The racing fraternity are gearing up for the Go Racing In Yorkshire Summer Festival, sponsored by Sky Bet, which starts at Pontefract’s Beer Festival and Music night on Friday, July 19, finishing at York on Saturday, July 27.
One rider looking forward to the meeting is Jo Mason, who goes into the fixture with a full book of rides, five of which are currently second favourite. Four of her mounts come from the training partnership of her grandfather and uncle, Mick and David Easterby and with Scatter Penny, This Years Love and Late Arrival all winners last time out, there is every chance she can take an early lead in the Sky Bet leading jockey competition.
“Scatter Penny won first time out at Nottingham. She was very green but stayed on and will have come on for the run. She should give a good account of herself,” said Jo.
“This Years Love is looking for a hat trick. He likes a stiff finish, having won twice at Beverley and would suit a step up in trip. I hope they don’t nick him for jumping because I like riding him on the flat!”
“Late Arrival won last time out at Pontefract, loves cut in the ground, loves Pontefract and loves a stiff finish.”
Of her other runners, Jo said,
“Wen Moon loves Pontefract, he does lug left-handed but he’s competitive and ran well at York last time out.”
Style Of Life is in an interesting ride for Jo, the four-year-old is making her debut for Harriet Bethell and has had a good break, but she won on her last run on the all weather and is one to note.
While plans for the week are still to be finalised, Jo is expecting to be in action at Ripon and Beverley and suggested that Reach and Valley Of Flowers might both run at York the following weekend.
“I’m really looking forward to the week. A couple of years ago I was leading jockey for most of the week but faltered near the end, so we’ll give it another shot this year.”
Makanha starts the festival week at Pontefract for Julie Camacho and Steve Brown, husband of the trainer ran us through their prospects for the week.
“Makanha might be one that people overlook but I wouldn’t. All his life he’s wanted to go left-handed so the rail at Pontefract should suit as he’s drawn close to it. He’s done well in small fields and the slight drop in class should make things easier for him as he’s spent a lot of time running in big handicaps.”
“Gregorianna is a fine big filly, who ran her best race list time and we feel as though she’ll improve when she steps up in trip. We think we’ll go to Redcar with her over 9f as eventually she’ll want a mile and a quarter and she’s a work in progress.”
“Towards the end of the week Badri will probably go to York. He ran a reasonable race at Ascot on Saturday and was only beaten three lengths which was his best run of the year.”
“An interesting horse which might turn up later in the week is Infinity Blue , he’s a horse we’re keen to find the right race for and I think he can get his head in front sooner, rather than later.”
“May Blossom will be entered for York on Friday, she was tremendously consistent and reliable for David O’Meara in the past and she’s proving the same for us. She’s a horse everyone would love to own, she turns up, runs her heart out and is always in the mix.”
“One real flyer if he appears at Doncaster on Thursday is Calder Valley, but he wouldn’t want the ground too quick. He’s a horse we really like and haven’t seen the best of yet and when he gets a mile I think we’ll see a different animal. He’s a horse we really like.”
The father and son team of John and Sean Quinn are big supporters of the Summer Festival and start the week with Sporting Life at Pontefract. Sean said,
“He ran well at Beverley on his debut, but missed the break and got stopped at the half way point. He was strong at the line, so we’ve decided to step him up to six furlongs.”
Of his other runners, Sean said,
“Alethiometer has been unlucky on her last three starts and I wouldn’t be surprised to see her go close.”
“Due For Luck ahs been disappointing twice at Haydock and I think he could bounce back. He’s got a good engine.”
“One More Dream is better on the all-weather but capable of winning of this mark on grass and the drier the ground the better, so hopefully it stays dry for a couple of days.”
“Titan Rock is the likely runner at Ripon. He’s a bit in and out but if he runs his Thirsk Hunt Cup race he could go close”.
“Warrendale Wagyu is probably the pick of the horses at Doncaster. He won there two starts ago and appreciated the ease in the ground, then went to Beverley on quick ground, where he ran ok but I think he’d be more comfortable on an easier surface, so that will help him.”
Ruth Carr is excited to run Makalu in the Sky Bet Supporting Matt Hampson Foundation Handicap at Pontefract.
“He’s in the form of his life, he won at Ayr on Monday and was second at Ripon last week. A mile at Pontefract might not play to his strengths but he’s in good form and we hope in front of the handicapper.”
“At Ripon we plan to run Lord Protector who was second in the Zetland Gold Cup at Redcar. We’re stepping him up in trip which we expect will suit and if we go back to his Redcar form he should have a little chance.”
Dawn of Liberation is another of Ruth’s runners at Ripon, who, Ruth admits she is frustrated with but regular rider, Jo Mason, insists the trainer needs to remain positive.
“There’s no reason why the trip and track won’t suit. It would be better if it dried out a bit but I think the forecast is going to be in our favour.”
“Jojo Rabbit won at Doncaster last week and we’ve managed to drop him in grade. He’s got a high weight so we’re going to claim off him and hopefully he’ll run well again.”
“We’ll go to Beverley with King Sharja. It’s taken time for everything to come right with him but he’s down in the handicap and we feel that his turn isn’t far away.”
“Mutanasseq will go to Catterick on Wednesday. He won four there last year but it’s been hard for him this year. We put some cheek pieces on his last time and he showed a bit more spark.”
Mark Walford picked up Exceed Now from Newmarket sales at 9pm on Tuesday night and runs the colt at Doncaster on Saturday.
“An owner rang me up and fancied it, I did my research and spoke to Roger Varian was fairly positive about him. I don’t know much about him yet, but we quite like him and he’s a horse for the future.”
“At Redcar we run Treble Winners, he ran quite nicely first time out at Newcastle and that will have brought him on. We’re expecting him to run well.”
“Fortuitous Star, ran ok at Catterick last time, it was her first run for a while, she’s stepping up to a mile but she’s been going well since Catterick so we’re hoping for a decent run at Doncaster on Thursday, July 25.
Adrian Keatley plans to run Gaol Line at Beverley on Monday evening.
“He’s a nice horse, I got him from the breeze ups. He’s well bred and if he doesn’t win a novice, he should be winning a nursery.”
“I’m still finalising plans but I will probably have runners at Doncaster and York towards the end of the week.” Reported the Malton based trainer.
With 10 race meetings, across Yorkshire’s eight courses over nine days, the Summer Festival offers a week of racing not to be missed.
The Summer Festival Dates are as follows;
Friday 19th July – Pontefract
Saturday 20th July – Ripon
Saturday 20th July – Doncaster Evening
Sunday 21st July – Redcar
Monday 22nd July – Beverley Evening
Tuesday 23rd July – Open afternoon at Jack Berry House 2pm – 4pm
Wednesday 24th July – Catterick
Thursday 25th July – Doncaster
Friday 26th July – Thirsk
Friday 26th July – York Evening
Saturday 27th July – York