IT’S up and running. Jack Berry House opened its doors for the first time on Monday and came in for wholesome praise and admiration from numerous members of the Ryedale racing industry.

Jason Hart, champion apprentice in 2013, paid a visit before going to ride at Pontefract races, as did Malton colleague David Nolan.

“It’s fantastic,” said Hart. “The facilities are tremendous.” Nolan said: “It’s first class. I shall be making good use of the gym and the other facilities.”

Gemma Darley, daughter of former champion jockey Kevin Darley, has been recruited as physio for the £3.1m Injured Jockeys’ Fund rehabilitation and fitness centre and is plainly relishing the challenge of helping riders return to the saddle after falls.

She graduated from Teesside University in 2010 with a first-class honours degree in physiotherapy and has since worked within the NHS, in Newcastle, Harley Street in London and was part of the medical team in last year’s Commonwealth Games.

“I’m really looking forward to getting started,” she said, before recalling: “About six or seven years ago, I was training to be a physio and was helping out in my spare time at York race meetings when Jack Berry was selling his engraved bricks for Jack Berry House. I thought at the time how great it would be to work there, so it’s a dream come true for me to be doing the physio here.”

That same brand of enthusiasm is shared by Danny Hague, the newly-appointed gym manager. “It’s great for me. I’ve worked with lots of different sportspeople and with team sports, but this is something new. I’m looking looking forward to working with jockeys and the facilities I’ve got at my disposal are very impressive.”

Jo Russell, resident manager of Jack Berry House, said: “It’s low-key to start with. We wanted people to come and see what we’re all about and feel welcome. This week is mainly a ‘meet and greet’ period, but it’s wonderful to be open. And, for my part, it’s wonderful to part of something so exciting.”

The Princess Royal will officially open Jack Berry House on June 2.

 

• CUSTOM CUT, a revelation last season for David O’Meara, is set to return to action at Sandown on Friday. The Group 2 bet365 Mile is the opening target for the highly talented six-year-old, who will be aiming to follow in the hoofprints of his likewise celebrated stablemate Penitent, who captured this prestigious event three years ago.

Custom Cut won five races in a row last term between June and September - Listed races at Windsor and Pontefract, Group 3 events at Leopardstown and York and the Group 2 Joel Stakes at Newmarket before bowing out with a mid-division placing in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth ll Stakes on Champions Day at Ascot in October.

The Ryedale gelding will have to carry a 4lb Group 2 penalty in his comeback race. “Custom Cut won a Group 2 race last year, so he’s going to have to carry a penalty for a little while this season,” explained O’Meara. “But he’s fit and well and this looks a good place to start with him,” added the trainer, whose horses are in excellent form, a fact highlighted by a Ripon treble last week.

Intisaab, ridden by Sam James, Chancery, partnered by David Nolan, and the Josh Doyle-ridden Signore Piccolo all hit the target.

 

• RYEDALE jockeys and trainers will be out in force on Sunday to support the creation of a little piece of history when Wetherby racecourse, home to jumping only for more than 120 years, plays host to Flat racing for the first time. A series of trials to assess the suitability of Flat racing on the mile-and-a-half circuit took place last June when Brian Ellison, Richard Fahey and Mark Johnston were among the trainers to send horses to gallop on the specially reconfigured course.

The feedback on the day was unanimously positive and went some way to enabling Wetherby to be successful with their application to stage Flat racing this season. All seven races on Sunday will be sponsored by bet365 and it will be the first of four Flat meetings at the course this season.

Tom Eaves, one of the jockeys, who rode in those trials, said: “Everything went well. Trainers and jockeys were happy with it. You certainly wouldn’t be worried about running a good horse there.”

Jonjo Sanderson, clerk of the course, is adamant that the introduction of Flat racing is to complement Wetherby’s well-known jumps programme.

He explained: “This is about addition and supplementing what we do now by having summer Flat racing. I can only assure people that it’s not about dumbing down our National Hunt racing. Sunday is a day we are looking forward to immensely and we are hoping it will be a special occasion for everyone who attends.”

 

• RICHARD FAHEY is eyeing up a trip to Royal Ascot in June for Zuhoor Baynoona, who produced a classy display to score in Listed company at Bath last Friday evening in the hands of Paddy Mathers.

The lightly-raced three-year-old beat off her elders to lift the £40,000 Lansdown Fillies’ Stakes over five furlongs after having to overcome a wide draw on the tricky left-handed circuit.

“I was worried about the draw, but she’s a very talented filly and is all about speed,” said Fahey, who confirmed that Zuhoor Baynoona would get a Royal Ascot entry.

The inaugural running of the Commonwealth Cup, a three-year-olds-only Group 1 race over six furlongs would be under consideration. “I’m just not sure she’d get six furlongs,” added Fahey.

The King’s Stand Stakes, over five furlongs and open to three-year-olds and upwards, may be another option for Zuhoor Baynoona at the Royal meeting.

The Fahey team is going great guns.

Winners last week included Intiwin, whose narrow success at Ripon left crack apprentice Jack Garritty requiring only two more winners to reduce his claim to 3lb, and Stardrifter, who won under fellow Musley Bank apprentice Sammy Jo Bell at Nottingham.

David Nolan also struck there, gaining a short-head victory on Shalbina, while Heavens Guest, whose success under the in-form Tony Hamilton, won a valuable conditions race. That added more than £9,000 to the earnings of a gelding, who has now accumulated more than £300,000 in his career.

Hamilton added a further two winners to the Fahey tally at Pontefract aboard Black Magic and Beardwood.

 

• PAUL Midgley was on the mark at Redcar last week with popular stalwart Haajes – “I wish I had a few more like him,” said the trainer – and Tony Coyle, successful with the Barry McHugh-ridden Flicka’s Boy at Nottingham, where John Quinn scored with Hubertas, the mount of Phillip Makin.