Beverley Races

Great weather and additional pony races on the card made it a long day. It was also a day for favourites winning three races and being placed in 6.

In the 3:50 race Bosham led for 2 furlongs with Mininggold and Spirit Of Wedza tracking along with Sandra's Secret close up and Point Of Woods. Headway was made by Mininggold with Hilary J close behind, two furlong out however Sandra's Secret led. With one furlong to go Point Of Woods made a move up the field, Mininggold was ridden to chase Sandra's Secret. Point Of Woods, Grandad's World and Mininggold kept on well but Sandra's Secret weakened. First place was Mininggold by 1 1/4 lengths to second Sandra's Secret by 1/2 length and third was Point of Woods.

In the 5:00 race there was a Richard Fahey field day. Society Red made all tracking was Appointed, Euro Nightmare and Bear Valley. The positions didn't change much until two furlong out when Society Red was pushed out, The Statesman and Montataire had to make up ground with Appointed right behind Society Red. In the final furlong Society Red was well and truly being chased by The Statesman and Appointed. At one stage Appointed looking like she was going to go on and win, yet Society Red under a great ride by James Sullivan held on well towards the finish by a neck to second The Statesman by 1 1/4 lengths and third Appointed. All the other horses followed closely behind.

The final race was an apprentice race in which there was plenty of potential for future jockeys. Many of the riders were women suggesting that more women will be venturing into racing. The winner was Ivors Involvement ridden and trained by the female duo, Rhiain Ingram and Tina Jackson.

Ripon Races- Family Day

The family fun day had plenty of activities for children ranging from face painting and balloon animals to having a go on the Equisizer. The mild weather caused it to be a great day and one for the favourites with four out of seven races won by favourites. There were doubles on the card for PJ McDonald and Silvestre de Sousa.

The first race had two horses fighting for the lead. Hippeia and Alaskan Beauty with Perfect Thought
were prominent, Elation and Clubbable were held up. Halfway through the race headway was made by Elation, with two furlongs to go Hippeia was headed by the improving Clubbable and then lead Perfect Thought, but with one to go Elation ran on well. Perfect Thought only kept on as did Clubbable. Elation was the winner under Silvestre De Sousa by 1/2 length to Perfect Thought in second and third Clubbable by one length.

There was a selling stakes at 2:45, yet the winner was not bought in the auction and no other horses were claimed.

In the 3:45 race Captain Dion was fast away to take the lead followed by Sir Billy Wright and Jaywalker but was tracked by the 11/4 favourite Bossipop (after recent good form and win just a week ago at Pontefract).  At two furlongs out the lead began to change from Captain Dion who was  headed by Jaywalker whilst Red Pike and Sir Billy Wright were both pushed along. Avon Breeze who was slow out of the gates and throughout the race having been wide or out back at two furlongs  began to move up the field. With one furlong to go she closed on the leaders, but now Bossipop was being pushed along and at one point looked likely to win as he made headway of the rest of the field. However Avon Breeze (the in-foal mare) made astonishing progress in the last 50 yards and went on to win by 1 length to Bossipop who was just unlucky on the day, third was Jaywalker by a nose who just lost second place.
Before the race Signore Piccolo ran freely down to the start trying its hardest to have Paul Mulrennan off, which in the end he did making him a non runner. Snap Shots refused to race after planting himself in the stalls.

Look out for my update on Ladies' Day at Ponte races.

Beverley Races- family fun day

The going being good to soft resulted in a fair few non runners (8 to be exact). The Bark de Triomphe, a race for dogs owned by jockeys with two heats the first 3 dogs from each went to the final was a great success. Danielle Mooney's dog, Beau, was the winner.

In the second race Bridey's Lettuce was ridden clear followed closely by Cool Music, Moon Over Rio and Heaven Scent. The whole race was controlled by Bridey's Lettuce no others managed to get close. With two furlongs to go headway was made by Petrify who had previously dwelt, Cool Music,  and Taste The Wine. Moon Over Rio and Heaven Scent both weakened. In the final furlong Bridey's Lettuce drifted left whilst Cool Music kept on at the same pace and Petrify carried on well, Bridey's Lettuce was unstoppable going on to win by six lengths, second was Cool Music by 1/2 length, third was Petrify. This race was a selling handicap and the winner was auctioned off, bought by Adam Pogson for £7.5K.

The 3:45 race had Windforpower misbehaving in the parade ring having Ben Robinson off and running free down to the start before he was caught and put in the stalls. Tarboosh was quick away along with Robben Rainbow, tracked by the leader Foxy Boy. With two furlongs out Foxy Boy and Kody Ridge was ridden along, Musharrif moved up the field. There was challenge at one furlong out to Foxy Boy who was eventually headed by Windforpower and Tarboosh. Unfortunately Windforpower kept on at the same pace with nothing else to give but Tarboosh just quickened away eventually winning by 3 1/3 lengths, second Windforpower by 3/4 to Foxy Boy for third.

Thanks to Ben Curtis for selfie.

Pontefract races

Like the all of the festival the weather was variable and after dodging the showers it was a warm day, but not one for the favourites. There was a treble on the card for David Allan which made him the winning jockey for the entire festival, the winning trainer was Tim Easterby.

The 2:30 race in which Mysterial from a wide draw took a keen hold of the race, far behind tracking was Regal Mirage, Liquid Gold and Steccando. The lead didn't change until the final bend when Mysterial was over taken. The rest of the field began to close down the leader from four furlongs out including Thorntoun Care, Regal Mirage, Diamond Runner and Jan De Heem. The leader  was chased down by Regal Mirage with 1 1/2  furlongs to go with Thorntoun Care following closely to challenge the new leader, yet failing to beat him. First was Regal Mirage by a nose, second was Thorntoun Care, third was Diamond Runner by 6 lengths. 

In the 5:00 race there was an incredible ride by David Allan on Crosse Fire, who despite at one point looking like he was going to fall back eventually being ridden well clear approaching the final furlong, going on to win by 2 3/4 lengths. Astrophysics despite not having much room once switched ran on strongly with Oriental Splendour ridden to give chase who in the final stages didn't have anything else. Astrophysics also didn't make a much of an impression on the leader and finished second, Oriental Slendour finished third by 3/4 length. The rest of the field was spread out, many were quickly pulled up after the finishing line. 

Interview with Jason Hart

Jason Hart was apprentice jockey of the year in 2013, he now has moved on from this success to have a derby day Epsom winner on the third of June this year for John Quinn riding Reputation. He described this as a good day and a great achievement after a difficult recovery from an injury in 2015.

Jason started his career when he was about 13 riding out for people near Harwick where he was brought up. This then progressed to pony racing before he became an apprentice for Declan Carroll. His first ride was on a horse called Elusive Fame for Mark Johnston in 2010.

His injury in 2015 meant he missed most of the season, Jason was fortunate to escape the accident with ruptured ACL and MCL ligaments. The injury could have been far worse considering the severity of the incident. When asked about the difficulties of returning to racing Jason decided to see his injury in a better light, and added that since his return he has been able to ride for new yards that he didn't ride for before with some very nice horses providing him with new opportunities.

With the future looking bright for Jason he hopes to carry on building on his success.

On a lighter note when he's not making the weight his favourite meal is fillet steak.

Doncaster races

Frequent heavy showers and very few favourites made the wining enclosure, it was a day of difficult racing, although it included a double on the day for Tony Hamilton on his birthday.

The 5:45 saw Sherrif Of Nawton being extremely problamatic, and he even had Tony Hamilton off when he slipped when leaving the parade ring causing him to be run free briefly before being caught. Sharply out of the gates was Bluff Crag who was the front runner in the race, closely followed by The New Pharoh and Predergast Hill, until three furlongs out when previously held up Buonarroti and The New Pharoh both made headway, the new leader was Predergast Hill. At two furlongs out The New Pharoh began to challenge and quickly joined Predergast Hill, Sheriff Of Nawton followed the leaders along with Buonarroti. One furlong out The New Pharoh headed Predergast Hill, Sheriff Of Nawton with not much room managed to finish third and Buonarroti who had nothing else to give kept on at the same pace to finish fourth. The winner was The New Pharoh (the favourite) by 1/2 length, second was Predergast Hill by 1/2 length to third Sheriff Of Nawton.

The second race had Wafeer in the lead after one furlong, this stayed the same until two furlongs out when Dark Acclaim closed the gap, Qaroun was making a huge effort to continue moving up the field, Alfa McGuire was driven along.One furlong out it was clear that Dark Acclaim was unstoppable as he kept gaining ground going on to win by 3 1/4 lengths, the second horse Qaroun gamely stayed on and third was Alfa McGuire.

One to watch for the future is Sunday Prospect as the horse came second in the 6:45 despite continuously being boxed and switched a numerous amount of times.

Catterick Races

The ever changing weather did nothing to stop the favorites and front runners from winning. Due to the ground every race time was slow.

The beginning of the first race saw Miss Mazzie unhappy in the stalls along with Heavenly Pulse who was difficult to get into stall six. One Drunken Night was quickly away and led, just behind was Miss Mazzie and Mr Carbonator. At the half way mark Shovel It On was pushed on, round the final bend he was the first horse to come wide. Society's Dream was pulled up a great distance behind and eventually dismounted by Joe Fanning. One furlong out saw Mr Carbonator and Shovel It On who had also been held up headed by Placebo Effect. At the finishing post it was Placebo Effect who kept on by 1 1/4 lengths to win, second was Mr Carbonator and third by a neck Shovel It On. As this was a selling stake Mr Carbonator was claimed by Phil Kirby for £7,000, Shovel It On was subject to a friendly claim for £7,000 and Placebo Effect was bought back for £6,500.

3:30 was a claiming stakes race that had Bernie's Boy first by 3/4 length, second Dyllan who refused at first to go into the stalls despite James Sullivan's best efforts, Dyllan was dismounted and remounted, under duress went into the stalls and third was favorite Ancient Astronaut by 1 1/4 lengths. However only the winner was claimed by Iain Jardine for £10,000.

The final race had King Of The Celts leading and running wide of the rest of the field narrowly followed by Cockney Boy who was in charge of the race at eight furlongs out yet they all bunched up but coming off the final bend they were spread across the track from the inside rail. At 2 furlongs the positions were changed. Canny Style now controlled  the race, head way was made by Angel In The Snow, Competition and King Of The Celts were soon outpaced. With one furlong to go Canny Style was shaken up to kick on again and battle it out with Angel In The Snow. The pair were chased home by Almutamarred most of the field struggled in the final furlong so much so that they did not make any impact. This winner was Canny Style by a neck to Angel In The Snow and third by 1/2 length was Almutamarred.

Keep a look out for my new interviews with jockeys, find out what inspires them and the background to their success.