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It was another very successful meeting at Charm Park this year, organized by the Yorkshire Jockeys Club in aid of Racing Welfare and The Injured Jockeys Fund. A beautifully prepared course saw runners travel up from down south in search of softer ground and proved dividends for the Tom Ellis yard who scored a treble on the day. Record crowd numbers were also drawn in by some top class and competitive racing and the day ended with a live band in the bar, which race goers enjoyed till well after the last race.

The opening race was the ROR and Jockey Club Veteran Horse Conditions race – this would go to Kalabaloo and Gina Andrews, the pair were always towards the front and was challenged over the last two fences by Northern raider Supremely Lucky, however the Tom Ellis trained mare managed to pull out more towards the end and win by a cosy 6 lengths. A top class pointer on her day, this 11yo mare was 8th
in the Cheltenham Foxhunters back in 2020 and took her tally to 12 wins between the flags here. Third place went to Christy Furness and Pillowman who although was 30 lengths behind the second, made a pleasing seasonal debut.

The Ladies Open now dubbed “The Road To Aintree” after Latenightpass’s victory last season, saw the Aintree Foxhunter’s winner strike again in this race, but was made to work extremely hard for it. Royal Chant and Rosie Howarth led the three runners and looked to have the better of the long odds-on favourite approaching two out, Gina Andrews had to ask for maximum effort after the last with the pair getting up close home to win narrowly. Not as effortless as some people were expecting and no doubt a return to Aintree in a months time will now be on the agenda.

Ellis would complete his three-timer in the Men’s Open race with the talented Jetaway Joey, a useful hurdler under rules this was probably his best effort so far between the flags. Jack Andrews was keen not to hit the front too soon aboard his mount, getting a good lead till after the last and staying on strongly from a rallying Fascinating Rhythm and clerk of the course Will Easterby in second. Third place saw a good run from Ask To Dance and Thomas Easterby, the pair looked under pressure from a long way out but stayed on well to the line.

The 4 and 5yo Maiden was run over the shorter distance of 2m 4f and would see Paddy Barlow continue his good run of form aboard the Louise Bevin trained Gwash. The pair were in a close third and rallying approaching the second last when the leader Nothinelsematters crashed out under Dale Peters, this left the well fancied and highly regarded Touch Me Not with a 5 length advantage coming to the last but also came to grief, allowing the 4yo debutant Gwash to come home in good style “he was very professional all the way round, he got stopped a bit two out and was rallying well towards the last” said Paddy Barlow of this promising son of Ol’ Man River. Second place went to debutant Red Delta, whilst Plenty and Will Easterby were back in third.

The 3 mile Maiden saw 15 runners go to post and it would be the Jack Teal trained Camdonian who would get his head in front under Christy Furness. The Tom Ellis trained Gabrielle De Balon looked to be going a shade better under Gina Andrews approaching two out, however Camdonian quickly responded to pressure two out and led round the home turn, a good leap at the last saw him hold on well towards the line from a rallying Gabrielle De Balon in second. The winner has been with the Jack Teal yard around 5 weeks now after being purchased from Doncaster sales by his pilot Christy for £10,000 and could be a value purchase “he’s done well there, it was a very competitive maiden…he’d had a good break before we got him so we hope he can improve on that” said his winning trainer Jack Teal. Third place went to Crobally Boy and Jack Andrews and he should be getting his head in front soon.

The Restricted race was another hotly contested event and would see Jack Andrews complete a double on the card, this time for trainer Julie Wadland aboard Lagan Valley. The winner tracked the leaders early on and stayed on strongly over the last two fences to pull well clear towards the line and win a shade comfortably, second place was Star Present under Aiden Blakemore, whilst third went to Doctor Tom.