John Ridge's Caryto des Brosses showed his class to win the Prestigious Quorn Gold Cup in style at Garthorpe on Saturday, for the second year running. The David Kemp-trained 12 year old is probably in his last season of racing but you wouldn't have known it from this display; he looked close to his very best as Dale Peters drove him home to cross the line four lengths clear of Knight in Dubai who put in another impressive performance for Jennifer Owen and the Stearn family.

Peters' win in the open was the first half of a double as jockey, completed later in the day in the Maiden where he proved the bookies right, winning on the 2/1 favourite Destination Mahler, which he also trained. This was the second race for the six year-old Mahler gelding, out of a Dubai Destination mare, which is owned by Toby Hunt, who told me that the Aintree bumper might be one of several possible options.

This was a day where doubles abounded, with further doubles going to Jack Andrews and Ellie Callwood in the saddle, with Gina Ellis and Kelly Morgan both doubling up as trainers.

The day opened with two pony races, the first of which was for 138cm ponies. This was won by Lowan Cruise Mills on Avalon Dancer, while the second, for 148cm ponies, went to Oscar Cairns and Holly Dove.

The first of six jump races of the day was a young horse maiden for four and five year old horses which provided Jack Andrews with the first of his two wins on the card as he piloted Mister Carson, trained by his sister Gina, to win by four lengths from Pluto's Gate, ridden and trained by Bradley Gibbs. Mister Carson put in some very impressive, if slightly inefficient, jumping at times but looks a good sort for the future.

Jack Andrews' other winner of the day came on another four year old in the first division of a very well supported JRL-sponsored point-to-point flat race. This time he was riding Adam and Clare Signy's It's Top which won at 7/1, beating favourites Dale Peters and Zloty by four lengths.

Ellie Callwood rode Bothwell Bridge to win the Conditions race earlier in the day for Kelly Morgan and the Fernie Dingley Syndicate, who did their best to show what fun can be had when a big group of friends owns a racehorse. "That wasn't really the game plan," Morgan said afterwards, admitting that a sprint at the end of a steady and tactical four-runner race did not play into their hands. The sprint in question was with Janika (Rupert Stearn), who lost by a length, to the disappointment of the Turners who own and train the eleven year old.

Callwood completed her double on another horse owned and trained just up the road by Kelly Morgan, in the last race of the day. This was the second division of the flat race and the horse in question was five year old Thistimetomorrow who won a three-way tussle up the rails to beat Kdeux Saint Fray (Lois Teal) and Littletown Lad (Jack Andrews) by a length or so.

The Restricted race saw a return to the winners enclosure for Mark and Rosemary Barlow who own the 10/1 shot Court Cian with Michael Kehoe, who also trained the horse. Charlie Case was the victorious jockey here, who won the closest finish of the day to beat Lou Marvelous (William Easterby) by about half a length, with Premier Fantasy (Bradley Gibbs) a length back in third.

Finally we saw a very eventful Conditions race for Novice Riders, which started with eleven runners, four of which finished, one fell, four unseated their rider, with two pulled up. The grey One for Rosie went off as favourite, despite carrying an extra nine pounds, and went on to win for Jason Maguire, with Ryan Alderman in the saddle. Emtidaad (Josh Barber) was second and Muckamore (Harry Arkwright) was third.

Midlands Pointing now moves to Dingley for the first time this year where the Fernie (5th May) and Fitzwilliam (25th May) complete our season. Tickets are available for both from our tickets page and are moving fast so don't dither. Regulars at Dingley will know that meetings there are always a great day out with some of the best viewing of any course in the country, lots of trade stands and other entertainment, as well as a licensed bar and catering.