After a 7.30am inspection, the Hurworth got the all clear to race. The open ditch was taken out due to the very soft ground around it.

A good size crowd saw four runners go to post for the opening event, the Hurworth Hunt Members with last years winner Maitre de Musique and the Charm Park winner, Ginger Biscuit, battling it out for favouritism in the ring. From the off, Ginger Biscuit headed the field ahead of Profiler (still in the hands of Philip Kinsella with Nigel Tutty still out of action). Michael Tate had Maitre de Musique tight in third place and the outsider Nomiret in rear.

Ginger Biscuit (Paul Frank)

Nomiret takes a crashing fall at the 13th

With three to jump, the odds on favourite Maitre de Musique pushed on, going clear with one to jump where he was joined by Ginger Biscuit who could not match the leaders speed on the flat, going down by two and half lengths with Profiler back in third.

The winner, Maitre De Musique (Dr Michael Tate)

Restricted
Ten went down to face the starter. Orleans was the bookies favourite and Simon Robinson always had the ten year old handy as Mr Sonshine took them along at a fast pace. Oaklands Luis looked like he was enjoying the soft ground and was bowling along. Search Party made one too many jumping errors and was pulled up with circuit to go.

The Beeker leads from Hessac (far side) and Garmondsway

The “in form” Ben Woodhouse had his hands full with Just A Man going down the back straight and took the running up with three to jump, going five lengths clear, but a bad jump at the last saw Orleans regain the lead on the uphill run in. Snizort (Guy Brewer) rallied to get within a length of the winner with Mr Sonshine, who had lead from the start, staying on for third. Just A Man tied up on the flat (like he did last week at the Dalton meeting) and was walked over the line. No other horse caught the eye in what turned out to be a four horse race.

Simon Robinson and Orleans

Ladies Open
Little Santa was on her toes in the ring and had two handlers and was walked to the start by her two handlers.

Little Santa eyes up the first

Emperor's Son (Serena Brotherton)

San Francisco (Freya Hartley) and Ikdam Melody (Jo Foster)

After the flag, she lost 15 lengths or so and never got into the race. At the front, Ikdam Melody (Jo Foster) and San Francisco (Freya Hartley) were going head to head and at a good clip. Going down to three out, the pair were still head to head with San Francisco seemingly getting the better on the flat, but Jo Foster loves a battle and with whips flying got Ikdam Melody back level on the run in to just get the better of San Francisco. Emperors Son was back in third and Fayalie (C Brown) ran on at one paced for fourth.

Jo Foster and Ikdam Melody

Mens Open
Only four turned up for this race. Ben From Ketton and Chaos Theory were both well supported in the ring and from the start it looked between these two and stayed like that for most of the race. Ronnie Barr’s Stepastray was happy to whip them in some five lengths off the pace and Scenic Storm kept hold of third place until late into the race.

Stepastray (Simon Walker)

Chaos Theory (David Thomas) pulled clear from Ben From Ketton at the last and Scenic Storm came through to take second place. Stepastray made an effort but stayed where he had been throughout the race in last place.

Confined
Twice a winner in 2004, Journey was having his first run of the season and looked on the large side in the paddock and in need of the race.

Journey and Penny Peppermint

This front running 12 year old shot off and had the field chasing him until four out. Mister Bromley, a winner here last year that stays all day, ran a brilliant race to come through from mid division to take the race.

First place for Mister Bromley (Serena Brotherton)

Busted Flat (seen at 20/1 in the ring) should be noted, as he came with a late run to deny another fast finisher, Maxs Micro, of second place. Ptah was the only other finisher and was seen to be given an easy race, but the stewards failed to see this!

I Spy! Point-to-Point photographer John Grossick

Open Maiden Div 1
Polyarnoe Bay was the first to show with Supreme Optimist at the rear. Willywont He was brought forward by Steve Charlton at the second. Tom Greenall, riding for his father Lord Daresbury, had Dayenoo tucked in just behind the leading three. Oaklands Ted was making his way to the front as the field turned into the back straight for the first time. Chris Dawson on Eisenhower made his move forward at the fourth and at the sixth fence; Willywont He made a mistake and was lucky to stay up. Meanwhile, Dayenoo was taking the race along at a moderate pace from Polyarnoe Bay and Oaklands Ted. Alizarin made a move forward to join the leading bunch and Eisenhower kept his place as Dayenoo turned up the heat up at the front. Supreme Optimist, who put in a few hair rising jumps early on, got his act together and came forward into fourth place three from home. Mark Walford asked his 5-year-old Polyarnoe Bay to quicken as the field came to the last. Dayenoo got in close at the last and Oaklands Ted came through to get within a head of the leader, who picked up on the flat, just holding on at the line. Polyarnoe Bay stayed third and will be winning soon. John Wade’s Eisenhower finished fourth and wasn’t put under any pressure by Chris Dawson and should be noted.

Open Maiden Div 2
went to Queenies Girl from Shapani (Chris Dawson) and Primitive Rhythm.

Open Maiden Div 3
Been Here Before came from last to first to take this race. Coverdale, who ran third last week, went one better taken the runners up spot from Guy Brewer on the fast finishing Mistermagicman.