PREVIEW: MIDDLETON (SATURDAY 4TH APRIL)

This Saturday 4th April sees the second of the season’s two meetings at the popular Sheriff Hutton course where the Middleton fixture features the historic Lord Grimthorpe’s Gold Cup, one of the sport’s four classic races. With 83 entries received and good to soft ground at time of writing there should be some super racing.

The card commences at 1pm with the Middleton Hunt Members. Traditionally, one of the strongest runnings of this class of race anywhere in the country. There could be no more appropriate winner than Albert’s Back who is owned by the host for the day, the legendary Mick Easterby and a victory here would be a good end to a week in which he has celebrated his 95th birthday. A repetition of the form he showed when a close third in a hot Open race at Helmsley last month would make him the one to beat although he needs to shake off his subsequent disappointment at Dalton Park a fortnight ago. One of the chief challengers is sure to be Zhiguli, trained by Mick’s daughter Cherry He was another who maybe didn’t run up to his best at Dalton Park although that was against some classy opposition but he is a generally useful and consistent sort. The other right up there on the shortlist is Boolamore Glory who posted a cracking effort at Hutton Rudby when only beaten a couple of lengths into third by two of the best pointers in the North in Summerville Boy and Camdonian.

Others who come here with some good recent form to their name include Neska Blue, Millena Agent and Callaghy, with the last named of those the pick of the three on the back of his narrow defeat at Hutton Rudby. Of the others, Imperial Imp has some decent form to his name but has a long absence to overcome whilst last, but not least, Duke Account hasn’t quite recaptured his winning form in two runs since his return from a season off however he can be a danger to all if those runs have put him spot on.

Race two is the Selby Livestock Auction Mart Conditions level 2 and the Easterby family hold a few choice entries here too. Ballydonagh Boy is becoming something of a local legend and he is sure to give his many supporters a good run for their money as he is both ultra game and consistent. Will Easterby has the choice of The Story So Far and Benefact who both hold live chances. The former showed he clearly has ability when winning at Helmsley although doesn’t look the most straightforward whilst Benefact ran a cracker at Dalton Park although the softer ground here may not play as much in his favour as the good ground that day. With Felix Foster’s Nephin Bog close behind when third in that race he also enters calculations, Perhaps the pick of the Easterby family’s entries may however prove to be Sunset On Fire who looked to be better than ever when an emphatic winner at Dalton Park on his seasonal reappearance where Liffeydale Dreamer followed him home at a respectful distance.

Others with form in the book include Emir Sacre, Gustavo Goodway, Isocrate, Job Well Done and Getupearly. The last named looks the pick of these as he has posted gallant front running efforts in both his runs this season. He was only denied late on both times and if he gets his head in front here it would be well deserved.

Race three is the Moneyweb Restricted which features the highest entry number of the day with nineteen. Plenty come here with form and the race which may hold the key is the Helmsley Restricted won by the high class Byorderofthecourt. Hugo Moss was a two length second that day and has since followed up at Friars Haugh whilst Sports Magic was a further three and a half lengths back in third. That performance was bookended by an easy win over the Sheriff Hutton course and distance in January and a wide margin win at Garthorpe last time out. They look the two to beat. Callaghy and Millena Agent followed home in fourth and fifth at Helmsley and could reoppose. Whilst they have both run well since they’d need to improve again to overturn the form.

Chief threats will include Hutton Rudby winners Baby Chou and Thats Where its At together with Trojan Du Berlais, Rue Galilee, Native Nellie and Meelick Island. The latter made a winning reappearance at Garthorpe in November but has been absent since. Jack Teal also has a trio with

form in Miss Tele, Job Well Done and Lets Go Harry with the latter possibly the pick of the three. Finally Getupearly holds this as an alternative option and will run his heart out if this is the chosen option.

The next race is the feature Grimthorpe Gold Cup Mixed Open which is once again sponsored by Lord Grimthorpe and the Beckett Family and is run over the marathon distance of four miles and one furlong. The three which catch the eye are Morozov Cocktail who is a tough sort who looks like he may appreciate the test of stamina, Sunset On Fire who put up a good performance on his seasonal debut at Dalton Park and Sam Magee who appreciated the step up in trip when an easy winner on the same card. He did prefer the right handed course that day so it remains to be seen whether going left handed here will really suit.

As well as Morozov Cocktail, Will Easterby also has The Story So Far and Benefact entered who both hold this as an alternative engagement. Providing the ground isn’t too soft for him, a repetition of Benefact’s run at Dalton Park would give him a chance as he was staying on really well at the end when second to Poncharello. With Nephin Beg only a neck further back in that race the pair may be closely matched again. Duke Account is another to consider as he is bred to stay being a son of Duchess Account whose prolific winning career included winning this race in 2008. With the benefit of a couple of runs since his return from absence he should be spot on now.

Finally, Grand Soir and Major Dundee are a couple of long distance travellers who add interest. With the last named being a proven stayer for whom conditions will suit he could easily play a big part,

Race five is the Wrigley Ronan Property Maiden with no weight for age allowances and the one which stands out here is the Furness family’s Blackhill King. Both his runs since coming over from Ireland have been very solid efforts and he looks a guaranteed future winner on the back of his close second at Hutton Rudby. Thirty Bob, Eleventh Day and Apieceofthemoon filled the next three places in that race and could all reoppose again. It would be no surprise to see any of them getting involved in the finish here. With the exception of the Jack Teal trained Willielle, who has posted some reasonable efforts to date, none of the others who have been pointing have shown a great deal as yet so the chief danger to Blackhill King could prove to be the lightly raced ex Dan Skelton six yeaar old Wotter Trotter. Now in the capable hands of Joe Wright he has shown enough promise to be of plenty of interest in this.

The card concludes with the York Van Centre 4,5 and 6 Year Old Maiden over two and a half miles and this could fall to either the Jack Teal or Fran Poste yards who are both adept at producing maiden winners and both hold multiple entries. Jack’s quartet are Good Moon Rising, G N Jefferson, Willielle and Itsyourcall. The first three all have the benefit of previous experience and have all shown some ability. The first named has hit the deck on both his outings to date but was still about five lengths up when he fell four out at Dalton Park and he looked like he would have taken some catching, If he can get his jumping polished up he must go close here.

Fran Poste made the long journey north to Dalton Park and won the Maiden with a nice youngster and her trio of Rum N Reggae, Six Seven and Silver Salver are all unraced four year olds with attractive pedigrees. The last named comes from the family of Willie Mullin’s top two mile chaser and it would be no surprise at all if the stable’s selected proves up to the task of winning on debut.

Alice Dawson has Northern Raider, another unraced four year old entered, and being half brother to winners he also comes here with prospects. The pick of the others looks to be Mr Giraffe. He has yet to jump a fence in public but he has run well in both his point to point flat races and he certainly has promise.

The admission price is £15 per person with under 16s free and the event is cash only. Gates open at 11.30am and there is the additional bonus of pony racing at 12.10pm. A hog roast, cakes and refreshments are available together with a public bar. The postcode is YO60 6TN.