Blankney Point-to-Point 2013
by Baron Halpenny, LincsMag Editor and Emma Forman.
Date: 26 February 2013
The Blankney put on a bumper eight race card at North Carlton on Sunday 24th February, with 76 horses competing during the afternoon on ground described as “good, good to firm in places”.
Steward’s Enquiry
Midnight King supplemented his course win a fortnight ago by again taking the Men’s Open race which was sponsored by Gleadell Agriculture. At the Burton meeting Midnight King had faced just the one rival but this time My Old Piano made him work slightly harder for the one length victory.
“He was always travelling and finished like a fresh horse; he is so well at the moment”. Reported the winning rider Pete Mann. Midnight King had to survive a steward’s enquiry caused by confusion over the bypassing of a fence.
You can read more about this Fourth race incident HERE!
The result was allowed to stand and at the end of the meeting Jo Mann collected the Vulgarion Trophy for the leading horse and Pete Mann collected the Frank Theaker Trophy for the leading rider at North Carlton in 2013.
Another winner at the Burton meeting to follow up at the Blankney was Roger Jackson’s Farmer Frank trained by Jane Kent who landed the Dengie Confined race. Farmer Frank won in good style beating Victor Grumps by six lengths and justifying his short prize as favourite at 4-7.
With Johnny Bailey claimed to ride Walter’s Laddie it was Yorkshire based rider Guy Brewer who was in the saddle.
Yorkshire Presence
With no racing in Yorkshire this weekend, a number of runners travelled south into Lincolnshire. The Mason family who won with Oriel Bank at the last meeting, took the Mr & Mrs Oliver Griffin sponsored Ladies Open race with Green Du Ciel who won by five lengths. This qualified the eight year old for the AGA final at Stratford in June.
Mother and son team Sarah and Will Easterby, also from Yorkshire, teamed up for a double. Firstly Brocklesby Park Maiden winner Soleil D’Avril followed up in Restricted company at the first time of asking in the Velcourt sponsored event.
The second leg of the double came in the Brightwell’s Auctioneers & Nowcomm 2 miles 4 furlongs Open Maiden race division 2 with the six year old Cauldron, a second season pointer who travelled well and is much improved this season. Ironically, Will Easterby is sponsored by DBS, another auction house that sells a lot of Point-to-Pointers.
Division 1 of the Brightwells Auctioneers Maiden race was slightly faster and this race went to the five year old Savage Song having his first run over jumps after one start in a bumper last June. Following a spell of “seconditis” George Henderson was very pleased to get off the mark for the season.
“This horse is seriously gutsy to win like that after making quite a few novice jumping errors.” He said. Savage Song is owned by Henderson’s father James and trained by Antonia Bealby.
The Roythornes Solicitors eight year old and over Maiden race was won by Our Flora who is by leading Point-to-Point sire Alflora. Trainer Julie Mansell reported that the mare had suffered from a virus like most of her yard in the early part of the season but the horses are starting to run well now.
The second horse, the Mary Sowersby trained Bailey’s Benchmark seemed to have the advantage at the last fence before being passed by Our Flora and should be able to pick up a similar contest in the coming weeks.
Leading Owner At North Carlton
The opening Member’s race, kindly sponsored by Lt-Col and Mrs N. Foster, opened up some family rivalry as Milson Robinson the owner of Panama Canal is a cousin of Hansom Prophet’s owner Pearl Pickering’s husband George.
The two horses “hunted” round and jumped the last together before Richard Armson edged Panama Canal ahead just before the line. This victory maintained Milson Robinson’s position as the overall leading owner at North Carlton.
