ONE CONEMARA is heading to the Foxhunters Chase at the Cheltenham Festival after victory last weekend at Sheriff Hutton.

Trained by Cherry Coward and ridden by John Dawson, One Conemara beat favourite Carlton Ryan to win the Men’s Open Race at the Yorkshire Area Point-to-Point Club meeting.

Owner John Nellis, who farms in Skewsby, confirmed that the nine-year-old would now run in the Foxhunters on Gold Cup Day (March 17) before returning for the Grimthorpe at Sheriff Hutton in April.

Jockey Dawson set a strong gallop in Sunday’s race and repelled the challenge of Carlton Ryan who finished second. Max My Boy, ridden by Tom Strawson, finished a close third.

Held at Mick Easterby’s New House Farm, the meeting - the first of the point-to-point season - raised around £6,250 for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance. A good crowd watched an action-packed seven races with many horses travelling from outside the Yorkshire region.

Coward and Dawson completed a ‘double’ when Path to Freedom, owned by Nellis’ wife Jenny, won the Open Maiden for 4 to 6-year olds by an impressive 15 lengths.

Dawson said the five-year-old was still a ‘bit green’ but appeared to be developing into a useful recruit from the Irish point-to-point scene after being bought from the Spring Horses in Training Sales at Doncaster.

Will Milburn finished a distant second on Benton’s Lad. Will Easterby finished third on Yoohoof for trainer Steph Easterby.

Jockey Alex Edwards also scored a ‘double’ when landing both divisions of the YAPPC Club Members Race for Shropshire-based trainer Philip Rowley and owner Diana Williams.

Edwards won division one on the progressive Hazel Hill who has now taken his tally in points to six and remains unbeaten.

The pair led into the home straight and battled gamely to fend off She’s Real and favourite Executive Benefit.

Division two of the club race went to Hazel Hill’s stable mate Grandturgeon who is also on an upward curve.

The biggest cheer of the day was reserved for Yasmin Burt when her mount Galant Nuit, trained by her mother-in-law Rachel Burt in Lincolnshire, entered the winners’ enclosure after the Ladies Open race.

Yasmin, who had won on only her fourth ride, explained that the ‘personal touch’ and ‘hunting’ was keeping Galant Nuit, now 13, sweet

“I do everything with him at home,” she said. “I really treat him as a pet and knew he was well.”

Altar Rock stayed on in the home straight to finish second and touched off Peter From Parid.

Altar Rock’s jockey, Debbie Boyes was having her first ride in a point-to-point, after competing in last year’s Macmillan Charity Race at York racecourse.

Dale Peters, based in Cambridgeshire, landed the spoils with Wither or Not in the restricted race.

The Open Maiden race was won by The Ibbster, trained and ridden by Ed Glassonbury.

“The owner (The Honourable Arthur Vestey) has been really patient with the horse,” said Oliver Greenall, who was representing connections. “The plan is to go under rules with him in the future.”

David Coates,who had not ridden in points since 2006, was a gallant second on Be A Dreamer

The next fixture is the Sinnington Point-to-Point at Duncombe Park on Sunday February 12.