📸 CREDIT TOM MILBURN PHOTOGRAPHY

Bedale Point to Point Review

This weekend was the Bedale point to point at Hornby Castle, huge crowds turned out with people still queuing to get in well after the first race. A six race card was on offer, with ground eventually been described as good to soft, good in places. The jockey who continues in great form at the moment is Paddy Barlow who rattled up a treble on the day.

Paddy Barlow’s first win came in the 2m 6f Conditions race aboard the Will Milburn trained Cullin Hills. Quickly reappearing after winning her Members race only 6 days earlier, Cullin Hills led with a circuit to go and drew clear after three out to win very easily. This was the winning mares fourth win of the season and takes her into a joint lead for the national title with fellow Yorkshire horse Mount Mews “she came out of her race very well on Sunday and she wants this ground, so I thought we better make on while we can!” said her trainer Will Milburn, who is hoping she may have one more run in points before tackling the Heart Of All England hunter chase at Hexham. Rocket Lad and Thomas Easterby were back in second, whilst Manicman and Will Easterby filled third.

The Men’s Open would see a bit of a turn up as The Whistle Blower made all the running under Paddy Barlow and fend off the formerly useful and recent Cheltenham Foxhunters contender Black Op. The Whistle Blower was challenged approaching two out and continued to pull out more up the straight and hold off the runner up “he won here last year in good style and he’s very tough” said a delighted Barlow, who was steering the winner to success for trainer John Barlow. Mustmeetalady was well back in third under Will Easterby.

The final Maiden saw another surprise as the Fiona Needham trained Moonlight Flitt bounded clear over the final two fences to win very easily under treble scoring Paddy “we decided to be very forceful on him today and it worked, he’s a bit of a thinker” said the winning jockey. Moonlight Flitt was a placed hurdler for Nicky Henderson until been picked up by current connections at Doncaster Sales and if continuing in this new vein of form could progress further “he’s one of my rides, so you know he’s a good ride” joked winning owner Robin Tate. Illusive Blue travelled strongly for a long way until weakening into a distant second in the home straight under Jack Power and may appreciate a drop in trip, whilst Therussiansaddler was even further back in a remote third under Ross Wilson.

The Intermediate saw the continued good progression of recent new recruit Camdonian for Christy Furness and the Jack Teal stable. The pair led three out and stayed on well to beat recent runner up Red Opium and Rosie Howarth “he’s progressing nicely, he’s qualified for Cheltenham now and we’ll think about it” said the winning rider Christy. These were the only two finishers with warm favorite Tom Cody pulling up on the home turn.

There was no more popular winner than that of the Ladies Open as Vent d’Automne scored under Scarlett Frank. The pair made most of the running to win this valuable 2m 6f Ladies race, with recent scorer Vivas and Natasha Cookson back in second and Taxmeifyoucan in a well beaten third. It was also a nice touch that Ginny D Jewellery also presented the first four lady riders past the post with a momento.

Sine Nomine was another easy winner on the day and was returning to the track after a brief absence to score in the opening Adjacent Hunts Conditions race. Piloted by John Dawson the pair easily pulled clear after the second last and won nicely, Pillowman looked booked for second until crashing out at the last, allowing Tanora and Jack Power to come home in second, with Fairy Mix and Scarlett Frank in third.