WARRENTON, Va--Ricky Hendriks saddled Rosbrian Farm's Daneking (GB) to win the Open Hurdle at two miles over the national fences at the Warrenton Hunt Point-to-Point on St. Patrick's Day, Saturday, March 17, beating Orchestra Leader, trained by Jimmy Day, by one length.

In the other Open race, the Open Timber, Joseph G. Davies saddled Vintage Vinnie (Ire) to win his first race in this country by an impressive margin, beating Ray de Light, trained by Mark Beecher, by 25 lengths.

This was Daneking's first race back since being injured two years ago.

Ricky Hendriks and Eve Ledyard"We've had Daneking for a while," said Hendriks. "George (Mahoney, owner of Rosbrian Farm) bought him from Rich Richy in Ireland in January of 2016."

"We ran him at the Green Spring Valley Point-to-Point that spring, and he won nicely," said Hendriks. "But then a couple of weeks later he came up with a tendon."

"George gave him a lot of time off, so this was his first race back," Hendriks said. 'Ross (Geraghty) gave him a wonderful ride.

Daneking is a big, strong kind of front-running horse, and he was first or second throughout the race."

"He had never run over these plastic fences, so we wanted to give him a test run over them," said Hendriks. "He's nominated to the Carolina Cup in a couple of weeks."

 

THE CAROLINA CUP in Camden, S.C., is scheduled for March 31 and features the first G1 stake of the year, the Colonial Cup.

"We have Zanjabel and Swansea Mile nominated to the Colonial Cup," said Hendriks.

He also has five horses entered at the Aiken Spring Races on Saturday, March 25, Detroit Blues, Go Get The Basil and Gotta Get Away in maiden races, Sail Ahoy in an allowance race and Say No Maux in the Imperial Cup handicap.

Jonathan Sheppard has the high weight is that handicap with Able Archer, who will be ridden by Kieran Norris.

 Keri Brion rode Team Ollie's Orchestra Leader to second place in the Open Hurdle as well as riding Taper Tantrum, trained by Jonathan Sheppard, to second in the Open Flat race, which was won by Balance the Budget, trained by Julie Gomena and ridden by Mark Watts.

"Orchestra Leader was back to his old self, running a great second and jumping incredible as always," said Brion. "Taper Tantrum ran a strong second prepping for the Carolina Cup."

 

"VINTAGE VINNIE has jumped around the big Aintree course in England twice, although not in the Grand National," said Davies of the 8-year-old gelding. "We purchased hm privately last November. This is the first horse we've had for Armata Stables since 1994."

"This was Vintage Vinnie's first race in this country and his first race over timber," said Davies. "Chris Gracie rode him, and it was Chris' first race in 10 years."

"We're going to run him at Brandywine," said Davies. "He's nominated for the Maryland Hunt Cup, but it would be a bit ambitious to run him in the Hunt Cup in his first year running over timber."

Davies also has Senior Senator, the 2016 Hunt Cup winner, Derwin's Prospect, last year's winner, and Our Town, who lost his rider in last year's race,, nominated for the Hunt Cup.

"We just nominated Vintage Vinnie to get people excited," said Davies.

Jimmy Day saddled three winners at Warrenton; Foxhall Drive,ridden by Liam McVicar in the Maiden Hurdle, He's One Wild Dude, ridden by Bryan Cullinane in the Novice Rider Flat and Officer's Oath, ridden by McVicar n the Va-bred or Sired Flat race.

Albus, trained by Doug Fout and ridden by Kieran Norris, won the Maiden Timber, and Pied du Roi (Ire), trained by William Santoro and ridden by Alex Leventhat, won the Foxhunter Timber.