A dingy Tuesday evening was the setting for our first evening fixture, where Phil Dennis stole the show with a fabulous double!
The opening race of the night, Hutton Conyers Maiden Auction Fillies’ Stakes went the way of Queen Of Rio and Martin Harley. The Adrian Keatley-trained filly looked very green throughout, is sure to have learned a lot from this outing and a exciting two-year-old campaign may lie ahead for this daughter of Prince Of Lir.
A thrilling finish in our second race, The Redbank Handicap saw Wild Flower edge out favourite Alba Del Sole. Partnered by Kieran O’Neill, for trainer Luke McJannet, the 8-year-old mare looked all dressed up with nowhere to go no where to go two furlongs out but when angled out into the clear she responded generously to collar Alba Del Sole on the line.
The Monkton Moor Maiden Auction Stakes will live long in the memory of trainer Terry Kent as Ataser gave the Newmarket-handler a first ever winner. The 11/8 favourite asserted in the final furlong for claimer Ray Dawson to win by a length.
Round The Island took advantage of his lowered mark to gift Phil Dennis his first of two victories on the night in the Copt Hewick Handicap over 6f. The Richard Whitaker trained 7-year-old got a nice tow into the race and readily scooted clear to record his second win at the track.
Perhaps the most impressive winner of the night came in the Sharow Handicap. Alpine Mistral raced keenly through the opening stages but still had enough in reserve when popped the question by Josephine Gordon two furlongs out, powering home to score by five and a half lengths.
Tim Easterby rarely leaves Yorkshire’s Garden Racecourse empty handed and Dangeroffizz handed the trainer his mandatory victory in Division one of the Newby Classified Stakes. Under a confident ride by David Allan, the second favourite responded generously for pressure to quash the late challenge from Volcano Bay.
Phil Dennis completed his double in Division Two of the Newby Classified Stakes, with a confident ride aboard Seven For A Pound who ran out an impressive winner for trainer Jedd O’Keeffe.
The evening meeting concluded with the Bondgate Handicap over 1 mile 4 furlongs. Lord Warbuton prevailed for Callum Shepherd and trainer Michael Bell. The chestnut gelding got to the front a furlong out and despite still showing signs of greenness, held on from the fast finishing Lion’s Vigil to record his first career success.