A comeback win
Joey Richards wins on her comeback ride after having a baby, while also scoring her first training double
A FIRST training double for
Joey Richards, who also made a winning return to the saddle, and a 100th career winner for John Dawson on Glittering Love were the highlights at the Tynedale’s diamond anniversary fixture.
Joey always had Scarlet Fire sitting prominently in the ladies’
open and, after disputing the lead with Knocklong (Charlotte Crane) from five out, the 11-year-old asserted going to the last and had four lengths in hand at the line.
Joey’s partner, Harry Haynes, said: “That’s her first ride since our one-year-old daughter, Lily, was born. Joey knows Scarlet Fire inside out and he just wouldn’t go for anyone else, including Brian Harding and Ryan Day.”
Glittering Love completed his hat-trick for Joey and John Dawson in the conditions race. The six-year-old took over at the head of affairs three out and extended his advantage over Weston Flame (Joe Wright) to seven lengths by the line.
As well as his 100 pointing winners, John, 27, has partnered 39 winners under Rules. He opened his account on Benwell in the Cleveland Hunt Members at Mordon on 15 April 2007.
STRONG FINISH
HALF-AN-HOUR earlier,
John initiated a double on One Conemara in the 3m5f men’s open. The Cherry Coward-trained 10-year-old had five lengths to find on the leader, Whisperdale (Alex Chadwick), three out, but made rapid headway approaching the next. After hitting the front with a great jump at the last, he stayed on strongly to beat For Yes (Kit Alexander) by two lengths and win for the third year in a row.
John said: “He pricked his ears turning for home and loves coming up that hill to the line.”
Owner John Nellis added:
“The further they go, the better for him, so he’ll relish the extended four-mile trip in next month’s Grimthorpe Gold Cup at Sheriff Hutton, which he won in 2016 and 2017.”