5 year old Streets Of London from Tim Underwood’s yard and ridden by Phil York continued to progress through the ranks this season with victory in the Connolly’s Red Mills Intermediate race at Penshurst on Sunday. The duo had 5 rivals to conquer and having been sat behind the early leaders Phil York moved swiftly to the front at the twelfth fence. Florella under the guidance of Charlie Marshall laid down a challenge from the fifteenth fence and the pair had a thrilling battle to the winner’s post with Streets Of London taking the spoils by a neck.
Charlie Marshall who leads the area’s jockey championship also had to settle for second in the open maiden in which only two of the eight runners completed. Marshall aboard Monmouth Hill for Hannah Clarke had to watch as Twist On Ginge trained by Kate Bandey and ridden by owner Jamie Neild secured their first victory by a comfortable 30 lengths with a faultless display of jumping.
Charlie however did make it into the winner’s enclosure in the hunt members race where 13yr old Glint Of Steel trained by Cynthia Woods had a delightful battle with 14yr old See You Jack ridden by the area’s 2018 champion novice lady jockey Beth Mellish for her mother Maggie Howie. The veterans of the point-to-point circuit were locked together for the whole race before Glint Of Steel who recorded his eleventh point-to-point success, gained the advantage heading towards the penultimate fence and held on despite a further challenge by See You Jack on the race to the winning post.
Charlie’s sister Izzie Marshall also made it into the winner’s enclosure in the ladies open as Jenny Pidgeon’s Top Smart who had looked out of the race made a late challenge on the winning straight to deny Le Fou Royal under Kate Gowing and Goodnight Vienna ridden by Tabitha Worsley who had been tussling for the lead over the final circuit.
The men’s open also witnessed a thrilling finish in which triumph went to Local Show who had made the journey from East Anglia for owner/trainer Sarah Humphrey. Local Show was also held up until challenging for the lead three fences out. Cloudy Bob trained by Ella Gillings desperately tried to hang on to his slender advantage and provide a local victory but was headed after the final fence and was unable to claw back the two lengths Local Show took over him.
East Anglia also took the victory in the restricted race run over 2miles 4 furlongs as Platinum Ben under the guidance of Will Hickman was a comfortable winner by eight lengths over Parham Maiden winner Shanoule Wood with the favourite Bluebell Sally in third.
With a victory and three seconds during the day from his five rides, Charlie Marshall now has a 26 point advantage over his nearest rival Phil York in the area’s 2019 jockey’s title race. Izzie Marshall leads the ladies title race with a 12 point advantage over her nearest rival Tabitha Worsley.