WILLIAM EASTERBY was the toast of the Middleton Point-to- Point after winning the Grimthorpe Gold Cup for the third year in a row - a feat which has never been achieved before.

Paired with the reliable Monsieur Jourdain, trained by his mother Sarah, the jockey rode his mount to a comprehensive ten length victory over Oaklands Robbie.

With the event staged on land at Mick Easterby’s New House Farm after moving from Whitwell- on-the-Hill last year, the success of Monsieur Jourdain was all the more remarkable given the two tracks run in different directions.

“It was a great training performance by mum,” said William Easterby. “He is one of the most honest horses who always tries, even when he doesn’t like it. Mum rides him out every day and she deserves the credit.”

A huge crowd turned out to watch 62 runners and it was Railway Dillon who won the opening McClarrons Insurance, Guy Cunard Middleton Hunt Members, Subscribers & Farmers Race.

Owned by Christine Drury, the secretary of the Yorkshire Point-to-Point Club, and ridden by Emma Todd, he won by a length from Battle Range.

Rider Harry Bannister notched a double with Roycano claiming the Openfield Yorkshire Area Point-to-Point Club Members Conditions race by eight lengths and Aldreth winning the Restricted race.

Anndante scooped the Open Maiden, over three miles, under Chris Dawson for owner Gillian Lee and the Intermediate, a qualifier for the Connolly’s Red Mills Intermediate Hunter Chase Final to be run at Cheltenham at the end of the month, was dominated by Six A Side.

A 12-length winner over Lowandbehold, and ridden by Will Milburn, trainer Emma Todd said of the three-time winner this year: “He seems to have improved a lot this season, so we’re really excited about where he could go next. We might consider Cheltenham now he’s qualified.”

After the glory of the Grimthorpe, William Easterby gained more glory when Glens Return won the final maiden over two-and-a-half miles and gave him his own double on the day.