REPORT – HELMSLEY RACES (SUNDAY 22ND FEBRUARY)

Having been thwarted by a blanket of snow last Sunday and determined not to be be defeated by the weather, the Helmsley Races organisers moved heaven and earth to rearrange one week later and their efforts were rewarded as a sizeable crowd were treated to some great racing in front of one of the most stunning backdrops any racecourse can boast.

The feature race of the day was the Eccles Heddon Solicitors Mixed Open which saw a field stacked full of talent line up. Last year’s Aintree Foxhunters winner Gracchus De Balme was made a warm favourite and jockey Henry Crow sent his mount off to front run as though he really meant business. As they jumped the last it was last season’s leading Yorkshire horse Surprise Attack who came to challenge and he appeared to take the favourite’s measure on the run in however the chasing pack began to loom and a blanket finish saw Camdonian and Christy Furness power home to snatch a thrilling victory in the dying strides, notching up a tenth win from fifteen outings and retaining the silver cup he won when victorious in the same race last year.

His delighted owner Grania Furness, who had done all the early season training at home before Camdonian was transferred to Jack Teal’s Malton yard, was keen to deflect the credit commenting “ “I must thank Jack for doing such a good job tuning him up for this”. When asked at what point he thought he had the race won, winning jockey, Grania’s son Christy laughed and said “on the line! I thought it wasn’t going to be his day today but he tried so hard. He’s so genuine and just put his head down and battled”.

Camdonian wasn’t the only horse to repeat their win at last year’s Helmsley race meeting as the Beryl Close owned Line Em Up achieved the same feat when completing the second leg of a double for Huntingdon trainer rider Dale Peters in the Group Industrial Intermediate race. Sent off a shade of odds on on the back of winning both his previous starts this season, the favourite wasn’t hard pressed to see off the fast finishing Diamond Flush and Lois Teal by two and a half lengths. “He’s really growing into himself now” commented Dale afterwards “ he’s filled out and strengthened up over the summer and just keeps getting better and better. He’s still a big baby and just pricked his ears and I was quite impressed. The aim is the Intermediate final at Cheltenham”.

The Peters’ double was initiated when Byorderofthecourt, running in the colours of the Clark and Ratcliffe families, was sent off red hot favourite in the Bedding Barn Restricted on the back of romping to an easy victory at Sheriff Hutton last month. Whilst he was once again followed across the finishing line by the John Dawson ridden Hugo Moss in second, he was much more hard pushed to win here when driven right out to pass the post one and three quarter lengths ahead and defy the five pound penalty in doing so. Having made no secret of the high regard in which he holds the winner, Dale commented afterwards “ He didn’t really enjoy the tacky ground today but I was glad to see him tough it out. I knew he could but it was good to see that side of him as opposed to winning on the bridle”.

Tom Easterby was another to score a double in the saddle when bookending the card, winning the first and last races, The Ripon Farm Services Sinnington Hunt Members, Subscribers and Farmers race saw The Story So Far owned by Sarah Easterby and trained and ridden by sons Will and Tom respectively go off a short priced favourite although punters who lumped on heavily would have had a pretty uncomfortable time as he spent much of the race at the rear whilst never really jumping and travelling with a great deal of fluency as Getupearly and Felix Foster strung the field right out. Slowly but surely Tom got his mount into contention and ran the long time leader down after the last fence for a three and a half length win. “ We got him from Ireland” said Tom afterwards “ he’s not easy at home. He’s got ability but we just need to get it out of him”.

The double was completed in the concluding Cliff Stud four,five and six year olds flat race over two miles in which all nine who lined up were making their racecourse debut. Out of a mare who won four times and by the Derby winner Sir Percy, Tom’s mount here Pinged looked one of the likelier candidates on paper beforehand although he wasn’t amongst the more favoured in the betting ring however he put up a professional display to hold off Amber Dancer and Paddy Barlow by half a length. Owned by Mr J T Brown and trained by Steph Easterby it was the first time Tom had sat on the five year old of whom he said afterwards “ He was very straightforward with a good attitude and he battled well all the way to the line”.

Having already saddled Camdonian, Jack Teal was another to complete a double, this time as trainer when Job Well Done, owned in partnership by his parents together with Frank Peckitt, came out on top in a sixteen runner field in the Moneyweb Maiden race. Having raced in midfield for most of the way, Job Well Done was still only fifth when jumping the last but was driven into the lead on the long run in by his rider, Jack’s sister Lois, holding off Logan and Ruby Wyld by two lengths.

“We got her from Ireland and she was a bit green” reported Lois afterwards “ she ran well at Charm Park late last season and then ran a stormer at Alnwick first time out this season. She’s an absolute gem. Everyone loves her and anyone in the yard could ride her.”

The easiest winner of the day was the Clark family’s Tag Man in the Spillers Yorkshire Area Coinditions Level 2. Brought to challenge at the second last by jockey Lucy Brown he then streaked ten lengths clear of Red Opium and Ellie Callwood. Trained by Charles Clark for owner, his mother Emma, Tag Man followed a familiar path to their door being sourced from prominent owner Roger Brookhouse out of the leading Irish yard of Henry De Bromhead, the same path trodden by stable star Summerville Boy. Following a really good run when second on his first outing this season at Alnwick, he then suffered a setback “ He developed an abscess and it has taken quite a while to get him right again” reported Charles “ putting the meeting back a week really helped us”.

The next meeting in the Yorkshire Area is Scarborough Races at Charm Park near Wykeham on Sunday 1st March. Gates open at 11.30 am with the first race at 12.30pm. Entrance is £15 per person with under 16s free and payment on the gate. There will be a bar, refreshments, tradestands and music after racing, The postcode is YO13 9QU.