The historic Grimthorpe Gold Cup, one of the four national classic point to point races, is emblazoned with many great names both human and equine. With the likes of Arthur Stephenson and Monica, Tony and Michael Dickinson all having won the race in various combinations of owner, trainer and rider and many celebrated horses having triumphed the race has the richest of histories and at Sheriff Hutton next Sunday 6th April the race to join the illustrious roll of honour will be a hotly contested one.
Once again kindly sponsored by Lord Grimthorpe and the Beckett family the Gold Cup is race four and has drawn a quality field drawn from both near and far. The winner looks likely to come from one of five and East Anglian raider Law Of Gold has to be one for that shortlist. With a long and successful career between the flags he undoubtedly has the class for this and having won the four mile hunter chase at Cheltenham he has also proved he has the stamina for the marathon trip. Whilst he perhaps hasn't hit top form thus far this season he will take all the beating if he does. Lily Bradstock's Mythbuster could travel up from Berkshire and he is another with very useful pointing form who has also won over the four mile trip so would also have a good chance of taking the cup south.
The local challenge is headed by a trio who have been thriving in points this season. The consistent mare Red Opium won here at the January meeting and has a string of placed efforts since. She bids to emulate her mother who won this for owner breeders Susan and Ian Mason in 2010. Wild Romance is another tough mare who has three wins to her name already this season and stamina is definitely a strong suit, a comment which also applies to Will Easterby's Morozov Cocktail. Having run on fast and late to be beaten a length in good company at Charm Park he then won last time out on the long track at Dalton Park and if he gets rolling over this four mile plus distance he could take some beating
The day's opening contest is the Hunt Members race and looks like a shootout between the established star Cullin Hills and the up and coming Greater Glory. The former won seven times in the 2022/23 season and returned from a year off with a tremendous effort when running a close third in a quality contest at Charm Park. Her subsequent third behind two good horses at Hutton Rudby was certainly no disgrace and if running to that level again she will take all the beating. Cherry Coward's Greater Glory is definitely on an upward curve this season and followed a wide margin success in a maiden with a win in a very competitive restricted last month and with that profile he definitely rates the main danger. Of the remainder, the Coward yard also has a couple more capable contenders in Zhiguli and Foxinthebox whilst with a view to the future, keep an eye on Eleventh Day who makes his debut but has the pedigree to make his mark in time.
Race two is the ResDev Conditions race (level 2) where Nicholas Wright has two of the leading entries. Clashhill has been progressing through the ranks and maintained his unbeaten three from three record when beating the useful Mumbo Jumbo in a Guilsborough intermediate which has earned him the highest rating on offer here. Red Maple would be an able deputy for the yard but a six pound penalty may prove to be difficult to defy. Dale Peters is also double handed with the useful pair of Wallace Olinger and Cash Or Card. The latter was second to Mumbo Jumbo at Brocklesby Park, which gives him something to find with Clashhill, and then disappointed a little when sent off hot favourite in a good contest at Charm Park in which he was a well beaten third. The winner there was Carriglux who ran out an impressive winner and the form has been well advertised since and a repetition of that run would make him hard to beat. Of the rest, Courting Flow, Emir Sacre, Sunset On Fire and Zhiguli have all shown decent form this season without perhaps having quite what it takes to beat the best of these whilst Pete The Brief is something of a wild card. Having won once in a light flat career he was third in his only outing over hurdles and then second in his first point to point behind Largy Shark at Dalton Park. That was a promising effort and he is very hard to assess.
Race three is the Moneyweb Restricted race and being packed full of promising maiden winners a great race is in prospect and it will take a good one to win it. The benchmark is set by Ideal Du Tabert who led from pillar to post and won unchallenged here at the first meeting in January and then won in similar style at Bangor. Line Em Up was second in the Sheriff Hutton race and has since won a decent maiden at Duncombe Park. He reopposes here and despite the five pound pull in the weights he looks to have it all to do to reverse the placings. Stablemate Copshill Rock also has an entry but hasn't been seen since winning a Revesby maiden back in January.
Carriglux, Greater Glory and Whats The Solution are three locals who have all won at Restricted level already this season and therefore have the five pound penalty to carry. The pick of these would be Carriglux who clocked a fast time when an easy winner against a good field at Charm Park last month and a repeat of that form may provide the main challenge to the likely favourite.
Adding strength in depth are the Nicholas Wright pair of Fame And Concrete and Steppingstone, Jack Teal's Diamond Flush, Stuart Morris' Havock, Gina Andrews' Pillar Rock and David Kemp's wonderfully named Hopping Mad Wife who are all recent winners, all from good yards and any of whom could progress.
Race five is the Wrigley Landon Properties Maiden race (NWFAA) and boasts the day's largest entry of 24. Perhaps the best piece of recent form here belongs to Boom Boom Boris who ran very well when third in at Dalton Park on his pointing debut and only his second career run. He is likely to progress with that experience and must have every chance. Bryman's Moon is another to show distinct promise in a brief career to date but with his last run being well over a year ago now that counts as a negative. Benefact has been placed a few times already but he doesn't seem to progress and maybe isn't putting his best foot forward whilst Red Letter Day and Derwent Dealer have also had a few chances without winning but are pretty consistent and may find a race in time. Millena Agent, Buzzbee and Park Royal Boy may be better bets as they have shown a little promise from limited opportunities so could take a step forward.
Beyond those who have been pointing there are a handful of newcomers who could be anything or alternatively Job Well Done. He didn't show much in a short career in the colours of JP MacManus in Ireland but with youth on his side and a history of Irish recruits doing well when transferring to British points he may be worth a punt.
The final race of the day is the York Van Centre 4,5 and 6yo Maiden over two miles four furlongs and with half of the twelve entries not having raced before and those that have being lightly raced there is a large amount of guesswork required. The pick of those who have run is Jack Teal's Low Kick as such was his reputation before his debut at Garthorpe that he was sent off hot favourite but inexperience meant he didn't handle the course and he was beaten into third. With the benefit of that run he is definitely worth a second chance. Kingofthestreets was fourth on his debut in the young horse maiden at Charm Park in March, a race which has a history of throwing up high quality performers and that puts him well in the mix. Radical Optimism was fifth there but with a twenty-length gap to make up he has it all to do here.
The pick of the newcomers are Gina Andrews' Le Roi Remi, Jack Teal's Gunar, Bradley Gibbs' Winter Flight and John Dawson's Hugo Moss. Boasting some lovely pedigrees and related to lots of winners any of them could be forward enough to win on debut.
There is ample parking on the grass bank overlooking the course which makes a natural grandstand with a super view of the racing. Gates open at 11am with pony racing due off at 12.10pm and the first point to point race at 1pm. Admission is £15 per person with under 16s free and is cash only. There is a hog roast,cakes and refreshments along with a public bar. Well behaved dogs are welcome on a lead. The course is located ten miles north of York and four miles west of the A64 and the postcode for travellers is YO60 6TN.