POINT TO POINT
PILLOWMAN and Desjay provided Malton trainer Jack Teal with a short-priced double on yesterday’s Derwent card at Charm Park, Wykeham to make it 11 winners from his last 19 runners, writes PETER BURGON.
Pillowman didn’t jump or travel well in the Veteran Horse Conditions contest and looked as though he still hadn’t recovered from a hard race at Witton Castle last Monday.
However, the 10-year-old eventually had the better of solitary rival Mustmeetalady in the closing stages to score by one and a half lengths and give Christy Furness a 25th career success between the flags.
Jack Power remains in contention for the National Men’s Novice Riders’ Championship after steering Desjay to a third win in a row in the Northern Novice Champion Horse Race. His mount took it up going best a mile from home and wasn’t extended to prevent Beauvallon Bay and Sum It up from getting back on terms.
Teal said of Steve Knowles’ home-bred winner: ‘’He hasn’t looked back since finally getting his head in front at Sheriff Hutton and loves this quicker ground.’’
Fivecardstud appreciated the drop back in trip when flooring odds-on favourite Roycano in the 2m4f Conditions Race.
Given a positive ride by Harry Carlisle, the 11-year-old found extra after being challenged by John Dawson’s mount from three out and asserted going to the last.
The winner is trained by Sarah Fanning, wife of top Flat jockey Joe Fanning, and might try to repeat last year’s Haydon Conditions Race victory at Hexham next Saturday.
The veteran Nortonthorpelegend, who made his debut at Garthorpe in March 2014, rolled back the years with a first win since October 2019 in the two-runner Mixed Open Race.
Scottish raider Wonderoftheworld set a sedate pace under Henry Crow but came under pressure on the final circuit and could not respond when headed two out by Nortonthorpelegend, who drew clear to give first-season jockey Hester Hardy a memorable first winner on only her eighth ride.
In an incident-packed six-runner Maiden Race, the Cherry Cowardtrained gelding Ridelonglivelong was one of the luckiest winners of the season in the hands of John Dawson.
He was booked for a remote third place when Doctor Tom, who was lying second, fell two out to leave four-year-old debutant Sabik in splendid isolation.
However, the youngster gave Henry Crow a crashing fall at the last to present the prize on a plate to Dawson’s mount.
Oakham raider Il Padrino fulfilled the promise shown earlier in the season when getting off the mark at the fourth time of asking in the concluding Maiden Conditions Race under William Easterby.
Sent clear a long way from home, he never looked like being pegged back by Dastardly Dick.