This weekend the Sinnington staged their annual meeting in the picturesque grounds of Duncombe Park. Fantastic weather and record crowds watched over some excellent racing, which saw Yorkshire’s leading jockey John Dawson record a double on the day, whilst local rider and trainer Will Easterby won the final two races.
The biggest cheer of the day came in the Restricted race, which saw the Bella Sowray trained Lifeisahighway battle on gamely under Jack Teal close home and fend off the short priced favorite Legostar under Henry Crow. Previously trained by Ben Pauling where he went close on several occasions but failed to win, the winner was picked up from Doncaster Sales over the summer by current connections “he was ill at Sheriff Hutton so was a bit disappointing…we hack them up the moor and it really seems to have sweetened him up” said his trainer who runs a pre-training and holiday livery yard only ten minutes from the track at Laskill. Hollington was third under Will Easterby and will certainly be one to note dropped back to maiden company.
The jockey club and retraining of racehorses Veteran horse race would be a career first for locally based rider Phil Lawrence who scored on the Ian Mason trained Roycano. Previously with Steph Easterby, this ever young 13yo traveled strongly and battled well up the run in to fend off Supremely Lucky, whilst favorite Path To Freedom could never quite reach the leaders in third under John Dawson. A strong ride from the winning pilot 23yo Phil Lawrence who works for trainer Mick Easterby at Sheriff Hutton and is currently in his fourth season pointing, however was unlucky to miss a good part of last season with a broken leg.
Will Easterby took the penultimate race on the day with the Sheriff Hutton runner up Roan. Previously trained by Iain Jardine this lightly raced 7yo was always to the fore and stayed on well to fend off stablemate Trap For Fools and deny little brother Thomas Easterby his first point to point victory, Therussiansaddler and Ross Wilson ran a good race back in third “Roan will go to Charm Park next for the Restricted on the 5th March, it’s a fantastic track and a great day out” said Will.
The final race was a bumper run over 2 miles, Workhardplayhard an imposing son of Workforce gave a good impression on his debut, sticking to his task up the straight and hold off the highly fancied Below The Radar from the Francesca Poste stable. Bought as a foal at Tattersalls in Ireland, his mother was a multiple hurdle winner and looks to have a bright future “he’s a very nice horse…he must be 16.3 and we’d never worked him on the grass before, but he took some pulling up and I think that’s the sign of a good horse!” said Will, the winner could head to Cheltenham Sales, however Easterby was keen to try and keep him “I’d love to keep him in the yard as he could be anything!”.
The opening Hunt Members race went to Point The Way for the second year in a row, piloted by Joe Wright the pair gradually pulled clear of Mustmeetalady on the run to the line and win a shade cosily, with Rocket Lad and Will Easterby in third. Although it was two years on the bounce for the winner, he is now trained by Abbie Knowlson who has taken over the reigns of the Grimthorpe Gold Cup winner from Guy and Freya Brewer.
John Dawson continued his good form starting with the Yorkshire Conditions race, this saw Mount Mews back up his victory at Sheriff Hutton with a comfortable victory over the improving Fascinating Rhythm and Will Easterby, whilst Cullin Hills who helped set the early pace stayed on the one pace in third under Paddy Barlow. There doesn’t seem any immediate plans for this 12yo who is trained by Lucy Hughes, wife of Brian Hughes.
Johns double came courtesy of Monsun Storm in the Mixed Open, trained by his wife Alice, it was a close finish with the winner having to battle hard to beat Torygraph and Becky Smith, whilst Vent d’Automne was bidding to give Scarlett Frank her first winner between the flags back in third.
Recent Comments