Easingwold Preview – 24th April 2022

Point to pointing returns this weekend to Yorkshire at Easingwold on the 24^th April, courtesy of the York and Ainsty and West of Yore, a seven race card will be staged at the picturesque track near Easingwold. The first race gets underway at 2pm with Hunt Members race and with only two entries it looks a match race, however the recent Thorpe Lodge winner Badbad Leroy Brown will likely be an easy winner over Moor John who has shown only glimmers of promise so far. The ground will be monitored through the week and the track will be watered if necessary, for sat nave users the post code is YO61 3PS.

The second race is a Level 3 Conditions race and has received 12 entries and recent Corbridge winner Ballydonagh Boy is in rude health season and could turn out again in an attempt to secure Rosie Howarth a victory in the National Ladies Novice title, he had a tough on Monday but is looking very consistent and would be a danger if reappearing. Desjay is a young horse on the upgrade and has shown a new lease of life recently after two impressive victories and with his brother winning on this card back in 2019 it is likely he could do the same. Pillowman was woken up by first time blinkers at the Bedale and could be hard to peg back round here if granted an easy lead, whilst Roycano was firmly put in his place by Steely Addition at the Bedale but returns in calmer waters here. Teescomponents Boy is in great form and is another who only won on Monday at Thorpe, he looks to appreciate a sound surface and easier track and should be suited here.

The next race is the Ladies Open and with seven entries it looks an open contest, Game As A Pheasant ran his first below par race at Corbridge and this may come too soon for him, whilst stablemate Royal Chant will most likely take his chance instead on a track and ground he should very much appreciate. Nortonthorpelegend has put in some good efforts this season and can be forgiven a below par run recently, whilst McMurphy will appreciate better ground but has looked well out of sorts this season. Merrion Avenue contest a Sedgefield Hunter Chase on Tuesday and is very un predictable, despite capable.

The Men’s Open looks a very competitive race with all looking to hold a chance, it would be very interesting if both former top class national hunt performers Steely Addition and Black Op turned up, Steely Addition has been impressive in all his victories this season and was once rated in the 150’s under rules, whilst Black Op was an easy winner on Monday and boasts even greater credentials having finished seventh in last year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup. Hurricane Vic and River Frost are very consistent and should fight out the places along with pace setter Pillowman.

In the Restricted the main contenders look to be venturing from down south as Caballo Diablo was second behind Desjay at the Bedale meeting, he was a winner over 2m 4f in his maiden so this short track will suit, whilst Cheshire based Poncherello was a winner last time out at Tabley over 2m 4f and is another who should be suited by this sharp track. Lepashe stayed on nicely to win his maiden at Corbridge on Monday and this could come too soon, Whitechurch was running a nice race when ducking out two from home in an Askham Bryan Restricted, however one who has been unlucky this season is Diana Prince who has shown a reasonable level of form after winning her Maiden in Ireland and with a clear round could go well.

The penultimate race is another Conditions race and with several double entered it could turn into an interesting little race, Desjay and Pillowman both hail from the Jack Teal yard and are in excellent form, Roycano has boasted some good form this season and was third last time i a race in which River Frost was second and he could take his chances once again here. The Mobile Man has run some great races in defeat this season after returning from a long break and should be going close here.

The final race is an Open Maiden with 16 entries and it could go the way of recent Askham Bryan third El Tornado, he looked to really appreciate the faster conditions that and took a big step forward and if building on that can go close. Elusive Secret has continued to run well without threatening the judge, Miss Buttons finished a well held third at Sheriff Hutton recently but the form has worked out well with the first two looking decent and she should have improved for that effort. Rufio has been running consistently and was a good second last time over 2m 4f, whilst Scottish King put up a really nice performance on debut to be third, however was much below par next time and may have been unsuited by the ground and track. The Russiansaddler took a massive step forward at the Bedale behind a very promising young maiden and could improve further, whilst Whostosay is a trailblazing front runner who was running really well until coming to grief at the Hurworth and will be suited by this track.