AN incident-packed Holderness point to point took place at Dalton Park last Sunday.
The first race of the day, the members' race, turned into a farce when all the field took the wrong course after the fifth. Procol's Boy (P Hodges) was the first to re-trace under Simon Walker and, as the remaining runners turned round, they had gone a furlong clear by the seventh.
Under strong driving by Walker, Procol's Boy, who looked as if he could stop at any time, lasted out long enough to win by five lengths. Nordic Crest (T Rose), ridden by Gino Carenza, was closing in on the fading leader in second. He finished a distance clear of the Chris Cundall-owned and ridden Princess Derry. The stewards enquired into the race and took no further action.
In the men's open, Supercharmer and Doran's Magic led until a loose horse knocked them both over approaching the sixth fence and carried out the third-placed On The Fly.
The business end of the race turned into a good battle between the Nigel Tutty-owned and ridden Little Worsall (Hurworth) and the Cherry Coward-trained Good Vibes (Middleton).
Little Worsall went to the front three from home, but Good Vibes, ridden by Tom Greenall, eased closer after the third last. At the final fence the pair were together, but Little Worsall stayed on better down the run in to win by two lengths.
Good Vibes, who finished lame, held second 20 lengths clear of To-Day-To Day (Bramham). Richard Tate's charge raced prominently under James Tate before weakening from three out.
Five of the 12 runners hit the deck in another race full of incident, the mares' maiden. The Mike Sowersby-owned and trained Ask Jean (Holderness) tried to make all. Ridden by Noel Wilson, she was in front until hanging approaching the second last, where the Richard Wakeham-ridden Hopping Mad (B Duke/Burton) took over.
The ten-year-old was staying on strongly and she quickened in good style to record a comfortable three-length win. Ask Jean kept on to take second, three lengths in front of Andrew Nicholls' Allthewayfromtuam (Middleton), who kept on at one pace under Jim Clare.
The favourites, Silver Groom and Balisteros, couldn't land a blow in the ladies open. The race produced the finish of the day between Howard Thompson's Sally Scally (Cleveland) and Clare Metcalfe's Light The River (Braes of Derwent).
Sally Scally, a 20-1 shot ridden by her trainer Tina Jackson, seemed to have pinched the race when quickening clear after the third last. Ridden by his owner, Light The River started to stay on strongly rounding the bend to the second last. By the final fence the pair were on terms and they fought out a great battle to the line, with 6-1 shot Light The River getting up on the nod.
Five lengths back in third was Grania Furness' Pharlindo (Hurworth). After showing early he made good late headway under Annabelle Armitage.
David Atkinson's Nomadic Star (Bedale) turned the restricted into a procession. He led from flag fall, went clear with half a mile to run and galloped on in fine style under Peter Atkinson to win by five lengths.
Tracey Corrigan-Clark's Imps Way (Derwent) stayed on from the second last under Lee Bates, but could not make any impression on the winner. Ten lengths back in third was Paul Clifton's Step Lively (Holderness). He was held up early under Noel Wilson but could make no impression from the third last.
The first division of the maiden was a good battle between Flint and Denby raider Ricky B (J Hewitt) and Mick Brown's Young Rab (York & Ainsty).
The pair disputed the lead over the last two before the Chris Stockton- ridden Ricky B pulled away on the flat to win by three lengths. The Richard Clark-ridden Young Rab finished second, four lengths clear of the Michael Morley-ridden Lord Scoop (E Hardwick/Derwent). The nine-year-old raced prominently until weakening from the second last.
The second maiden also went to a non-Yorkshire horse, the Jedforest qualified Itineris (S Shirley-Bevan). He was challenged two from home, but quickened impressively clear after to win by four lengths under Chris Shirley-Bevan.
Wooley (M Abrahams/West of Yore) finished second. He held every chance at the second last, but a blunder at the last cost him his chance, Rupert Abrahams in the saddle. Twenty lengths back in third was the Morley's Abinger (Derwent). He raced prominently until outpaced from the third last under Michael Morley.
The Hurworth point to point takes place at Hutton Rudby tomorrow, first race 12.30.
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