PLENTY of runners turned out for the Hurworth point-to-point at Skutterskelfe Park, Hutton Rudby, on Saturday.

The course was in good order, however the going changed to good to soft, after some heavy rain showers, mixed with snow.

In the Hunt race, four of the five entries went to post running in pairs with Chernik and Ballyanrahan making the running and Blue Bertie and Rush House a couple of lengths behind. Rush House is still learning the game and pulled up on the final circuit and the gap between the leading pair and Blue Bertie began to increase.

The front pair were duelling from a way out. Ballyanrahan’s jumping had looked good until Chernik started to put him under pressure and a few mistakes started to creep in, allowing Chernik, piloted by Andrew Glass to assert and win by eight lengths. Ballyanrahan and Richard Smith finished in second with Blue Bertie and Philip Greaves a distance back in third.

Eleven horses were due to go to post for the Quench Racing Restricted Race, but Budge Ya Butt was withdrawn after rearing over and injuring his jockey, Andrew Richardson, on the way to the start.

The horses largely raced as a pack with four jumping the last nearly in line. Spruce Up and Harry Bannister just had the advantage over Sposalizio and Chris Dawson, but Blackthirteen, partnered by Jess Gillam, powered up the run-in to take the race on the line. Mistissio and Richard Smith were back in fourth.

The Ladies Open Race could have been anyones. Dead Ringa was running well with Laura Mason deputising for the injured Emma Todd, but fell three out. Oaklands Bobby and Shake the Barley drew clear and it looked as though Cath Walton, riding Shake the Barley, would land the spoils, only to be reeled in by Oaklands Bobby and Alice Petch, who just got up on the line to win by a neck. Alfoisin was eight lengths back in third under Jacqueline Coward and Supreme Plan and Harriet Bethell finished in Fourth. After slipping and unseating Alice on the way to the start, Oaklands Bobby had a warm-up run to the far field, but fortunately the pair were quickly reunited.

In the Men’s Open Race, Drom put his front running tactics to good use and took an early lead under Will Kitchman. As the race developed the pair had a 20 length lead and although the winning distance was reduced to eight lengths, he was never in danger.

Classinaglass was as usual held up throughout the race and Harry Bannister urged his mount to close the gap as the runners went out on the final circuit but he simply couldn’t get there. Racing Ace and Chris Dawson finished in third with Slick Operator and Richard Smith back in fourth.

A popular race this season is the Club Members Conditions Race, where those who do not fit the criteria of a novice rider have to carry a 5lb penalty. However, in this instance the weight advantage did not produce a winner and Sportingfriendship and Harry Bannister took it by a length from Drill Sergeant and Phil Dennis. Avinapaddy and Richard Smith were three and a half lengths back in third with Trop Fort and Sally Coates in fourth.

The Maiden Race had been divided before the day and in the first division, Norton Grove, who had pulled up on his only previous start at Charm Park, was the favourite, but it was Danny Cool, owned in partnership by his rider, Paul Collins, and former trainer Mary Reveley, who took it. Always to the fore, Paul had the horse in a good position and although he had a tendency to jump right on occasions he wasn’t ever really in danger.

Norton Grove and Harry Bannister finished in second, typically held up at the back of the field, Norton Grove started to creep into the race but a bad mistake at the third last halted his progress somewhat and he did well to finish second. Ballabrace and Philip Greaves filled the third spot and Dix Hill and Max Johnson showed their first bit of form finishing closely in fourth.

In Division Two there were a couple of first timers, one of which was Bridal Suite, who looked a little cold backed, but with the extremely capableChris Dawson on board any potential problems were averted.as he trotted a couple of circuits of the paddock. before quietly cantering down to the start. Richard Smith and Can’t Call It landed the spoils by one and a half lengths from Billy Two Tongues. who although he completed, still makes plenty of mistakes and is likely to have a career over hurdles now.Kilmacallogue Bay keeps in proving for Simon Robinson and finished in third a length back with Morecambe Bay and Will Kitchman in fourth.

Results as follows:

Members – A Glass & Chernik
Restricted – Jess Gillam & Blackthirteen
Ladies open – Alice Petch & Oaklands Bobby
Mens open – W Kitchman & Drom
Yorkshire members – Harry Bannister & Sportingfriendship
Open maiden div one – Paul Collins & Danny Cool
Open maiden div three – Richard Smith & Cant Call It