REPORT – MIDDLETON (SATURDAY 4TH APRIL)

Mick Easterby’s popular Sheriff Hutton course was once again the venue for the prestigious Middleton point to point last Saturday 4th April where the feature race was the historic Grimthorpe Gold Cup. one of the sport’s four classic races and run over the marathon trip of four miles one furlong. Sponsored once gain by Lord Grimthorpe and the Beckett family, the roll of honour stretches back over a hundred years the most recent of which was the Clark family’s Blue Sans and when the starter’s flag fell for this year’s renewal, their hopes of retaining the cup rested with Sam Magee whose easy victory at the noted stayers course at Dalton Park two weeks earlier meant he was made joint favourite in the betting ring alongside the Easterby brothers multiple winner Morozov Cocktail. Jockey Joe Wright set out to repeat the previous winning tactics by making all the running and having forged on five from home the pair proceeded to draw ever further clear and had the race sewn up a long way from home, eventually cruising home by an eased down ten lengths ahead of Morozov Cocktail and Thomas Easterby. Seldom if ever can the cup have been won in easier fashion.

The win crowned another successful season for owner Emma Clark and her son Charles who does the training. “What is there to say?!” said a disbelieving Charles afterwards. “At Dalton Park he looked like he’d stay this trip so I thought this was the way to go. I’ve done nothing with him since then except hack him round the farm and have one trip to the Malton gallops. Mum actually lunged him in the arena this morning to warm him up.”

The day started with a fitting winner of The Bedding Barn Guy Cunard Middleton Hunt Members, Farmers and Subscribers when 6/4 favourite Albert’s Back and Thomas Easterby comfortably saw off the determined challenge of Millena Agent and Joe Wright by four lengths in the colours of the host, the inimitable Mick Easterby who was not only celebrating a win in his own back yard but was also rounding off in grand style a week in which he celebrated his 95th birthday. Holding court throughout the day in a grey Mitsubishi Shogun sporting an L plate and as many dents as winners he’s saddled since he took out his licence in 1955, the great man welcomed home his winner, trained by daughter in law Steph. “Look at the crowd, there’s thousands here” he said proudly surveying the packed hill “Its nice to win here at home, He was a bit too good for them. I was cheating really but I wanted to win my at my own point to point”.

The following Selby Livestock Auction Mart Ltd Conditions race produced the day’s most dramatic finish. Sunset On Fire and Thomas Easterby were warm favourites to repeat their win at Dalton Park however they couldn’t stay with the leading pair of Isocrate and Job Well done. As they jumped the last the latter held a length lead but faced the strongest of challenges on the run in. As they approached the line with the pair locked together, Job Well Done began to hang and having almost collided with the post where the course divides his unfortunate jockey Hugo Scott Willis was ejected out of the side door onto the turf leaving Isocrate and Will Brown to cross the line nine lengths clear of Sunset On Fire. Also trained by Will, the winner was previously with Jonjo O’Neill and now races in the colours of his Grandad James Binks. “He’s always been a nice horse” commented Will. “He ran a great race at the first meeting here in January and it has been plain sailing ever since”.

Whilst Hugo’s quest for a first winner had an unfortunate end another novice jockey continues to make hay. Sports Magic had won in good style at the first Sheriff Hutton meeting, giving Northallerton based George Atkinson his first winner and he followed up here in the Moneyweb Restricted his third win of the season and George’s fourth. Always to the fore the pair went on in front early on the last circuit and the field were soon strung out. Miss Tele and Jack Teal tried to give chase but couldn’t land a blow on the winner who eased home eight lengths clear. “He stays really well” said his delighted trainer rider afterwards “ I wanted a good gallop but he is lazy when he gets to the front so didn’t want to get there as soon as I did. It just seemed to happen so I just sat there. We might look at the Heart Of All England at Hexham later in the season but I really just want to win as many point to points as I can”.

The first of the two maiden races was run over the full three mile distance and sponsored by Wrigley Ronan Property and saw Joe Wright complete a double following his win in the feature race. His mount here was the ex Dan Skelton six year old novice hurdler Wotter Trotter who had shown ability in a short career under rules and he was sent off a warm favourite by punters. The Furness family’s Blackhill King looked to be his chief danger and that was how the race panned out. Held up in rear, the favourite was always travelling supremely well and he was brought to challenge two out. The pair jumped the last in unison but as soon as Joe asked to him quicken the response was immediate and he ran out an extremely impressive winner. Wotter Trotter is owned in a three way partnership between James Dennis and Frankie Beal together with his jockey who commented afterwards “ He was privately sourced for us by Tom Messenger and Jim King. He was entitled to win like that given his handicap mark of 113. He had to prove he’d see out the three miles but all his work suggested he’d stay”.

The day concluded with the York Van Centre 4,5 and 6yo No Rules Runners Open Maiden over two and a half miles. With only one of the five runners having ever run before there was no form to go on but it featured some attractively bred youngsters from good yards. All the chatter beforehand seemed to be about John and Alice Dawson’s Northern Raider and he was trading at odds on before the start. The race produced an exciting finish with three in the air together over the last. Itsyourcall and Jack Teal had done all the donkey work in front but he was headed on the run in by Fran and Charlie Poste’s Silver Salver however Itsyourcall would not be denied and showed real resolution to battle back in front and pass the post three quarters of a length ahead with the favourite coming home third. “I got him out of the Arkle Sale in 2024” said Jack of the five year old by Berkshire who races in his own colours “He was backwards but he’s always been good to do. He had to do it the hard way making the running. Hopefully i’ll find a buyer for him now”.

Before the point to point racing began, racegoers were treated to the extra excitement of two well supported pony races. The 138cm open race over five furlongs was won by Ingle Harry Brown ridden by eleven year old Robyn Coulson whilst the 148cm open run over a mile was won by Little Lady Yeats ridden by fifteen year old Daniel Harrison.

The next meeting in the Yorkshire area is the Bedale at Hornby Castle next Saturday 11th April. Admission is £15 per person with under 16s free and the first race is due off at 1.30pm.