POINT TO POINT
NO TRAINER in the country has a better record in the last two seasons than Carlton-in-Cleveland-based Lucinda Hughes, who made it eight winners from nine runners between the flags with a double on Saturday’s Hurworth card at Hutton Rudby.
Former 144-rated chaser Mount Mews initiated the double when defying a 10lb penalty in the Members Race under John Dawson, who was still on a high after steering Sine Nomine to victory in the Cheltenham Foxhunters’ Chase 24 hours earlier.
Dawson said: ‘’He picked up well from three out and, although he wasn’t doing a lot in front, I was always confident he would repel the challenge of hat-trick seeking Fire In Her Eyes and had more in hand than the neck verdict might suggest.’’
On his first outing since undergoing wind surgery, Super Citizen completed a red letter day for Hughes in the Men’s Open Race.
Despite not always jumping fluently at the head of affairs, Nick Orpwood’s mount stayed on well to beat the only other finisher, Cuneo, by 30 lengths.
However, it might have been a different story had odds-on favourite Buster Valentine not unseated Paddy Barlow two out when reeling in the leader.
Former Irish pointer Soldier Of Rock was the most impressive winner of the day in the Maiden Race on his first start for Courtney Tinkler’s Leyburn yard.
In command with a circuit to go, Joe Wright’s mount turned the closing stages into a procession and was able to coast home 20 lengths ahead of We Done It.
The six-year-old looks an exciting prospect and could make a quick reappearance at Overton next Saturday.
In contrast to John Dawson, who is closing in on 250 career winners, there was a first winner for both Isobel Mactaggart and Katriona Brown.
Former 141-rated hurdler Thosedaysaregone has proved to be an ideal schoolmaster for 18-year-old first season rider Mactaggart, who delivered the veteran with a perfectly timed challenge at the last to overhaul Supremely Lucky and score by half a length in the Ladies’ Conditions Race.
Brown got off the mark at the 24th attempt on ex-hurdler Legalized, who she also owns and trains, in the Veteran Horse Conditions Race.
The ten-year-old mare, who had been off the track for 26 months prior to her reappearance at Duncombe Park on February 4, relished the testing underfoot conditions and wasn’t extended to beat Cheshire raider Poncherello by five lengths.
After being sidelined for two weeks with concussion, Paddy Barlow made a winning return on Grangeclare Diego in the Restricted Race. In a weak affair, the odds-on favourite didn’t give Barlow an anxious moment and had 30 lengths to spare over the only other finisher, Imperial Imp, to make it two wins from three starts this term.