JOE WRIGHT teamed up with trainer Justin Landy to land a double at the Staintondale point-to-point at Charm Park in North Yorkshire.

Racing went ahead after passing a ground inspection following heavy overnight rain and it proved a 'Wright' decision as the pair won the first race, the Thompson Property Ltd Yorkshire Area Point-to-Point Club Members Race and the Haybar Mixed Open race.

They won the former with Ardea, who was prominent throughout. Impact Zone took up the early running under Jacqueline Coward, while Tasheba, a winner at this course earlier in the month, took the lead four fences from home, but Wright pushed Ardea towards the front as they approached the second last and won by two lengths from Sportingfriendship and William Easterby.

Wright followed up with Knocklong. Only four went to post and were tightly bunched for the majority, but with under half a circuit the race began in earnest. Knocklong won by three lengths from Chip N Pin ridden by Jacqueline Coward.

The Castle Employment Agency Restricted Race went the way of The Dark Duchess, who was reunited with Emma Todd.

The pair raced prominently until a slow jump five from home shuffled them back in the field.

“I didn’t panic as I knew there was still quite a long way to go and we were handy enough,” said Todd.

After a quick jump at the second last propelled the pair to the fore, they kicked on and won by six lengths with On Vacation and John Dawson in second.

Greensalt returned to winning ways in the C W Strickland & Son Ltd Confined Hunts race, getting up by just a head.

With a circuit to go, Shannon Silver was taken to the lead by Henry Morsehead but Greensalt had always been close up and won the two-way battle from the last.

Cousin Guillaume, who had been going well at the Hurworth meeting last Saturday until falling three out, made amends in the Openfield Open Maiden race - winning by a head under Richard Smith.

Duke Nelson had gone into the lead from the bottom of the course, but, from two out, the race was between Cousin Guillaume and Stagecoach Jasper, partnered by Easterby.

The Newark Livestock Market Maiden Conditions race, for horses who have never been placed, saw eight horses go to post but only two finish, both trained by Coward.

Belgian Chocolate led from the start and stayed out of trouble to win by a distance under Claire Hart.

“Claire’s intended runners couldn’t make it over the Humber Bridge due to the high winds so I said she could ride my horses,” said Coward. “I’ve always loved this horse and I’m so pleased she’s won."

Wright came in for the ride on Midnight In Venice and these were the only other pair to complete.

Wright duly took the Staintondale Hunt Riders Challenge Cup for the jockey with the most points on the day, as well as the Ted Pennock Memorial Trophy for the leading novice rider.

Point-to-pointing returns to Sheriff Hutton on Sunday for the Middleton meeting.