Point to point round-up
Jun 1 2009 by Lynsey Elliott, The Journal
HORSES from Yorkshire stables dominated yesterday’s Border fixture at Hexham, winning four of the five races in which they were eligible to run.
The 55-year-old Malton amateur Chris Cundall set the ball rolling with a shock victory on Tony’s Pride in the Restricted Race. Left in front when the favourite, Athoss tried to run out at the second-last, Cundall’s mount stayed on well for a two lengths verdict.
The winner had been pulled up at the recent Haydon meeting but was later found to have his pelvis out of place as well as a trapped nerve in his neck. With these ailments sorted and a week’s intensive training from Sedgefield rider Chris Dawson behind him the gelding made a mockery of recent form. Cundall has been riding since 1972 and after booting home his 98th career winner said: “As long as I’m enjoying it, I’ll keep going.”
Hovingham-based Freya Hartley is one of the most under-rated amateur riders in the North and was seen to good effect when steering Mooramana to his second success of the season in the Ladies Open Race.
Her mount had a real battle with Jimmys Duky from six out and, after being headed three from home, regained the initiative halfway up the run-in to win, going away by four lengths. This home-bred winner, carrying the colours of Brandsby handler Karen Ratcliffe, has shown much improvement since a soft palate operation in March.
The three and a quarter mile Open Maiden Race was a family affair with Lynette Pounder, 28, recording her first winner on Nina Chester, a nine-year-old mare bred, trained and part-owned by her father, Trevor, who farms near Bedale.
Always in touch with the leader, Seventh Sense, she looked beaten after three-out with eight lengths still to find but the contest changed totally after the next. Lynette’s mount headed the tiring favourite at the last and easily repelled a renewed challenge on the flat to score by one-and-a-half lengths. She runs a florist’s shop in Northallerton and only returned to the saddle last season after a ten-year break.
Tom Greenall followed up Saturday’s double at Dingley with a cosy three lengths win on Cheapside in the two-and-a-half mile Open Maiden Race to lift his seasonal tally to 53, only three short of last year’s record set by younger brother, Oliver. Given a very patient ride off the pace, the four-year-old cruised up to the leaders approaching three-out before hitting the front after the next. When Greenall pressed the button on the flat, the response was immediate as the youngster sprinted clear to score.
Nathan Moscrop dictated the pace on Briscoe Place in the Men’s Open Race and, after giving the nine-year-old a breather kicked on to win, easing, by 20 lengths from Major Shark. Alec Dawson now plans to send his charge to the Doncaster August Sales.
Despite being only second on Risky Rhythm in the NPPA Club Member’s Race, Andrew Richardson’s two points were enough to retain the Men’s Jockeys title, with more winners than Tristan Davidson.
PETER BURGON
