Steward’s enquiry at point-to-point finish (From Gazette & Herald)

Steward’s enquiry at point-to-point finish

2:24pm Thursday 5th April 2012 in Equestrian

THE Middleton Hunt staged their annual point-to-point at Whitwell-onthe- Hill on Sunday where the highlight of the meeting was the Grimthorpe Gold Cup.

Run over four miles and one furlong, this race is one of the “classic” point-to-point races.

Simply Smashing was given a super ride by Philip Kirby and led the field from start to finish.

Unfortunately victory was to be short-lived as the rider had taken the wrong course which resulted in a steward’s enquiry being called which led to him being disqualified. In a four-horse finish, the eventual winner was Borero, trained by David Easterby and ridden by Harry Bannister. Father Murtagh finished second under Freya Brewer, and Forsomeonelikeyou, the mount of Lucy Sutcliffe, was third.

Racing got underway at 1pm with the Hunt Members’ race and went the way of Tom Greenall riding Royal Deal, providing another winner for the David Easterby stable.

The Conditions race saw Oedipe continue his run of success, powering home to clinch a good five-length victory under Jack Greenall. Toby Greenall was second on Laertes.

The Restricted race attracted the smallest field of the day, but Railway Park, under Mark Walford, clinched a ten-length victory ahead of Calapocus and Harriet Bethell.

The Maiden was taken by Macleod, the mount of Harry Bannister with eight lengths in hand over Rosie du Berlais and jockey Paul Frank.

Harriet Bethell notched up a good win in the Intermediate race on Killary Boy, leaving Ramborob and Jacqueline Coward in second.

The Open Maiden concluded the day and provided Jacqueline Coward with a winner in Back of Reillys.

The results were:

Hunt Members: 1 Royal Deal (Tom Greenall), 2 Impact Zone (Joanna Mason), 3 Sheepclose (Mark Walford).

Conditions race: 1 Oedipe (Jack Greenall), 2 Laertes (Toby Greenall), 3 Lem Putt (Paul Collins).

Restricted race: 1 Railway Park (Mark Walford), 2 Calapocus (Harriet Bethell), 3 The Real Tom Eoin (Will Kinsey).

Grimthorpe Gold Cup: 1 Borero (Harry Bannister), 2 Father Murtagh (Freya Brewer), 3 Forsomeonelikeyou (Lucy Sutcliffe).

2m 4f Maiden: 1 Macleod ( Harry Bannister), 2 Rosie du Berlais (Paul Frank), 3 Flying Exit (Richard Smith).

Intermediate race: 1 Killary Boy (Harriet Bethell), 2 Ramborob (Jacqueline Coward), 3 Chip N Pin (Joanna Mason).

Open Maiden: 1 Back of Reillys (Jacqueline Coward), 2 Sprout (Samantha Drake), 3 Triton (Will Kitchman).