The Will to win leads to doubles at Sinnington fixture

The second instalment of the year’s Yorkshire Area point-to-point season began with the three-runner Campbell and Penty Ltd Members’ race in which Things Change and Nobuttaboy pulled clear from John Dillon on the final turn to finish in that order.

The victory was the first leg of a double for Easterby who followed up in the Subaru restricted race on Greensalt.

Both horses are trained by his mother with Greensalt particularly impressive in winning by six lengths from Mickey Miller and Jack Teal

“He’s a very nice horse and in great form at the moment,” said the winning rider. “The plan is to go for an intermediate next with a view to running in the Cheltenham final or the Subaru restricted final at Stratford.”

The first leg of Milbnurn’s double came in the Savills Confined race on Six A Side, trained by the jockey’s partner partner Emma Todd. They won by eight lengths from Code Blue and Richard Smith.

“I was delighted,” commented his trainer. “It’s reassuring to see that he continues to be as good as last year and I’d like to go for the novice hunter chase at Catterick next. Milburn then obliged on Bedford Forrest in the second division of the maiden with the new recruit for trainer Andy Nicholls and owner Neil Readman scoring by 11 lengths over Zandino and Max Johnson in second.

Fairy Mix and Elliot Brookbanks won division one of the Maiden which looked at the mercy of The Highlander who held a four-length lead approaching the last but took a crashing fall. Shantou Prince continued his winning form to take the PPORA Novice and Veterans race for his rider Christy Furness, asserting to win by four lengths from Tasheba and Amy Collier. And the AGA mixed open race went to Robbie who landed the spoils in the hands of John Dawson for trainer by Mary Reveley.

“He gave me some ride and won how I expected him to after his Sheriff Hutton run,” said the winning jockey.

“He’s very classy in this grade and we’re hoping to go to a hunterc hase at Leicester next, provided the ground is right for him.”

Lucky Cody was two lengths further back in third.

The next Yorkshire point-to-point is the West of Yore hunt, which takes place at Askham Bryan College on Sunday, February 28.