The stage was all set for Pipers Note to record a remarkable ninth success at Yorkshire’s Garden Racecourse in the race run in his honour – the ‘Celebrating Pipers Note Handicap’ – but his stablemate, Reputation, had not read the script and sprinted clear under Barry McHugh to score by a comfortable three-lengths on his first run for Ruth Carr.
On a chilly and damp afternoon the action the action got underway with a 5f juvenile contest which was won by Manolith, trained by David O’Meara and ridden by Danny Tudhope, the pair making it two from two in Ripon juvenile contests following Great Dame’s success at our first meeting.
New Graduate ran out a very impressive winner of the Watch Sky Sports Racing in HD Handicap under David Allan. On just his fourth career start James Tate’s colt defied a handicap mark of 90, winning by 5 lengths and he looks a potential Group class performer in the making.
Mark Johnston and Joe Fanning claimed a quickfire double with King’s Advice, winner of the M.C.H. Hutchinson Memorial Handicap, following his stablemate Making Miracles into the winners’ enclosure.
We had a Royal winner in the shape of the Queen-owned Eightsome Reel, who scored for Hayley Turner and Michael Bell before Mark’s Choice rounded off the afternoon coming with a late rattle under James Sullivan to complete a double for Ruth Carr and provide Cragg Wood Racing (who also own Pipers Note) with a timely success on their big day.
