THE highlight of a great day's racing at the Bedale point-to-point at Hornby Castle last Saturday was a terrific race for the Land Rover men's open which saw less than two lengths separate the first four home.

A win for Brighter Shade (Bluebell Partnership/Bilsdale) completed a training double for Sarah Dent.

David Easterby's Purevalue (Middleton) made much of the running under Tom Greenall, but Brighter Shade was held up in the early stages by Phillip Kinsella and closed on the leaders with a circuit to go.

Running on well, Brighter Shade hit the front four from home. The Fiona Needham-trained Father Rector (W Lamarque/Bilsdale) was always close up, but he seemed to be outpaced as Brighter Shade and Purevalue went on.

The pair were together at the last and the run-in produced a great finish, Brighter Shade just getting up on the line to win by a head. Purevalue was second, a neck clear of Father Rector, who rallied well for Chris Denny.

An eye-catching fourth was Shining Fountain, who came from a mile back to finish a length down.

The first leg of Dent's double came when her father's Leg Beforum (South Durham) took the second division of the restricted.

The Serena Brotherton-trained and ridden Emperor's Son (Middleton) went three lengths clear three from home and looked like justifying favouritism, but Leg Beforum was always travelling well in behind for Lee Bates.

The pair jumped the last together, but Leg Beforum kept on well to win by a length. Sassy Street (D Wood/Bilsdale) finished well under Kevin Needham to take second, while Emperor's Son kept on to finish a neck back in third.

Silver Groom (K Barron/Holderness) gained compensation for his disqualification at Hutton Rudby (lost weight cloth) as the very impressive winner of the ladies open.

Ridden by Jo Foster, the 12-year-old took up the running on halfway and had opened up a comfortable four-length margin at the line.

The Tina Jackson-trained and ridden The Minister (H Thompson/Cleveland) finished second, two lengths clear of Camptosaurus (College Valley), who was in the first three throughout under Laura Hislop.

Owner Nigel Tutty gave a very confident ride to his Little Worsall (Hurworth) to take the first division of the restricted.

The nine-year-old moved smoothly to the front on the run to the last and won easier than the two-length winning margin would suggest.

Robin Tate's Primitive Satin (Bilsdale) finished second. Ridden by Fiona Needham, he did well to recover from slipping badly after the third last and rallied to finish a length clear of Kanona (J Walker/Hurworth).

Ronnie Watson's Mount Faber (York & Ainsty) gained his third win between the flags, all of which have been at Hornby Castle, when landing the confined hunts race.

This was a dramatic race which saw the favourite Nigel Drum try to run out and unseat his rider when lying second four from home.

The then leader Ingio Montoya, the second favourite, was going well when knocked over rounding the bend into the home straight.

Mount Faber had looked booked for fourth place, but he forged clear under Stephen Charlton on the flat to record a one-length win.

Ridden by Simon Walker, Stoney River (P England/Badsworth) looked to be the winner on the run to the last, but he was outpaced by the winner.

Half a length back in third was the Richard Tate-trained and ridden Orient Bay (M Dickinson/Badsworth).

Sylcanny (P Gibbon/Zetland) gained a deserved maiden when taking the first division to give jockey Stuart Gibbon his first success.

He made every yard of the running until joined at the last by the Richard Morley-trained In The Van (Derwent).

Running on well under Michael Morley, In The Van showed in front on the run-in, but the game Sylcanny quickened to lead on the line.

Ten lengths back in third was the Fiona Needham-trained the Burglas (Bilsdale).

A good battle for the members saw the Angie Thompson-owned and ridden Tabriz get the better of David Atkinson's Lord George, ridden by Peter Atkinson, by half a length.

A distance back in third was Right Ron Run (C Pounder), ridden by Phillip Kinsella.

Gunna Be King, a 33-1 outsider trained by owner Sylvia Robinson (York & Ainsty) landed the second division of the maiden under Michael Morley.

The seven-year-old finished 12 lengths in front of the Paul Frank-ridden Ingleby Jack (S Frank/Hurworth).

Eight lengths back in third was Farthing Wood (B Thompson/Berwickshire) who kept on at one pace for Pauline Robson.

The third division of the maiden went to Joe Swiers' mare Peggy's Delight (West of Yore). Ridden by Richard Wakeham, the mare had a comfortable length and a half win from the favourite Buddy Girie (J Cornforth/York & Ainsty), ridden by Phillip Cornforth.

Ten lengths back in third was Miss Danbys (D Todd/Blackney), ridden by Simon Walker.

l Sunday's Braes of Derwent meeting at Corbridge saw success for two Zetland-qualified horses.

Freddie Crawford picked up his first career success when Mashwe stayed on strongly up the hill to pick up the restricted, while Simon Robinson partnered his own Ben From Ketton, bought as an unbroken four-year-old, to success in the second division of the maiden.

l The Cleveland point-to-point takes place at Stainton Vale tomorrow, first race 2pm