CRAIG BINNS is donning his walking boots for a charity close to his heart and a facility near to his Malton business premises.

The proprietor of the New Brew Cafe, near Morrisons supermarket in Castlegate, is preparing to walk 153 miles from Wetherby racecourse to Aintree, home of the Grand National, for Jack Berry House, the Injured Jockeys’ Fund rehabilitation and fitness centre, which is nearing completion and which is expected to open in late-spring.

“I’ve watched racing all my life, and have loved it. I suppose this is my way of giving a little back,” says Binns, who is a big supporter of Jack Berry House. During the Malton Stables’ Open Day last August, he donated all his New Brew takings on the day to the centre.

“It’s not about finding the funds to build it, from now on it will be about meeting the costs of running it,” explained Binns, echoing the sentiments of Jack Berry, who estimates that that it will cost £250,000 a year to have the facility firing on all cylinders.

“Jack has been into the cafe a few times and is a good man, who has done a great job to get this rehabilitation facility to where it is now,” says Binns. “It’ll be good for Malton and it needs supporting.”

Binns is aiming to start his planned walk on March 27 during a race meeting at Wetherby.

“Graham Orange of Go Racing In Yorkshire is aware of what I am doing and I will be setting off from Wetherby between the first and second races and walking to Leeds,” he explained.

“That will be the first leg of the journey. I will then be coming home for a week to run the cafe and then returning to Leeds the following Friday to walk the route of the Leeds-Liverpool canal. I am aiming to get to Liverpool on the evening of Wednesday, April 8. And the following day, I will do the final leg to Aintree, arriving on the course during racing on the first day of the Grand National meeting.”

Binns, who has the full backing of the Injured Jockeys’ Fund in his quest, has written to more than 40 trainers hoping to gain sponsorship and is also keen to hear from any Ryedale businessman who may wish to support him.

“It’s just getting the message out there now about what I’m preparing to do and trying to raise as much money as I can for Jack Berry House,” he confirms.

Binns is confident that he can complete the walk without too much difficulty. “Although I couldn’t say that I’m a regular walker, I am pretty fit, so I’ll be fine doing this, I’m sure. I will be 60 in June and it’s nice to have something like this to concentrate on to mark that milestone.”

Berry said: “It’s a great effort by Craig to do this walk, all credit to him. We are very grateful for his support.”

Anyone wanting to know more about Craig Binns’ walk for Jack Berry House, or those keen to support him, are advised to go to the Injured Jockeys’ Fund website which leads you to a JustGiving page. Other than that, pop into New Brew, have a cup of tea, and meet the man himself.

 
LEVITATE, winner of the Lincoln Handicap two years ago, but unplaced last year, is aiming for a third successive appearance in the famous race which heralds the start of the Flat turf season at Doncaster at the end of March.

Trained by John Quinn, the gelding was a winner at Doncaster on the final day of the Flat season last November. “He loves the place,” said his Highfield trainer. “He’ll be going back again for the Lincoln and we’re looking forward to it. He had a nice holiday but came back into training on January 1 and is in good form.”

Joe Doyle, who is apprenticed to Quinn and who rode Levitate in last year’s race, will be in opposition this time. The 5lb claimer has been booked by Newmarket trainer John Ryan to ride Ocean Tempest, last year’s winner. “Joe has a valuable claim, has won on the horse and knows him well,” says Ryan.

Penitent, winner of the 2010 Lincoln, may be aiming to turn back the clock in his attempt to become the first dual-winner of the race since 1958. Trained by David O’Meara, Penitent is nine-years-old now and is not too far away from retirement, but this multiple big-race winner could have another major prize in him.

O’Meara, incidentally, is the only local trainer who could be represented in both legs of the traditional ‘spring double’. The Nawton handler has the only Ryedale entry – Rose Of The Moon – in the Crabbie's Grand National.

The Betway Lincoln Handicap takes place on Saturday, March 28 and has £100,000 in prize money.

 
TONY COYLE might have cursed at the outcome of a few photo-finishes in his time, but the Norton trainer found not just one, but two snapshot verdicts go his way last Friday.

At Lingfield, Ansaab scored by a neck under Ben Curtis to gain a 6-1 success in the ten furlong handicap, while at Wolverhampton’s evening meeting, the Coyle-trained Lendal Bridge brought up the stable double under a good ride by stable amateur Kaine Wood to prevail by a head at 5-1.

 
TONY HAMILTON has had his best-ever start to a year. The Ryedale jockey is already into double figures for 2015 and is currently maintaining a remarkable 25 per cent strike-rate.

Hamilton, a long-standing member of the Richard Fahey stable but also a busy freelance, rode three winners for his boss last week - all owned by Dr Marwan Koukash, who takes delight in naming many of his horses after his son, Gabrial.

Hamilton scored on Gabrial The Duke at Southwell and on Gabrial The Thug and Gabrial The Terror at separate Wolverhampton meetings. He was also successful on the Daniel Kubler-trained Trimoulet, who justified odds-on favouritism at Wolverhampton on Thursday to contribute to a double on the card, initiated by 13-8 favourite Gabrial The Thug.


TOM EAVES is another local Flat jockey raking in the winners at the moment. Having made his long journey to Kempton well worthwhile last Wednesday to chalk up a 16-1 success on head scorer Dark War, trained by James Given, Eaves followed-up at the newly-opened Chelmsford the next day when gaining a 4-1 victory on all-weather stalwart Royal Bajan in the featured sprint on the card.


SERENA BROTHERTON has made a good start to her 21st season riding on the Flat. Amazing Blue Sky provided Britain’s top female amateur with her first winner of the new year – from only five rides - when posting a 3-1 success at Southwell last week on behalf of Stillington trainer Ruth Carr.

Brotherton enjoyed a tremendous time in 2014. Not only did she register her best-ever tally of 14 winners from 55 mounts – at a strike-rate of 25 per cent - she also won the prestigious Queen Mother’s Cup on the John Quinn-trained Pearl Castle at York in June.