the back of really good performances on seasonal debut. Zhiguli ran a blinder when beaten just three lengths in a big field at Sheriff Hutton but he will have to defy the five pound penalty whilst Isocrate only relinquished the lead late on when chasing home the high class Camdonian in the Mens Open later the same day. Tag Man looked a very promising recruit to the pointing ranks when second to Diable De Sivola at Alnwick in December and it would be no surprise to see any of them come home in front here.

Beyond that trio, Morozov Cocktail holds an alternative entry here as well as in the first. He has seven lengths to find on Zhiguli on their recent meeting at Sheriff Hutton, Benefact signed off last season with two wins but that was on fast ground and he may not appreciate the much softer ground here, Red Opium is ultra consistent but usually finds one too good whilst finally, Duke Account had progressed nicely to win his last two outings. He may well need the run after two years off but he is certainly bred to appreciate the likely testing conditions here.

Byorderofthecourt is the standout in race three, The Bedding Barn Restricted, on the back of a hugely impressive performance at Sheriff Hutton on only his third ever run. Trainer and rider Dale Peters was waxing lyrical about his mount afterwards and a repeat of that performance will make him very hard to beat, despite his five pound penalty. Hugo Moss has himself looked a very promising youngster but was beaten about a dozen lengths that day in second. Whilst he has a big task to reverse the form, he still rates as one of the best of the rest. Sports Magic was another impressive winner at Sheriff Hutton when providing George Atkinson with a first ever winner as both jockey and trainer and he may pose the main danger to the likely hot favourite as he relished the soft ground and stamina test which was similar to what he will face here.

Others to note include Walk Easy who was a winner over this course and distance last year but he hasn’t shown much in his two runs since whilst the horse who chased him home that day, Meelick Island made made a successful reappearance at Garthorpe in November when he dead heated for first with another entry here Nice To See You. There is likely to be little between that pair again.

L’Aventara and Rue Galilee are others worth a look with a pair of wins apiece to their name whilst Howsmenoftomorro is a dark horse as he arrives from Ireland with a win and a third from just two outings.

Race four is the Intermediate and it looks a fascinating contest as it features a number of progressive types who are relatively closely matched. Dale Peters’ string has been in top form and his Line Em Up won at this meeting twelve months ago. Having won both his outings this season he has to be one for the shortlist. Ideal Du Tabert beat Line Em Up decisively when they met last season at Sheriff Hutton and whilst he has been a bit disappointing of late, a return to last season’s form would make him a danger to all. The Village Way is another who needs to bounce back after disappointing a little last time out however up until then he had been both consistent and progressive so he can certainly figure strongly here.

Of the others, Trojan Du Berlais ran well when chasing home another useful Dale Peters’ horse in Largy Pearl at Revesby Park last month, where Diamond Flush, who could reoppose here, was well behind in fourth. Padjoes Legacy has plenty of good form to his name but at ten he is more exposed than most of his rivals and may be vulnerable to the improving types. Bradley Gibbs’ L’Aventara could well fall into that category having won twice from four career outings and while his form to date may not match the best of the others he can easily progress whilst finally Benefact found the winning groove late last season but may not relish these conditions.

Stacked full of high class pointers, the Eccles Heddon Solicitors Mixed Open looks an absolute cracker. Gracchus De Balme is first on the shortlist on the back of his win in the Aintree Foxhunters last spring although he disappointed on his seasonal reappearance. Camdonian and Fumet D’Oudairies are two more to add to that list both being prolific pointing winners. The former showed he still retains all his ability when making a successful return after a long absence when beating a big field at Sheriff Hutton whilst Camdonian won the Mens Open the same day and in doing so took his record to nine wins from fourteen starts. The soft ground and emphasis on stamina here will play right to his strengths. Surprise Attack had a superb season last year but needs to come on for his seasonal outing whilst Summerville Boy is another prolific Yorkshire winner with a wonderful record. At fourteen however his age may start to catch up with him in this company at least, A pair of raiders from Wales and the borders add to the mix with Dalamoi and Galileo Silver being two more high class pointers to add to the mix. Last but not least, Bridget Skelton’s Midnight River looked a high class recruit to the game when winning at Chaddesley Corbett over two miles four. A defeat on his return to the same course over three miles was no disgrace but does raise a question as to whether he’ll appreciate this test of stamina.

With thirty entries the Moneyweb Maiden with no weight for age allowances could easily be divided on the day to make a bumper eight race card and many of these have shown enough form to suggest their turn in the winners enclosure will come before too long. Following the Gina Andrews inmates is never a bad policy in maidens and she fields L’Hybris Is Born who was a close third on debut over two and a half miles at Chaddesley Corbett. Drayton Flyer is another who must have a great chance as he makes the move over from racing under rules with a record of four second places in just five runs in total. He represents powerful connections being saddled by leading trainer Alan Hill and is due to be ridden by champion jockey James King. Others who have strong recent placings include Tiger Talk who ran really well at Sheriff Hutton, Master Force who filled the same finishing position when caught close home at Horseheath in January and Job Well Done who was beaten a total of four lengths when third at Anwick a fortnight ago, The latter’s trainer Jack Teal has a few to choose from and of those, Blackhill King catches the eye. He comes from Ireland with placed form in just two pointing outings and the Furnesses have done very well with similar types over the years. Finally Kitman came from Ireland with a similar profile and looked like winning at Garthorpe in November before fading into fifth late on. With the benefit of that experience he is one to keep an eye on.

The concluding contest is the Cliff Stud 4,5 and 6 Year Old Flat Race and with twelve of the fifteen entries still to make their racecourse debut, both paddock inspection and watching the betting ring for market moves will be beneficial. Of those who have a run under their belt, Welsh raider Ruling Planet was second in a similar contest at Larkhill recently, although well beaten, whilst Spanish Darling has a couple of solid efforts having followed a debut second with fifth last time out, also at Larkhill.

As for the newcomers, it is wise to keep a close eye on those from yards with a reputation for producing first time out winners. Gina Andrews has a superb record in that regard and her Pether’s Moon four year old Lunar Bob must command respect as must the Jack Teal pair of Ifyouhaveaplan and Tellmesam. Others of particular note include Thomas Easterby’s Rhythm Of The Rye and Steph Easterby’s duo Pinged and Run Happy.

Admission is £15 per person cash on the gate with under 16s free. There will be trade stands and public catering together with bookmakers to try and relieve of cash. Well behaved dogs are welcome on leads and the postcode for the satnav is YO62 5EB