Hurworth Point to Point Review
This weekend the Hurworth staged their meeting at Hutton Rudby and it would be a day of firsts, as Thomas Easterby recorded his first double of his career, whilst Scarlett Frank scored her first victory in her first season. The six race card got under way with the Hunt Members race on ground that was eventually described as Soft, heavy in places.
Thomas Easterby would continue his already successful career between the flags as he recorded a double on the day, the first victory came in the Men’s Open aboard Ask To Dance trained by his brother Will. The pair got into a battle with the favorite Tom Cody over the final two fences, but as they jumped the last Ask To Dance stayed on strongly up the straight to win by 9 lengths, Tom Cody was second under John Dawson, whilst Manetti ran a good race back in a close third “all he did was stay on at Charm, I thought he would go close today” said Will Easterby who seemed confident of a good display.
It would be a quick fire double in the next race, the Veterans Conditions race aboard Coole Hall trained by Tony Dobbin. Thomas was picking up a last minute spare ride after owner/rider Will Ramsey sustained a broken collar bone in a previous race. It was another decisive success as the pair forged clear up the running to beat favorite Monsun Storm easily, the runner up however tried to run out going away for the final circuit and sacrificed many lengths in the process, whilst Spider Web was running a much more encouraging race back in third “it was great to pick such a nice ride, I’m very grateful to all the connections” admitted a delighted Easterby.
Scarlett Frank was a very popular winner of the Ladies Open recording her first career success aboard Vent d’Automne. The pair were always handy along with runner up Ballydonagh Boy and Rosie Howarth through out, the winner got the better of the tussle after the last and stayed on well to win by 2 lengths, Ballydonagh Boy was second, whilst stablemate Game As A Pheasant was in a distant third. Scarlett was riding her first winner aboard the same horse her sister Lily Frank rode hers.
The Opening Hunt Members race saw an effortless victory from the talented Mount Mews aboard usual pilot John Dawson. Fair Mix led for a good part of the race under Scarlett Frank, however Mount Mews easily joined the runner up two out and toyed with his rival up the straight to win effortlessly, Fairy Mix was second, whilst Tom Flynn was in a distant third under Will Brown. The winner was recording his third success between the flags and remains unbeaten this season and could continue to be campaigned in points.
The Restricted race provided a bit of a turn up, as outsider Amma Lord held on gamely from the well fancied Endless Adventure. The pair fought it out from two out with Amma Lord continuing to pull out more towards the finish and win narrowly, with John Dawson and Endless Adventure in second, with Slanemore Hill a long way back in third. The winner was recording his first career success, being a Maiden in Restricted company. Previously trained by Rebecca Menzies the winners only previous form was when finishing third in a Market Rasen hurdle “I thought he’d run well, he’s as fit as we could get him” admitted a delighted trainer, who had produced his charge to peak fitness after over a year off the track.
The final race was the Open Maiden and saw the debutant Letthedustsettle get up narrowly on the line to beat Duke Account and John Dawson. Piloted by Joe Wright, the winner was always travelling smoothly but had to work hard towards the line and just hold off Duke Account who was having only his second start and been out of the prolific winning mare Duchess Account, a maiden should be well in his grasp soon. Therussiansaddler was close up until weakening after the last to finish third under Felix Barlow. The winning son of Pour Moi was bought for 11,000 euro in Ireland and is brother to the highly thought of Curtain Tim, who after winning his Irish Maiden was subsequently sold for £100,000.
photo credit to Tom Milburn Photography 
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