REVIEW |
The
event marked 50 years of racing at Dalton Park and featured several
interesting performers. A terrible weather forecast kept many away, but as
it happened the worst of the rain was just before the runners for the first
race entered the paddock. However, there was a strong wind and indeed it was
difficult for spectators in the later races to remain stationary in the
centre of the course. As usual, the ground was good, although some jockeys
did describe it as tacky. The
four-runner hunt race fittingly went to Holderness senior master William
Bethell’s Dolphin Square and Niall Saville. Always handy and far from
friendless in the ring, the partnership held too many aces for their rivals
over the last couple of fences. Dolphin Square was building on a decent
third in a Hornby Castle restricted in February that had been won by High
Peak, who scored again in the mens open later in the afternoon. Second
placed Schoolhouse Walk (Lord Manton) can take a small restricted and Nordic
Crest in third may be sharper for his seasonal reappearance. The latter
carried 13st 1lb, which is a tough assignment in anyone’s book and you had
to pity jockey Tom Greenall, who had to lug the saddle to the weighing room.
Procol’s Boy (Simon Walker) trailed the front trio. Chris Cundall was
forced to sit this one out after suffering a crunching fall at Charm Park a
week previously. The
largest field of the day, 13, turned out for the Panacur/TBA PPORA Mares’
Maiden. A raider from the south bank of the Humber made the trip worthwhile
and claimed the prize. When Aunt Gladys and Guy Brewer went on midway down
the backstretch, they were stalked through by Near And Phar under Sarah
Buckley. Near And Phar was produced approaching the penultimate obstacle and
readily asserted to be ten lengths ahead at the line. Owned and trained by
Sheila Mollett, and like Dolphin Square out of Phardante, she can go on to
better things. Aunt Gladys had learnt from the experience of her Market
Rasen debut and will know even more next time. Rising Talisker and Rachel
Clark were eight lengths back in third and made much of the running, but the
mare was a bit one paced. She could still pick up a little maiden. Mademist
Sparky (Nigel Tutty) was a distant fourth, but Thixendale was running her
best race yet when stopped in her tracks by a slipping saddle on the long
run to the back straight for the final time and Alizarin was prominent when
decanting Tim Craggs at the fence in front of the enclosures with a circuit
to go. As
mentioned earlier, High Peak won the Mens Open under Tom Greenall for
owner/trainer David Easterby. The rider was fresh from partnering Marsh Run
to victory in a valuable mares’ bumper at Sandown the previous day. High
Peak was completing a hat-trick having initially taken a Market Rasen
maiden. His jumping had appeared to be the only chink in his armour in the
past, but held up well today. High Peak was all out though, as Blank Cheque
and David Coates came home with a wet sail and almost snatched it on the
line having been way off the pace. It was the closest of finishes with the
consistent Mr Pendleberry and Nicky Tinkler not far behind in third.
Erzadjan and Lee Bates were fourth. However, the result could have been
completely different as Mademist Sam, who is coming slowly to hand, was
going great guns in front with a five length lead and looking all over the
winner when getting rid of Nigel Tutty at the second last. Nip On departed
at the same fence, but was probably held in fourth at the time. Both Blank
Cheque and Erzadjan are out and out stayers and could be worth a look in the
Grimthorpe Gold Cup at Whitwell-on-the-Hill on 4th April, while Cadrillon
will be better off the race. A
small, but select, field of five went to post for the Ladies Open. Apart
from the rank outsider, the maiden Dinan, all could be given some sort of a
chance. Given a positive ride by Jo Foster, Texan Cowboy shook off the
attention of Pharlindo a mile out and hacked up in splendid isolation. The
winner jumped for fun, in sharp contrast to his point debut at Witton
Castle. Texan Cowboy had been a solid third in a strong mixed open at Charm
Park the previous week. Silver Groom (Jacqueline Coward) filled second spot,
but couldn’t live with the early pace and, as is often the case, didn’t
get overly high at several fences. Sally Scally in third was carrying a lot
of condition and this should bring her on nicely. It was good to see the
mare’s rider Tina Jackson back in action after a January fall at Kelso and
hopefully her infectious grin will grace the winners’ enclosure before
long. Pharlindo was pulled up in the end by Annabel Armitage and is better
than this, if none the worse for his exertions. The
Restricted saw jockey Tom Greenall and trainer David Easterby notch a double
with Lord Daresbury’s High Fields, who collared Purple Jean and Guy Brewer
on the run-in. High Fields has been a revelation in blinkers, firstly
managing a 2m4f Hornby Castle maiden, then following up today, and can make
further use of his allowance for five-year-olds. Purple Jean might be found
a race by Mary Sowersby if in the same vein of form and the grey would be a
popular scorer. Third-placed Wilfie Wild and Lynne Ward have been knocking
on the door for some time and must surely be rewarded soon. Switchback
(Niall Saville) and In The Van (John Morley) came down on the flat after the
14th. Switchback was still traveling very sweetly, but it was too far from
home to guess where he would have finished. It is worth remembering that
this was only Switchback’s second race and the six-year-old remains
qualified for maidens. Lord Scroop was an early casualty. The
first division of the maiden fell to Snizort, the gelding winning with his
head in his chest under Guy Brewer. His second at Charm Park was a
stepping-stone to this and it was a fine victory. Runner-up Bobby Buttons
(Nigel Tutty) went off a warm favourite, but suggested, not for the first
time, that he’s not one to take a short price about. The improving Flat
Stanley and Jo Foster took third. He’s only small, but there must be more
to come. Dolphin Square was well supported in the market, but was pulled up
with a full lap left, hardly went a yard and is to be approached with
caution in the future. Gollinger is also one to be wary of and struggles to
get three miles, even with a capable pilot in Ben Woodhouse. The second division of the maiden looked the weaker heat, with the form figures riddled with letters and numbers in short supply. Rounding the home turn with two to jump, there were five horses with every chance. It was the debutant five-year-old I’m No Fairy that landed the race. Given a patient ride by David Thomas during the majority of the contest, he stayed on resolutely after the final fence to collect. Staple Sound and Wayne Burnell were just run out of it in second, from Just A Man (Ben Woodhouse) third and Brown’s Beck (Michael Morley) fourth. It’s difficult to know if there is much to the form, but the third and fourth had each only run once, so will benefit for the experience and could be open to improvement. The front-running Fairmile Star was returning from a two year break and might not have been done with when taking a hefty tumble at the last. The grey lay winded for several minutes before rising and if OK after his exploits could be interesting next time. With Richard Wakeham in the plate, he won’t lack assistance from the saddle. |