POINT TO POINT
THE Yorkshire season gets under way tomorrow with the Area Club fixture at Sheriff Hutton, which has attracted 115 entries on a six-race card starting at 11.45am.
As usual, all profits from the event will be donated to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance and more than £130,000 has been raised since the inaugural meeting in 2008.
Proven stayer Wild Romance got her head in front on the line to give Shay Halton a winning debut ride at Alnwick last month, and the nine-year-old boasts strong credentials with stepping up in trip in the 3m2f Conditions Race a likely avenue for further improvement.
Of the others, recent Horseheath scorer Iskander Pecos should be suited by a stamina test, while Camdonian and Darius Des Sources also enter calculations.
A competitive-looking Restricted contest can go to The New Kid ridden by Dale Peters. He was only beaten three-quartersof-a-length by the progressive Tom Cody over course and distance last January and should be cherry ripe after finishing 11 lengths third to Mitchouka on his reappearance at Horseheath a fortnight ago.
The main dangers are Latenightrumble and Alnwick Maiden winner Foxylee.
Cash Again caught the eye when coming from off the pace to finish three lengths second to prolific winner Ballydonagh Boy at Alnwick, and is fancied to reverse the placings when the duo meet again on the same terms in the Ladies Open Race.
The pick of the other 11 entries is Mount Mews, who completed a four-timer in less competitive contests last season and could go well fresh under Roisin Leech.
2023 Cheltenham Foxhunters’ hero Premier Magic is in a different class to the other
17 Men’s Open entries and cannot be opposed on his long-awaited seasonal debut.
The 3m2f Maiden Race has 27 entries and might be divided on the day. My selection is Gabrielle De Balon who was only beaten a neck and half-a-length respectively by Endless Adventure (Alnwick) and the aforementioned Camdonian (Charm Park) last season, with the form of the latter contest franked by the winner who went on to complete a hat-trick.
The main threat comes from locally trained Where’s Hector who drops down in grade after being placed in nine of 11 starts under Rules.
Rushmount Boys showed plenty of promise when fourth on debut in testing conditions at Bartlemy eight months ago and subsequently joined champion trainer Tom Ellis. The youngster gets my vote ahead of The Last Tooth in the concluding 2m6f Maiden Race.