REPORT – HOLDERNESS (SUNDAY 22ND MARCH)

The splendid and timeless Dalton Park near Beverley was the setting for the Holderness point to point last Sunday 22^nd March. The once a year course drew a large crowd of spectators who were treated to some exciting racing with several close finishes.

An enormous amount of work has to be put in to make an event like this happen and it is always good to see those who devote their time getting rewarded for their effort. That was certainly the case at Dalton Park when the Clark family’s Sam Magee romped to an easy win in the Agrii Mixed Open. The line up featured two of the most prolific winners on the Yorkshire pointing circuit in Camdonian and Ballydonagh Boy however Joe Wright sent the outsider of the field off in front from  flagfall and he proceeded to maintain a relentless gallop throughout to pass the post twelve lengths clear of Ballydonagh Boy and Olivia Rogers, without ever looking like being seriously threatened. Owned by Emma Clark, the winner is trained by her son Charles who acts as the clerk of the course for the meeting as well as chief course builder, whilst Charles’s wife May is the meeting’s secretary.

Sam Magee is the third of the family’s five home trained string to reach the winners enclosure so far this season and a delighted Charles reported afterwards “ We took him up to Friars Haugh near Kelso last time out for the two and a half miler and when Joe got off him he said he needed a right handed course and three miles which is what he got here and it was right!”

Charles wasn’t the only member of the organising team to make the winner’s enclosure as his assistant course builder Chris Richardson finally got to take home the trophy for the Smailes Goldie Holderness Hunt Members race after many years of trying. Last year the Clark family’s Blue Sans denied Sunset On Fire the prize by a mere short head and once again the betting market couldn’t split the pair however once Thomas Easterby made a decisive move and took up the running three from home the race was soon over and Sunset On Fire powered home three lengths clear from long time leader Liffeydale Dreamer and Rebecca Hitchen. With the ever cheerful Chris unable to collect the trophy on account of also officiating as the presentation announcer he was joined on the podium by a small flock of grandchildren to assist with the collection. “I’ve been second and third in the race a few times” siad Chris afterwards “but this is the first time i’ve won it. My Father won it with Smokey Boy back in the 1970s. I’ve helped Charles with the course building but he did most of the work. He is very bossy though!” he added with a chuckle.

The winner is trained by Cherry Coward and daughter Sam reported afterwards “He was lame for a month early season, then he pulled a muscle so this is the first opportunity we’ve had to get him on the track”.

Another winner for those who invest a great deal of effort into organising point to points came in the Peter Ward Homes Conditions Level 2 when the Garton family owned Poncharello became the first leg of a winning double for man of the moment Henry Crow, continuing a hot streak which hasn’t let up since he guided Barton Snow to his famous Cheltenham Festival win ten days earlier. The race changed complexion when the odds on favourite Line Em Up, bidding to make it four wins from four this season, made a mess of the third last and gave jockey Dale Peters no chance having just taken up the running when going well. Poncharello was one of several right there with every chance at the time and he kept on resolutely all the way to the line in a thriller to hold off Benefact and Tom Easterby by half a length with Nephin Beg and Felix Foster the same distance back in third.

The winner is trained at Alderley Edge in Cheshire by Tim Garton who has been involved in the game for a very long time. “ I’ve been doing it since it was all Lords and Ladies!! he laughed. “ We train ours at home and do it all as a family outfit. We only do it because we can do it all ourselves and we try and do a good job, including turning them out well (Poncharello was awarded the best turned out beforehand). The family also organise both point to point meetings at Tabley”.

Henry Crow completed his double in the ResQ Restricted aboard the very promising young mare Fayrely Fruitful and in doing so posted a remarkable eighth win from his last nine rides. Getupearly and Felix Foster made a bold bid to make all but the Rhiannon Lodge trained daughter of Dartmouth proved too strong and won by three quarters of a length with the favourite Driveondonn and George Atkinson another four lengths back, having never really managed to get on terms. Rhiannon made her first visit to Dalton Park worthwhile having made the long journey from Welshpool whilst Fayrely Fruitful was winning her third race from just five career starts. Home bred by owner Robin Lewis and coming from the wonderful “Fruit” family which has produced numerous winning pointers, none more so than the winner’s dam Fruit Fayre, who boasted the enviable record of 20 wins from just 28 runs. “ I’ve got quite a few more of the family around home” said the proud owner breeder afterwards. Further back the family traces back to Fruit Farm who was a prolific winner for Henry Crow’s grandmother Sheila in the 1980s, something of a pointing legend who also won the Cheltenham Foxhunter’s when training Cappa Bleu to win in 2009. “Sheila’s not too well at the moment” continued Robin. No doubt immensely proud of her grandson’s achievements keeping the Crow family flag flying.

Dale Peters put his earlier frustration behind him when also making his first visit to Dalton Park a winning one when owner Beryl Closes’s high class Largy Pearl won the Gilbert Baitson Auctioneers Conditions Level 1 over the shorter two miles six furlong trip. With just the one defeat by the champion Barton Snow in six runs throughout last season and this, Largy Pearl was sent off around an even money favourite but for a while the win looked far from assured. The race developed into a duel with Largy Shark and Tom Easterby and as the two horses strode clear passing the magnificent St Mary’s parish church on the home bend it was the underdog who appeared he may prevail however Largy Pearl got running over the last two fences and pulled a couple of lengths clear on the line. “The course didn’t really suit him as the bends are a bit tight” said winning trainer cum jockey Dale afterwards. “ he got himself organised though when we straightened up. He jumps and travels so well and he’s still improving” Dale also reported Line Em Up to be seemingly none the worse for his earlier mishap. “He was just travelling too well at the time and he walked straight through the fence”.

A great day for the long distance travellers was topped off when Fran and Charlie Poste’s Warwickshire raider Short Sell ran out a comfortable winner of the concluding AKP Group Maiden. Having only had the benefit of one previous run, when a good third at Alnwick, he eased home four lengths ahead of Dale Paters and Midnight Dragon although his task would have been more difficult had Good Moon Rising not sprawled on landing four from home giving Jack Teal no chance when about five lengths clear. “He’ll be sales bound now” said winning jockey Joe Wright, who was also completing a double on the day “ he’s a grand horse who has got gears”.

The next meeting in the Yorkshire season is the Middleton at Sheriff Hutton on Saturday 4^th April. The first race is due of at 1pm and the card features one of the four point to point classic races the historic Lord Grimthorpe’s Gold Cup.