REVIEW
BILSDALE EASINGWOLD
Saturday 6th May 2006
by Ian Marshall
No watering had taken place in the
fortnight since the previous meeting here, consequently the going
that was officially described as Good to Firm was very firm indeed.
However, there was no shortage of excitement as the small crowd
witnessed several close finishes. The bend into the home straight
again rode smoothly and the extensive work carried out in the close
season has been an unqualified success.
The Hunt race was a match that saw No Info
and Clive Mulhall come out on top from Sessay Miller and Richard
Wakeham. No Info hardly got out of second gear and sauntered up the
run-in to win by five lengths. She took her maiden at Easingwold
last year and then was placed last month in a restricted at this
venue, so it suits her style of running. Sessay Miller collected
his maiden on heavy ground and I feel that a bit of cut would be
more to his liking.
Five runners for the Younger Horse Open
Maiden and a ready winner in Badr under Steve Charlton. The
five-year-old has experience from the flat and was a decent second
to Protecting Heights a fortnight ago on just his second start in
points. There will still be more to come. Runner-up Broctune Melody
(Mark Walford) pulled hard and was left behind once Badr went past
four out. These two were a long way clear of Banners Flying
(Richard Clark) in third and Boldini (David Sherlock) in
fourth.
Six horses turned out for the Confined, which
went to Rigadoon and Steve Charlton. Rigadoon isn’t the
easiest to train, but he has ability and a third to Astral Prince
at Witton Castle on May Day reads well. Colonel Ludlow chased hard
for Chris Cundall in second, but a few less than fluent jumps
weren’t helpful. Eastern Royal stayed on past beaten horses
in the hands of Matt Briggs to be third. Whitley Grange Boy (Simon
Walker) was back in fourth.
Six of the nine entries stood their ground
for the Mens Open and Queenies Girl, with Paul Frank in the plate,
won on the nod by the minimum distance from Civil Gent under Guy
Brewer. Queenies Girl scored for the first time in 2006 and has had
a hectic campaign. She was returning to the scene of her restricted
triumph of last year. Queenies Girl has had her critics even in the
face of many placed efforts, but she certainly didn’t shirk a
fight on this occasion. Civil Gent loves it around here and kept
finding more after he was the first off the bridle. He’ll be
no forlorn hope at Garthorpe later in the season. Astral Prince,
bidding for a hat-trick for Nigel Tutty, was two lengths back in
third and again put in a sound performance, only giving best on the
final climb. Fine Times (Oliver Williams) couldn’t quicken
sufficiently in fourth.
There were four runners in the Ladies Open.
Freya Hartley came in for the ride on Alan Jackson’s Wynyard
Dancer and she has grabbed every opportunity that has come her way
lately. This was no exception as the mare stuck her head out in
game fashion. Wynyard Dancer had landed races at both meetings here
in 2005 and benefited a lot from her seasonal bow a fortnight ago.
Silver Groom was denied by only a neck and responded strongly to
Jacqueline Coward’s urgings. The old boy would raise the
house if he could manage a race before May is over. Alice Stirling
guided Klondike Charger into a good third. Texas Ranger had the
valuable services of Pauline Robson for company, but he
couldn’t go with the front three once the chips were down.
Texas Ranger just has not been the same horse since blundering
badly and possibly straining his back at Dalton Park.
The Restricted was fiercely contested by the
six runners and went to Sajomi Rona and Ian Smith by a neck from
Willywont He, with Steve Charlton in the saddle. A complete change
in approach meant Sajomi Rona was not wearing his usual blinkers
and the strategy reaped great rewards as the nine-year-old powered
up the run-in in a course record time. Sajomi Rona has been
remarkably consistent all year without getting his head in front
until now. It was the rider’s first success, but the style
and verve he exhibited in giving maximum assistance to his mount
from the final fence were akin to the actions of a veteran of 50
winners. The runner-up looks assured of collecting a race such as
this, however he made two desperate mistakes and was worryingly low
at several other obstacles. It needed all of Steve Charlton’s
expertise to remain in the plate and Willywont He could potentially
be smart if these hindrances can be ironed out. Mackoy finished
third for Katy Hill, but the weight cloth was lost after the last
and Mackoy was disqualified after an objection by the Clerk of the
Scales. The jockey had weighed in four pounds light at this course
two weeks previously when Mackoy had prevailed in that restricted.
Times Two, partnered by Ben Woodhouse, was a warm order, but proved
one-paced, passing the post in fourth, although naturally he was
promoted to third.
The Open Maiden was a very weak five-runner
heat and Caribbean Lad showed enough speed in the final furlong to
bring Ben Woodhouse within a point of Guy Brewer in the race for
the Yorkshire Mens Title. Caribbean Lad was making his initial
appearance between the flags and had not been seen at all since
November 2003, when he concluded an inauspicious career over
hurdles. He must one of the unluckiest horses around as he had
already traveled to the races twice within the past month without
making it to the parade ring. Firstly, he injured himself in his
box at Charm Park, then his intended rider at Heslaker was unable
to retrieve his saddle from a horse that had fallen in the previous
race. Iron Trooper (Paul Collins) won’t get any easier
opportunities, although he did only go down by a neck. The
exceptionally lightly raced Twin Bay Cruiser (Steve Charlton) was a
further half a length behind in third, while Stand Up Fred (Lee
Bates) was back in fourth. The sporting combination of Zebs Lad and
Richard Walker finally got round at the 15th attempt to the delight
of all present.
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