The racing community is eagerly preparing for the Sky Bet Go Racing in Yorkshire Summer Festival. This event, spanning from July 19th at Pontefract’s Beer Festival and Music Night to July 27th at York, promises thrilling races and exciting performances from both seasoned and upcoming jockeys. One standout participant is Jo Mason, who heads into the festival with a full schedule of rides, several of which are strong contenders.
Jo Mason’s Top Rides
Jo Mason has a promising lineup, including several horses trained by her grandfather and uncle, Mick and David Easterby. Among her mounts, Scatter Penny, This Years Love, and Late Arrival have all recently secured victories, setting a solid foundation for a successful festival.
Scatter Penny
Scatter Penny, who won first time out at Nottingham, showed potential despite being green. Jo Mason is confident that the horse has improved and will deliver a strong performance.
This Years Love
This Years Love is on the verge of a hat trick, having won twice at Beverley. Jo Mason notes that the horse thrives on a stiff finish and could benefit from a step up in distance.
Late Arrival
Late Arrival, who recently won at Pontefract, has shown a preference for softer ground and the track’s challenging finish, making him a strong contender at the festival.
Other Notable Rides
- Wen Moon: Competitive and performed well at York, though tends to drift left.
- Style Of Life: Making a debut for Harriet Bethell after a break, having previously won on all-weather tracks.
Jo Mason is also expected to participate in races at Ripon and Beverley, with potential runs from Reach and Valley Of Flowers at York the following weekend. Reflecting on her previous experiences, Jo aims to maintain her lead throughout the festival.
Key Contenders from Julie Camacho and Steve Brown
Julie Camacho, with insights from her husband Steve Brown, has several promising horses:
Makanha
Makanha, who prefers left-handed tracks, is expected to perform well at Pontefract, benefiting from a slight drop in class.
Gregorianna
Gregorianna is anticipated to improve over longer distances and will likely compete at Redcar over 9 furlongs.
Other Prominent Horses
- Badri: Expected to run at York, with a recent strong performance at Ascot.
- Infinity Blue: A horse with potential, looking for the right race to secure a win.
- May Blossom: Consistent and reliable, scheduled for York.
- Calder Valley: May run at Doncaster, prefers softer ground and expected to excel over a mile.
The Quinn Team’s Contributions
John and Sean Quinn, consistent supporters of the festival, have a lineup including:
Sporting Life
After a solid debut at Beverley, Sporting Life will step up to six furlongs.
Other Entries
- Alethiometer: Unlucky in recent starts, expected to perform well.
- Due For Luck: Has potential to bounce back after disappointing runs.
- One More Dream: Better on all-weather tracks but capable on grass.
- Titan Rock: Likely to run at Ripon, capable of strong performances.
- Warrendale Wagyu: Prefers softer ground, a potential strong contender at Doncaster.
Ruth Carr’s Exciting Prospects
Ruth Carr is looking forward to running Makalu in the Sky Bet Supporting Matt Hampson Foundation Handicap at Pontefract, noting the horse’s excellent form.
Additional Entries
- Lord Protector: Expected to perform well with a step up in distance at Ripon.
- Dawn of Liberation: Potential for success at Ripon if conditions are favorable.
- Jojo Rabbit: Recently won at Doncaster, looking to continue success.
- King Sharja: Down in the handicap, poised for a win.
- Mutanasseq: Returning to Catterick, showing promise with recent equipment changes.
Mark Walford’s New Acquisition
Mark Walford introduces Exceed Now, recently acquired from Newmarket sales, who will debut at Doncaster.
Other Entrants
- Treble Winners: Expected to run well at Redcar after a promising first race.
- Fortuitous Star: Stepping up to a mile at Doncaster after a decent performance at Catterick.
Adrian Keatley’s Final Preparations
Adrian Keatley plans to run Gaol Line at Beverley, a promising horse acquired from the breeze-ups. He is also finalizing plans for additional runners at Doncaster and York later in the week.
With 10 race meetings across Yorkshire’s eight courses over nine days, the Summer Festival offers a thrilling week of racing not to be missed.
