BLANK Cheque's win in a high class men's open was the highlight of the Sinnington point to point at Duncombe Park last Saturday.

Ridden by owner David Coates, Blank Cheque (Pendle Forest), who normally comes with a late run, was pushed into an early lead. The 11-year-old stayed there virtually throughout the race.

He was only briefly headed by the favourite Howayman (A Waggott/Dumfries) approaching the last, before rallying strongly up the run in to win by four lengths.

The Annabelle Armitage-trained J R Kay (N Bannister/Pendle) finished second under Luke Morgan. He held every chance at the last, but a blunder cost him dearly.

Howayman, trained and ridden by Kevin Anderson, weakened in the closing stages to finish a further neck back in third.

The ladies equivalent was an equally good contest, with Billie Thomson's Balisteros (Berwickshire), partnered by northern champion Pauline Robson, making a successful journey south to record his 15th hunt racing success in the last two years.

The mare Miss Accounts made much of the running in this race, but on the run to the last the David Ingle-trained Mr Freebie (R Banks/South Wold) moved to the front, with Balisteros, Nova Nita (R Black/Dumfries) and Marius in contention.

At the final fence Marius fell and Balisteros looked in trouble as the Fiona Needham-ridden Mr Freebie ran on. In a great finish up the steep uphill run, Robson galvanised the 12-year-old, who ran on well and just got up to win by a length.

The Kevin Anderson-trained Nova Nita, ridden by Val Jackson, finished strongly to deprive the weakening Mr Freebie of second by a length.

Concerto Collonges (Middleton), trained by Annabelle Armitage, came with a splendidly-timed run under owner Robert Hartley to win the confined hunts race.

Two from home, the 11-year-old French bred was 20 lengths off the pace back in sixth, but on the four-furlong run to the last he started to stay on strongly.

He cruised past four horses to be within two lengths of the long-time leader Pharlindo at the last and galloped on relentlessly to win going away by two lengths.

33-1 outsider Olympic D'or (R Morley/Derwent) ran a fine race back in second and six lengths back in third was Just Coming (R Mason/Middleton).

Yorkshire mens champion David Easterby was soon resuming winning ways, taking the opening members race and the third division of the maiden. His wins on Colonel Blazer and Havetwotaketwo also completed a training double for Ian Mason.

Pauline Robson completed a double when Running Mute (J Vestey/Jedforest) took the first division of the maiden. The seven-year-old forged clear in the last 100 yards to win by two lengths from pointing newcomer Durham Dandy (Pendle Forest).

Dave Thomas gave an excellent ride to The Other Eye (M Jackson/Middleton), who was the most impressive of the three maiden winners in the second division.

John Mackley's mare Hazel Reilly (South Durham), trained by Sarah Dent, won an exciting restricted race. The ten-year-old, given a fine ride by Lee Bates, stayed on strongly on the testing run-in to get home in the final 50 yards.

Half a length back in second was the Guy Harker-trained Tricky Trevor (J Delahooke/West of Yore). Ridden by Holly Delahooke, he looked the winner at the last but didn't have the staying power of the winner close home.

There are 125 entries for Sunday's West of Yore point to point at Hornby Castle, first race 12.30. Silver Groom is taken to win the feature race, the mixed open.