Staintondale at CHARM PARK
Monday 24th April 2000
by Richard Watts

The Tim Walford trained Key Debate (M Cooper/Middleton) picked up his third win of the campaign when landing the Mens Open at Easter Monday’s Staintondale Point to Point held at Charm Park.

Ridden by Guy Brewer this highly talented eight-year-old made every yard of the running and he was always well clear of the field. With three to jump there was only the Fiona Needham trained Primitive Streak (M Abrahams/Bilsdale) who was still in contention but when Brewer pressed the accelerator the favourite quickened up well and won with plenty in hand. Primitive Streak, ridden by Rupert Abrahams, kept on well to finish second with the veteran Nishkina (Derwent) running on late for owner Chris Cundall to take third.

Another horse winning for the third time this season was the Richard Tate owned and ridden What A Fiddler (Bramham Moor) who was the very impressive winner of the eighteen runner Restricted. The Tim Walford trained Victoria’s Boy (D Dickson/Middleton) tried to make all in this race under Guy Brewer. Setting a good pace they had most of the field in trouble apart from the favourite. Coming to the second last Victoria’s Boy still led but What A Fiddler was going ominously well in second and when Richard Tate asked him for an effort the response was immediate and the seven year old ran on to win with plenty in hand. Victoria’s Boy finished a courageous second. Running on late to take third was Lady Susan Watson’s Just Take The Mickey (Middleton), who was ridden by Stephen Charlton.

After being narrowly beaten into second at the Cleveland the Annabelle Armitage trained Kerrisdale (R P Watts) went one better in the Members race. Patiently ridden by Stephen Charlton the mare was held up in the early stages as Mandril (J Byrne) tried to force the pace under Nigel Tutty. Some good jumping brought Kerrisdale on to the heels of the leader and she tracked him in second until quickening well after the second last and running on well to win by ten lengths. Mandril finished second with The Noble Rebel (The Rebellers) finishing a tired third after showing early under trainer Andrew Pennock.

South Wold raider Springfield Rex (D Ingle/South Wold) took the Ladies Open under Fiona Needham. The improving nine year old travelled well throughout the race; under an excellent ride he forged clear after the second last and won with plenty in hand. The Liz Clark Misti Hunter (D Ibbotson/York & Ainsty) raced prominently and kept on at one pace to take second under Rachael Clark. The improving C L B Jemilla (P Wright/Middleton) stayed on well to take third under Serena Brotherton.

The Tony Walker trained Gentleman Charles (Lady Hewitt/Middleton) followed up his good second at the Bedale by winning the Maiden for 5, 6 & 7 year olds. The six-year-old forged clear on the run to the last and galloped on strongly to the line. The Tina Jackson trained Imperial Line (P Cowey/Cleveland) finished second, he raced prominently throughout. The Annabelle Armitage trained Aunty Norma (J Vietch/Middleton) finished third. He was outpaced by the first two after the third last under Dave Thomas.

The Lynne Ward trained and ridden Wandering Wild (Lausan Friends/Cleveland) was the winner of the First Division of the Maiden. Wandering Wild is the daughter of Wild Child who was a very useful performer and she looks to have inherited some of her mother’s ability. Getting a good run up the inside the mare ran on strongly to the line to win well. David Brydon’s Pashby Wood (Staintondale) raced prominently under Michael Morley and in finishing second showed her first form. The five-year-old Total Relief (B Till/Sinnington) stayed on well to take third under Serena Brotherton.

The Second Division of the Maiden went to Steve Clark’s Val’s Castle (Bedale) ridden by Grant Tuer. The mare got the better of the favourite Farm Talk (S Tennant/Middleton) after jumping the second last and had the race won by the final fence. Ridden by Stephen Charlton, Farm Talk finished second with the long time leader Sand Track (M Morley/Staintondale) keeping on to take third for Mick Haigh.