Fistful of dollars for British riders in American Festival

Last weekend it was the turn of David McPherson who took the first two places in the $25,000 Suncast 1.50m class.

He rode Silver Exchange 11 to victory and Leonitas into second place, with Ben Maher and Quiet Easy 4 taking fourth place.

Tina Fletcher, riding Hello Sailor, was ninth and Nick Skelton was 10th riding Unique XV111.

The two grey geldings, both 11, are owned by McPherson. He said: “My tactics were simple. I just wanted to jump clear rounds with these two.

“They’re not up for speed to go and do heroics, at this moment in time anyway.”

McPherson and Leonitas also picked up a third place earlier in the week in the $8,000 G&C Farm 1.45 Jumpers class.

There was a good result for Fletcher and Unique 1X who took second place in the $30,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round Six Grand Prix. The American rider Reed Kessler took the first, third and fourth placings.

There were 34 entries in the Grand Prix, with eight riders going clear to go through to the jump-off.

Britain’s Skelton and Scott Brash finished 10th and 11th respectively.

Veteran chaser Amicelli and his jockey, Jacqueline Coward, should be heading for the Foxhunters Chase at the Cheltenham Festival following an impressive win at the weekend.

Amicelli is owned and trained by Cherry Coward, Jacqueline’s mother, and at the age of 13 is showing no signs of slowing down. He and Jacqueline won the Ladies Open at Sheriff Hutton recently and at the Brocklesby point-to-point last Saturday, they took a firm lead to win the Ladies Open by seven lengths.

“He’s flying. He definitely goes back to Cheltenham now,” said a delighted Jacqueline after the race.

Amicelli won the Foxhunters Chase at Cheltenham in 2008 and if he maintains his current form, he will be racing there again in May.

It was a good day for the Cowards who are based at Scackleton near Hovingham. Jacqueline also won the Jockey Club PPORA Club Members’ race riding My Clementine, trained by her mother.

Cherry Coward also trained The Snurglar, winner of the Midlands Area Club race, ridden by Ollie Greenall and owned by the Hon Arthur Vestey. Greenall followed this with two further winners, riding The Wychough into first place in the restricted race and Mr Trump to first in division two of the Maiden race.

Cherry Coward’s brother, David Easterby, trained Borero, winner of the Men’s Open race for the Bannister family from Coniston Cold. Brothers Nick and Tom and their father Michael own this horse and the rider was Harry Bannister, Nick’s son. The family also had a win at the Sinnington meeting at Duncombe Park with Classinaglass.

They nearly completed a Brocklesby double with Macleod but Panama Canal and Richard Armson prevailed.