Point to point round-up
May 18 2009 The Journal
YESTERDAY’S Haydon fixture at Hexham Racecourse had to be abandoned after the fourth race due to a serious injury to veteran Scottish amateur, James Galbraith, in a first fence fall from his own horse, Risk Assesment, in the Restricted Race.
He was taken to hospital in Newcastle and there was no replacement cover available in the area to allow the meeting to continue.
I suggested in Saturday’s preview that any market moves for Reg Makin’s newcomer, Yar Patrick, should be noted and the youngster duly justified being backed down from 4-1 to 3-1 jt fav by landing the 2.5 mile Open Maiden Race on his debut.
Given a very patient ride by Guy Brewer, the four-year-old sliced through the field like a knife through butter on the final circuit into third place approaching the last. He touched down two lengths behind Augustus Livius but engaged overdrive on the run-in to overhaul the leader and win, going away by 1.5 lengths.
This was a 100th career winner for Brewer, partner of the gelding’s Hovingham-based trainer, Freya Hartley. Makin bought him privately as a yearling in Ireland and coincidentally, his half sister, Annie’s Answer also opened her account at Hexham in May 2005.
Despite putting up 4lbs overweight, 25-year-old Ross Dickson steered his mother Helen’s home-bred gelding, Reiver’s Fort, to a second course win in the Member’s Race in the best time of the day. Sent on approaching three out, his mount was still five lengths clear at the last but began to tie up on the flat and only held on by a rapidly diminishing length from the odds-on favourite, Ardnaclancy.
Dickson’s father Norman said of the winner: “It has been a battle to get him fit as he had a nasty gum infection after getting a piece of wood lodged in his mouth a month ago.”
Most of Jimmy Walton’s horses have been off colour this term but Super Option, the only one not coughing in the yard, proved his wellbeing with a surprise victory in the 3.25 Mile Open Maiden Race.
Despite being pulled up in his other two starts and left in his box at Balcormo Mains and Aspatria because of unsuitable going, he was always travelling well here for Catherine Walton. After hitting the front two out, he never looked like being pegged back by Kilbricken Rose who was still a couple of lengths down at the line. The winner is likely to run again at the Border meeting on Sunday week.
Bonchester Bridge trainer, George Bewley made it two winners and a second from four runners in the last fortnight when his 11 year old mare, Bromley Abbey obliged in the hands of son, Jonathon in the Restricted Race.
Left clear when the one length leader, Plume D’Oudairies unseated Oliver Greenall two out, Bewley’s mount stayed on well to beat Oriel Flyer by four lengths.
Bewley Snr said: “He has been waiting for this quicker ground and all my horses are jumping out of their skin at home” while son, Jonathon, still on a high after landing a Cheltenham Hunter Chase on Craiglands last week, said: “He settled much better today and travelled great through the race.”
PETER BURGON
