Three times a winner
Jockey John Dawson makes it a hat-trick, while one jumper falls back in love with racing to score and a winner returns after a year off with a leg injury
JOHN DAWSON enjoyed a successful weekend thanks to a treble aboard Dance Of Time, Ancient Empire and Snow Castle — also finishing runner-up on two of his other three rides.
The progressive Dance Of Time defied a 6lb penalty to make it five wins in a row in the confined. The 11-year-old gelding made smooth headway on the final circuit before finally overhauling the pace-setting Wizadora (Jack Andrews) inside the last hundred yards to score by six lengths.
“He made hard work of that and I had to get serious after the last, but he really prefers going left-handed on a flat, galloping track,” said John.
Ancient Empire, both ridden and trained by John, got off the mark on his first start for John’s yard in the first division of the open maiden. The six-year-old was still a couple of lengths
behind Bite The Biscuit (William Easterby) at the last, but he outstayed his rivals up the long run-in to secure a close onelength victory.
“I bought him privately on behalf of Mark Whitney out of Joseph O’Brien’s yard at the end of October and then roughed him off for two months. I thought he might need the run as he’s only been back in training for six weeks, but he found plenty when it mattered,” added John.
‘HIS JUMPING WAS ACCURATE’
THE former Evan Williamstrained hurdler, Snow Castle, completed John’s treble in the second division of the open maiden, in which the odds-on favourite, Jaxlight (Joe Wright) fell five out when 10 lengths clear. Snow Castle went on approaching two out and had enough in hand to repel a late challenge from Mr Pepperpot (William Easterby) by a length.
“I didn’t pick him out originally at the Doncaster sales in September, but when the ‘openstandard horses’ proved to be too expensive, I decided to buy him for my long-term owners, Jane Kibble and Jane Younger — who have always liked Oscar-sired geldings,” said the winning trainer Guy Brewer, who rents a few boxes at former trainer Peter Beaumont’s old yard at Brandsby.
“My stable star Young Hurricane remains on track for the Cheltenham Foxhunter after finishing runner-up in today’s opener and will probably have one more run beforehand at Askham Bryan on 25 February.”
Soleil D’Avril initiated a double for jockey William Easterby in the hunt members’.
“His jumping was very accurate and his ears were pricked all the way,” said William of his mother Sarah’s 12-yearold gelding.
“He fell out of love with racing after running in the 2015 Aintree Fox Hunters,” then missed last season after picking up a tendon injury, so our patience has been rewarded.”
His stable companion Greensalt, who is also owned by Sarah Easterby, completed William’s double in the mixed open — forging clear after two out to score by 10 lengths from Victor Hewgo (John Dawson).
“He has also just returned from a year off — he sustained a leg injury when brought down at the Bedale meeting in April 2016,” added Sarah.