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MAD JACK DUNCAN: made a successful chasing debut at Uttoxeter

Familiar names from the Point-to-Point field were in fine form at Uttoxeter on Wednesday as Lawney Hill trained a double with last season's winners Mad Jack Duncan and Bynack Mhor, whilst Peter Bowen also won with two Pointing graduates.

Last season's three-time winner Mad Jack Duncan initiated the Lawney Hill double, as the Presenting eight-year-old registered his first under Rules victory in his debut over regulation fences. Still in the ownership of Alan Hill, who trained the gelding to win a hat-trick via Maiden and Restricted successes at Cottenham and a Kingston Blount Confined during the Point-to-Point season, Mad Jack Duncan was fancied as he returned to professional ranks for the first time since April of 2009, ultimately going off the 2/1 favourite for the Simply Bluetooth Handicap Steeplchase (Class 4). Having raced quite keenly under Aidan Coleman, Hill's charge took the lead at the 11th only to be headed briefly approaching the finish of the 2m5f contest, but battled back to reclaim the advantage near the post.

Hill's double nearly came up in the next race; she saddled Balladeer, winless under Rules since 2006 but successful in last seasons' Oxford University Hunt Club Ladies Open, in the following Weatherbys Bank Handicap Hurdle (Class 4). Having not shown the same level of form in three subsequent Pointing starts, Balladeer was sent off at 25/1 under John Mathias but found only the favourite, Ripalong Lad, too strong after that horse took his lead at the last before going on to win by two-and-a-half lengths. The winner, trained by Peter Bowen, was also a Pointing graduate, having competed 10 times between the flags in 2008 and 2009 without success.

It fell therefore to Bynack Mhor, twice successful and never out of the first three in six Point-to-Points last season, to register the yard's second win; the Taipan gelding appeared beaten when chasing Cinaman three from home in the Byrkley Garden Centre Novices' Handicap Steeplechase, a Class 5 contest over three miles, yet his assured stamina told in the final stages as he closed under a driving ride to snatch victory on the line. Like Mad Jack Duncan, Bynack Mhor was ridden by Coleman.

The following Signs2000 Conditional Jockeys' Maiden Hurdle went to 2009 Great Trethew Maiden winner Danimix, who registered a three-length win over Violet Elizabeth at 4/1. Sold from Richard Woollacott's yard after that sole Point-to-Point outing to join Tim Vaughan, for whom he was successful in a Worcester bumper, Danimix now also represents Peter Bowen's yard.

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