HOLDERNESS
DALTON APRK
13th March 2005
by Ian Marshall
Dalton Park was bathed in
sunshine on a cool day and the crowds were entertained by some
exciting racing on holding ground. It was pleasing to see four out
of the seven races go to lady riders, a rare event in
Yorkshire.
The opening Hunt Members saw
three of the six runners in line at the second last and it was The
Graduate and Simon Walker who were ahead at the post. The Graduate
won this race back in 2002 and put in some useful efforts last
year, before rewarding trainer Tony Walker’s persistence
today. The horse was helped by getting ten pounds from the second
Nordic Crest (Mark Walford) and seven pounds from the third John
Rich (Guy Brewer). Nordic Crest will have easier tasks, even in
opens, with a run under his belt, while John Rich was amiable, but
it’s hard to know whether he will be next time. Ballyards was
fourth and had the assistance of Steve Charlton. He’ll be
better off back in maiden company, but a bad blunder at Witton
Castle in February might have dented his confidence. Needs
Diplomacy was in touch when taking a heavy fall at the 15th,
however Where Eagles Dare appeared unmanageable.
Rachel Clark’s only ride
of the day was a winning one aboard Rising Talisker in the
nine-runner Mares Maiden. At the age of 12, Rising Talisker was
looking exposed, but she certainly wasn’t winning out of turn
after a handful of second places, three of them coming this season.
It could have been different though if runner-up Oso Tilley
hadn’t got in a bit tight to the last as there was only half
a length between the pair at the line. Jo Foster’s mount is
capable of landing a maiden on this evidence. Dracaena and Philip
Kinsella in third couldn’t quite quicken sufficiently when it
mattered, but could find a small race. Kismet was fourth under Mark
Walford and had previously been campaigned at around two and a half
miles in three runs in 2005. She was rather one-paced in the home
straight. Lady Lola set a frenetic early gallop and was a hairy
ride for Nigel Smith before capsizing at the 9th, while the equally
hard pulling Black Rainbow ran out at the 3rd.
Ten were declared for a
competitive Mens Open and old adversaries Mr Mahdlo and Mr
Pendleberry locked horns once again. Mr Mahdlo came out on top for
Ben Woodhouse, but there was hardly anything in it at the finish
with Shackleton and Oliver Greenall in second. It was so close that
neither Mr Mahdlo nor Shackleton took up their respective positions
in the winners’ enclosure until the announcement came over
the tannoy. A short head was unsurprisingly the verdict. Mr Mahdlo
is going to remain a big challenge to overcome in mens opens. Fresh
from a victory on Star Jack in a hunter chase at Ayr on Friday, Ben
Woodhouse already looks like being hard to catch for the Yorkshire
mens title between the flags. Shackleton landed a decent confined
at Brocklesby Park in February and showed he is a force to be
reckoned with. Mr Pendleberry and Nicky Tinkler secured third
continuing a string of good performances. Step Lively (Wayne
Burnell) claimed fourth. She must have at least a little confined
in her. Supercharmer made the running before fading and will come
on for the race. Blank Cheque unshipped David Coates at the
2nd.
Eight went to post for the
Ladies Open and the market suggested it was a formality for the
hat-trick seeking Texas Ranger, with all the others weak in the
betting. It turned out somewhat differently though, Ledgendry Line
and Serena Brotherton scoring by ten lengths from Bloomfield Storm
and Louise Allan. Ledgendry Line wasn’t at his best in 2004,
but returned to form with a bang. Bloomfield Storm is probably up
to getting his head in front again. San Francisco (Freya Hartley)
paid for forcing it up front in the first half of the race and
ended up third. Silver Groom (Jacqueline Coward) got going too late
as ever in fourth. Texas Ranger walked the final few yards for
fifth, having missed the break, and couldn’t take up his
customary position at the head of affairs until after a circuit.
The favourite gave the 12th a hefty belt and, although he appeared
sound afterwards, it is possible that he might have incurred some
kind of back injury.
12 horses contested the
Restricted, which went to Wilfie Wild and Lynne Ward in a time only
five seconds slower than the mens open. Wilfie Wild went about his
business in impressive fashion, hitting the front at the
penultimate obstacle and striding clear by a decisive ten lengths.
This complemented a prominent display at Charm Park a week ago,
where he bumped into a real tartar in Vics Fane. Snizort with Freya
Hartley in the saddle stayed on past beaten horses to take second.
A restricted ought to come his way before too long. Jockey bookings
suggested he was Mary Sowersby’s second string, but her other
entry Aunt Gladys was in third under Guy Brewer. Guy reached the
career milestone of 50 winners in point-to-points at Whittington on
Saturday. Nampara Cove (Trevor Glass) was a shade disappointing in
fourth and is better than this. Just A Man was in second, but
exhausted, when being sensibly pulled up by Ben Woodhouse at the
last. He’s come on leaps and bounds this season. Hattie took
her usual fearsome hold and established a huge lead, however she
couldn’t maintain it for the full three miles.
Kiora Bay beat ten rivals in
Division One of the Maiden under David Thomas. The bay went about
his task willingly and created a good impression in the process,
having been to the fore throughout. The winning jockey
doesn’t get anything like as many rides as his ability
deserves. Duggleby (Clive Mulhall) put a poor effort at Charm Park
last week behind him to be second. Black Rainbow (Tina Jackson)
fared much better in her second race of the afternoon to be beaten
three lengths into third. A maiden is well within her sights. In
fourth, Jey Jey Keen (Ben Woodhouse) needs to brush up his jumping
if he’s to get closer. Skew Whip is gaining valuable
experience and gave encouragement for the future. Coverdale dropped
out rather tamely and Phartoobig had a crashing fall at the 7th. If
the latter is none the worse, he might be able to fulfill some
promise as he was able to be kept under restraint today.
Nine runners turned out for
Division Two of the Maiden and Magic Route and Tina Jackson landed
the spoils for the rider’s partner Howard Thompson. Magic
Route had shown ability at Whitwell-on-the-Hill and Easingwold last
season, so there was no fluke about the victory. It was a welcome
return to winning ways for the jockey after being beset by injuries
in 2004. Senza Scrupoli fought all the way for Chris Dawson to go
down by half a length. With placed form on the flat and in a two
mile selling hurdle, Senza Scrupoli might have been thought a
doubtful stayer. However, he kept on strongly and certainly
won’t be the same 20-1+ next time out. Dayenoo (Oliver
Greenall) was a further length behind in third and isn’t the
most straightforward of rides. Like the runner-up though, a maiden
might be in the offing. Fourth-placed Prioritisation was found
wanting as the tempo increased and will need every bit of the
Woodhouse magic to fill the winners’ berth. The consistent
Bobby Buttons put in a rare poor performance and may have missed
his regular pilot, the injured Nigel Tutty. After nearly refusing
at the first two fences, there was a respectable debut from Black
Shuck. Rare Presence gave Guy Brewer no chance of staying in the
plate at the 5th. The open ditch was omitted on both circuits,
having been damaged in the previous race.
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