Horses for courses so the saying goes and that certainly rang true at Askham Bryan where the second of the two scheduled meetings saw a very large crowd bask in glorious spring sunshine.
Hollywood Harmon had lost her maiden tag with a stylish success over two miles four furlongs here in February and she repeated the feat in the Rudding Park Restricted when leading for most of the way under jockey Pippa Brown before coming home a ready winner again for a three length defeat of Artiste D'Ainay and Ellie Callwood. Saddled by Alexander Wilson, who trains out of Peter Beaumont's old yard at Brandsby near York, and who also owns her in partnership with Jennifer Carless, the eight year old mare has been admirably consistent this season having also filled the runner up spot three times. Speaking afterwards Alexander said “I'm delighted that she has managed to win over three miles for the first time as it does stretch her stamina a bit. She works hard every time and Pippa rides her very well. We may aim her at the maiden hunter chase at Cartmel but she'll hopefully have a couple more runs in points first”.
Pippa wasn't the only member of the Brown family to reach the winners enclosure as her brother Will partnered Get With It to success in the Peacock and Binningtom PPORA Club Members Conditions race level 2 for Grassroots Riders where they led from pillar to post and passing the post six lengths clear of Tap Tap Boom ridden by sister Pippa with both horses running in the colours of owner Julian Swinbank. Whilst not his first winner as a jockey it was a maiden success for Will as a trainer who was understandably thrilled with the outcome. “ We're just starting out and we're trying our best, I'm just the box driver though!” said Julian laughing as he dashed off clutching the rather impressive silver trophy.
Reigning Yorkshire Area champion jockey was in double form which was initiated when the Racy Ladies Partnership owned Surprise Attack, trained by wife Alice, notched up his third success of the season in the Wetherby Racecourse and Conference Centre Conditions race level 3. Having matched strides throughout with Ridelonglivelong and Isla John the 1/3 favourite jumped into the lead at the last before cruising home in front by a very cosy half length. Whilst the good to firm ground resulted in some smaller fields throughout the day, John said “It is quick enough but perfectly safe and we just went a sensible gallop”. Elaborating on future plans he continued “ we'll go to the Bedale with him in a fortnight, either the two mile six furlong race or the open and then longer term think about a hunter chase at Cartmel”.
John's riding double was completed in the Irving Theaker Memorial Mens Open race when Pop The Question collared Titanium Bullet and Felix Foster, who had blazed a trail in front from the outset, two fences from home before drawing three lengths clear. Homebred by owners Ian and Susan Mason the victor is another winning daughter of their successful pointing mare Poppy Day whose career highlight was her triumph in the 2010 running of the Grimthorpe Gold Cup. “She won a Witton Castle maiden point last spring and then then we sent her under rules. Having won at Hexham on her first try at hurdling she then completely lost her form” explained Ian afterwards “we've brought her back to pointing and we'll stick with it for now and then see what happens”. Half sister Red Opium will bid to emulate her mother and further embellish the family's record in next Sunday's running of the point to point classic at Sheriff Hutton.
John Dawson made a bid for a riding treble and the Mason's a homebred double in the following Openfield maiden race with Look North who disputed favouritism but,having lead for much of the way, Shalliorsharnti and Eleanor Clark moved up to challenge him turning for home and ultimately found extra to foil the treble by a couple of lengths with the placed horses all in close pursuit. Trained by Jack Teal, who also owns the winner in partnership with Damian Roadman. the win was clearly very popular and the celebrating jockey was greeted with plenty of cheers for what was her second win in the saddle. “Eleanor works for me” said Jack “and she's really rising up to the task now at home”. A delighted Eleanor commented “ he travelled well all the way and jumped well. When I kicked he went straight away and I couldn't be happier!”.
The day's other contest was the Stephensons Rural Ladies Open where the three runners were very closely matched in the betting ring. It was Somptueux and Ellie Callwood, who had travelled up from the Belvoir, who edged favouritism and that proved the right call as they came through to take it up three out before running out a ready winner by four lengths from Royal Chant and Isla John in the fastest time of the afternoon. Having won both hurdling and chasing in Ireland for Henry De Bromhead, Somptueux had made his British debut for trainer Tommy Morgan and owners the Black and White Army in a Taunton hunter chase in January but Ellie reported afterwards that hadn't gone well as he had hated the soft ground and hadn't jumped well as a result “ it took him three fences here to get his confidence back but when he did he gave me one of the best spins I have had all season. He loved the quicker ground and hopefully he'll be a good Ladies horse for the rest of the season”.
The next meeting in the Yorkshire Area is the Middleton at Sheriff Hutton next Sunday 6th April. The gates open at 11am with pony racing at 12.10pm and the first of the six scheduled races due off at 1pm. Admission is £15 per person with under 16s free and it is cash only. The postcode for travellers is YO60 6TN