Camdonian and Line Em Up sparkle at Helmsley Races
Having been thwarted by a blanket of snow on Sunday February 15, the Helmsley Races organisers moved heaven and earth to re-arrange a week later and their efforts were rewarded as a sizeable crowd were treated to some great racing at Duncombe Park on Sunday.
The feature race of the day was the Eccles Heddon Solicitors Mixed Open which saw a field stacked full of talent line up.
Last year's Aintree Foxhunters winner Gracchus De Balme was made a warm favourite and jockey Henry Crow sent his mount off to front run as though he really meant business.
As they jumped the last it was last season's leading Yorkshire horse Surprise Attack who came to challenge and he appeared to take the favourite's measure on the run-in however the chasing pack began to loom and a blanket finish saw Camdonian and Christy Furness power home to snatch a thrilling victory in the dying strides, notching up a 10th win from 15 outings and retaining the silver cup.
Delighted owner Grania Furness, who had done all the early season training at home before Camdonian was transferred to Jack Teal's Malton yard, said: “I must thank Jack for doing such a good job tuning him up for this.”
When asked at what point he thought he had the race won, winning jockey, Grania's son Christy laughed and said: “On the line! I thought it wasn't going to be his day today but he tried so hard. He's so genuine and just put his head down and battled.”
Camdonian wasn't the only horse to repeat their win at last year's Helmsley race meeting as the Beryl Close-owned Line Em Up achieved the same feat when completing the second leg of a double for Huntingdon trainer rider Dale Peters in the Group Industrial Intermediate race.
The favourite wasn't hard-pressed to see off the fast-finishing Diamond Flush and Lois Teal by two-and-a-half-lengths.
Peters said: “He's really growing into himself now.
"He's filled out and strengthened up over the summer and just keeps getting better and better. He's still a big baby and just pricked his ears and I was quite impressed. The aim is the Intermediate final at Cheltenham.”
The Peters' double was initiated when Byorderofthecourt, running in the colours of the Clark and Ratcliffe families, was sent off red-hot favourite in the Bedding Barn Restricted on the back of romping to an easy victory at Sheriff Hutton last month.
While he was once again followed across the finishing line by the John Dawson-ridden Hugo Moss in second, he was much more hard-pushed to win here when driven right out to pass the post one and three quarter lengths ahead and defy the five-pound penalty in doing so.
Peters said: “He didn't really enjoy the tacky ground today but I was glad to see him tough it out. I knew he could but it was good to see that side of him as opposed to winning on the bridle.”
Tom Easterby was another to score a double in the saddle, winning the first and last races, The Ripon Farm Services Sinnington Hunt Members, Subscribers and Farmers race saw The Story So Far, owned by Sarah Easterby and trained and ridden by sons Will and Tom respectively go off a short-priced favourite.
Although punters who lumped on heavily would have had a pretty uncomfortable time as he spent much of the race at the rear while never really jumping and travelling with a great deal of fluency as Getupearly and Felix Foster strung the field right out.
Slowly but surely Tom ran the long-time leader down after the last fence for a three-and-a-half-length win.
Tom said: “We got him from Ireland. He's not easy at home. He's got ability but we just need to get it out of him.”
The double was completed in the concluding Cliff Stud four, five and six-year-olds flat race over two miles in which all nine who lined up were making their racecourse debut.
Out of a mare who won four times and by the Derby winner Sir Percy, Tom's mount here Pinged looked one of the likelier candidates on paper beforehand although he wasn't among the more favoured in the betting ring however he put up a professional display to hold off Amber Dancer and Paddy Barlow by half a length.
Owned by Mr JT Brown and trained by Steph Easterby it was the first time Tom had sat on the five year old of whom he said afterwards: “He was very straightforward with a good attitude and he battled well all the way to the line.”
Having already saddled Camdonian, Jack Teal was another to complete a double, this time as trainer when Job Well Done, owned in partnership by his parents together with Frank Peckitt, came out on top in a 16-runner field in the Moneyweb Maiden race.
Having raced in midfield for most of the way, Job Well Done was still only fifth when jumping the last but was driven into the lead on the long run in by his rider, Jack's sister Lois, holding off Logan and Ruby Wyld by two lengths.
Lois said: “We got her from Ireland and she was a bit green. She ran well at Charm Park late last season and then ran a stormer at Alnwick first time out this season. She's an absolute gem. Everyone loves her and anyone in the yard could ride her.”
The easiest winner of the day was the Clark family's Tag Man in the Spillers Yorkshire Area Conditions Level 2.
Brought to challenge at the second last by jockey Lucy Brown he then streaked 10 lengths clear of Red Opium and Ellie Callwood.
Trained by Charles Clark for owner, his mother Emma, Tag Man was sourced from prominent owner Roger Brookhouse out of the leading Irish yard of Henry De Bromhead, the same path trodden by stable star Summerville Boy.
The Scarborough Races will be held at Charm Park, near Wykeham, on Sunday, March 1.
Gates open at 11.30am, first race at 12.30pm.
Entrance is £15 per person with U16s free and payment on the gate.
There will be a bar, refreshments, tradestands and music after racing, postcode YO13 9QU.