Drake qualifies but final going is concern

SAM DRAKE and Optimistic Harry won the AGA Ladies’ Open point-to-point championship qualifier at Charm Park at the weekend.

In spite of a mistake three from home, they still won the race by eight lengths on testing ground.

“He needs this type of going,” said Drake, who has therefore ruled out the final at Cheltenham as she thinks the ground in May will be too quick for him.

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However, she still hopes to have a ride in the contest if possible and her current hopes rest with Jospeh O’Shea’s Unowatimeen, who finished third at Chaddesley Court in December.

Second place in the AGA race went to Impact Zone, owned by Susan Mason, trained by Ian Mason and ridden by Jo Mason. Third was Elusive Swallow, owned by Michael Broad, trained by Lucinda Broad and ridden by Jacqueline Coward.

At the Cottesmore point-to-point held at Garthorpe, Richard Armson and Ollie Greenall continued a successful season by riding two winners each.

Greenall was first off the mark in the opening Cottesmore Members’ race.

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He got the 6-4 favourite Valance home by a length from Joe Docker and the Holly Campbell-trained Silver Tenor.

Greenall’s second win of the day was in the Men’s Open race, where front-running tactics and first-time blinkers obviously suited Sheriff Hutton.

The nine-year-old ex-handicap chaser is trained by Greenall for Angela Norton and Liz Sykes.

They plan to enter him in a hunter chase next with a view to qualifying for the John Smith’s Foxhunter’s Steeplechase at Aintree.

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Blarney Highwayman was the first of Armson’s winners, taking victory in the Restricted race by a length.

Only three of the 10 runners finished in division two of the Open Maiden race where Running Rummy, trained by Jimmy Tarry, provided Armson with his second winner of the day.