Greenall cheer as Oliver lands treble

May 6 2008 The Journal

OLIVER Greenall’s record-breaking season continued in yesterday’s Zetland fixture at Witton Castle with a treble on North Island, George The Grey and Von Origny.

The 21-year-old is following in the footsteps of his father, Lord Daresbury – who was a triple national champion between the flags in the 1980s – and the latest successes put him 15 winners ahead of Richard Burton with five weeks remaining of the current campaign.

The former Howard Johnson-trained hurdler, North Island, set the ball rolling in the Intermediate race. Sharpened up by first-time blinkers, the six-year-old was always going well and, after being sent on at the ninth, kept his rivals at bay on the final circuit to score – going away by eight lengths from the disappointing favourite, Cop Howe. The winner carried the colours of bookmaker Bryan Dunn and initiated a training double for Sheriff Hutton handler David Easterby which was completed half an hour later by George The Grey.

The latter was given a supremely confident ride by Greenall in the Restricted race but his backers could have been forgiven for tearing up their betting slips as he toiled towards the back of the field with a mile to go.

The seven-year-old gradually picked up from five out and sliced through the field like a knife through butter down the home straight before passing another three horses on the run-in to snatch a neck verdict from the long time leader, Quinta De Lobo.

Greenall completed the treble and lifted his seasonal tally to 37 on the favourite Von Origny in the Men’s Open. His mount had a ding-dong battle with Lutin Du Moulin over the last three fences before edging in front in the last 50 yards to secure a head verdict.

The policy of backing the outsider in a three-horse race proved to be a profitable one for punters in the Members race as Phairy Storm landed the spoils at odds of 5-1.

Given a positive ride by Ted Cameron, 24, the nine-year-old led from the off.

After steering Messager to a half length success over Sacred Mountain in the Heart of All England Maiden Hunter Chase at Hexham on Saturday evening, Nathan Moscrop was back in the winners’ enclosure after giving the unfancied Lewesdon Prince a peach of a ride in the First Maiden race.

Terry Beadle’s home-bred six-year-old was produced with a perfectly timed challenge to head High Moor two out and sealed victory with a great jump at the last. The concluding Maiden saw the ex-Irish pointer Oriel Flyer, trained by Sedgefield farmer Chris Dawson, produce a game front-running effort under Steve Charlton to score by four lengths from Sams Party.

Results

2.00: 1, PHAIRY STORM (E Cameron) 5-1; 2, Sea Maid (J Dawson) 3-1; 3, Ben From Ketton (S Robinson 4-9 fav. 3 ran. 2, 15.

2.35: 1, NORTH ISLAND (O Greenall) 3-1; 2, Cop Howe (Miss J Coward) 4-5 fav; 3, Brown’s Beck (F Charlton) 4-1. 11 ran. 8, 4.

3.10: 1, GEORGE THE GREY (O Greenall) 3-1 fav; 2, Quinta De Lobo (R Smith) 4-1; 3, Amour Daria (Miss K Bryson 4-1. 16 ran. nk, nk.

3.45: 1, VON ORIGNY (O Greenall) 6-4 fav; 2, Lutin Du Moulin (N Moscrop) 10-1; 3, Bobby Buttons (N Nigel-Tutty) 7-2; 10 ran. hd, 10.

4.20: 1, WELCOME TO UNOS (Miss S Brotherton) 4-5 fav; 2, Wilsie Wild (Mrs L Ward) 9-4; 3, Texas Ranger (Miss J Foster) 9-2. 5 ran. 10, 20.

4.55: 1, LEWSDON PRINCE (N Moscrop) 16-1; 2, High Moor (I Smith) 7-1; 3, Father Owen (G Brewer) 5-2 jt fav. 12 ran. 2, 1.

5.30: 1, ORIEL FLYER (S Charlton) 12-1; 2, Sams Party (Miss J Coward) 7-2; 3, Special Order (O Greenall) 6-4 fav. 15 ran. 4, 15.