AN EXCELLENT day’s racing took place at Charm Park, Wykeham, as the Derwent Hunt held their annual point-to-point on Sunday.

Old favourite, My Old Piano proved he’s still got what it takes to win at the top level by taking the Men’s Open, sponsored by David Duggleby, providing a first point-to-point win for his pilot, Craig Hoggart, who was deputising for Harry Bannister, in action at Warwick.

This was the 26th win for the 13 year old and there is no doubt he can follow up again. “He’s come out of the race well and eaten up, it always takes him a couple of days to come down from the high of a win,” said winning trainer Stephanie Easterby. "It’s great to see he’s still enjoying life on the point-to-point field.”

Racing started with the Derwent and Staintondale Hunts members, Subscribers & Farmers Race, sponsored by Transcore Ltd and went the way Tracey Corrigan’s Killary Bay, under last year’s winning jockey Max Johnson. The pair led from start to finish, making the race a procession throughout. Oh So Serious who won this race last year finished second for Richard Tierney, 11 lengths further back with Andre Chenier and Chris Cundall in third.

Max tried to make it a quick fire double in the Yorkshire Area Point-to-Point Club Members Conditions race sponsored by Cundalls. Riding Lady Susan Watson’s Hand Act or Part he led throughout, but it was Six A Side who followed up easily on his Sinnington win under Will Milburn, going from last to first to win by four lengths. Larkhall was seven lengths further back in third.

The Ladies Open Race was sponsored by Longstaff & Midgley Solicitors and went the way of Young Hurricane, ridden by Freya Brewer. He was largely held up and crept into the race, asserting by 12 lengths at the finish. Oaklands Bobby who had made much of the running finished second under Alice Petch with Scots Gaelic in third for Fionn McSharry.

The Broadland Properties Ltd Restricted Race was a very strong affair with some impressive maiden winners meeting each other for the first time. Shantou Prince followed up on his promising debut for Christy Furness and won the battle to the line from Mickey Miller and Jack Teal by three and a half lengths. The Ketchup Kid was six lengths third for Russell Lyndsay who was deputising for the injured Jacqueline Coward. Comedinewithme was running an excellent race until unseating Jo Mason six from home and was still going well at the time. The mare could go close next time out.

Jo made amends in the Hardwick Agricultural Engineers Ltd Open Maiden Race (Division one) by winning on Aldreth for Stephanie Easterby. His win was no surprise, having finished second to the aforementioned Comedinewithme at the Sinnington meeting and he won easily by a distance. Devil at Midnight was second under Jack Teal and Smart Act was a further distance back in third for William Easterby.

In the second division, kindly sponsored by Smailes Goldie Turner Ltd, Lortzing landed the spoils, providing a belated birthday present for owner Paul Clifton. Piloted by Jack Teal, the pair had been running well at Sinnington until falling at the last. They managed to make amends, taking this by three lengths from Glens Return who was another to improve on his Sinnington debut. Knightofthegarter was six lengths further back for Craig Hoggart and will be able to take a race at this level before too long.

Dalton Park, near Beverley is the venue for the next Yorkshire point-to-point on Sunday, where a six race card will be held. Racing starts at 1.30pm with the Hunt Members race, sponsored by David Turner & Co. It looks to be a competitive affair, but the winner is likely to be Topaze Collonges who won convincingly at the recent Brocklesby meeting. The main danger is likely to be Max My Boy who has been in the frame since winning at the Middleton meeting last year.

Frontier Agriculture sponsor the PPORA Club Members race, with penalties distributed according to recent wins. Billing was running nicely until losing his jockey at the Derwent meeting, where connections were hoping for a big run. Roycano won nicely at the Sinnington and is another who could be in the frame.

The Mens Open race is part of the Bonhams series, where the first three past the post will qualify for the Mens Open Point-to-Point Championship Final at Cheltenham at the end of April. Camden could run well for Sarah Easterby and Ganbei could also go close. One Conemara ran a good race at the Derwent meeting and can continue to improve.

Star point-to-pointer Palypso De Creek has been entered for the Ladies Open race and if he gets his ground he will take all the beating. Royal Deal was third at this meeting last year, though may swerve this for Friars Haugh. Talkonthestreet is an interesting new recruit to the pointing ranks, formerly with Philip Hobbs, he has won over three and a half miles so this track will suit and his jockey, Fionn McSharry is improving with every ride.

The postcode for satellite navigation is HU17 7PW and admission is £10 per person, or premier parking (course side) is £50 per car, this is usually reserved but there will be some spaces on the day.