A GREAT finish to the men's open was the highlight of the Holderness point to point held at Dalton Park last Sunday.

Mr Mahdlo (Middleton), owned and trained by Bob Woodhouse, went in front five from home with Mr Pendleberry (C Tinkler/Middleton), ridden by Nick Tinkler, close up.

Jumping the third last, the favourite Shackleton (Lord Daresbury/Middleton), trained by David Easterby, moved into contention. Mr Mahdlo, ridden by Ben Woodhouse, was still three lengths clear two from home, but the Oliver Greenall-ridden Shackleton was running on and was level at the last.

In a great battle to the line with both horses nudging in front, Mr Mahdlo found extra to win by a short head. Mr Pendleberry was outpaced on the flat, finishing five lengths further back in third.

Texas Ranger, ridden by trainer Jo Foster, and San Francisco (J Kibble/Sinnnington), ridden by trainer Freya Hartley, set a strong pace in the ladies open. The Serena Brotherton-trained and ridden Legendry Line (Sinnington) was always going well in their slipstream.

San Francisco was first to crack under the pace five from home, leaving Texas Ranger in front, but when Legendry Line hit the front three from home, Texas Ranger was under severe pressure.

Galloping on in fine style, Legendry Line opened up a ten-length lead two from home, a gap which was maintained to the line.

The Sheila Mollet-trained Bloomfield Storm (A Lyons/Burton), ridden by Louise Allan, kept on to take second, while the weakening Texas Ranger was pulled up between the last two. San Francisco kept on to take third.

The Tony Walker-trained The Graduate (Mrs C Robertson) led five from home in the members under Simon Walker.

He was pressed from the third last by the odds-on favourite Nordic Crest (T Rose), ridden by Mark Walford, and the Mary Sowersby-trained John Rich (C Richardson).

The Cherry Coward-trained Nordic Crest looked to be coming to win the race approaching the last, but The Graduate showed great resolution, keeping on well to win by a length. The Guy Brewer-ridden John Rich finished a further three lengths back in third.

Hattie set a strong gallop in the Restricted race and, with half a mile to run, he was still 20 lengths clear. But the strong pace caught up with him five from home and he began to back pedal.

Alan Jackson's Wilfie Wild (Cleveland) was given an excellent ride by trainer Lynne Ward and the improved nine-year-old moved to the front with fellow joint favourite Just A Man at the third last.

The pair were level two out, but Wilfie Wild galloped on strongly to the last as Just A Man pulled up. Landing clear at the last, he stayed on strongly to the line, winning by ten lengths.

Ward's sister Tina Jackson won the second division of the Maiden on 8-1 shot Magic Route (H Thompson/Cleveland). Magic Route got the better of the five-year-old Senza Scrupoli (M Humphreys/Middleton), who was ridden by Chris Dawson.

After three seconds this season there was a deserved first win for 12-year-old Rising Talisker (Sinnington) in the Mares' Maiden.

Three were in a line at the last - Rising Talisker, ridden by Rachel Clark, Ohso Tilly (J Enersby/Pendle), ridden by Jo Foster, and Darcaena (N Tutty/Hurworth), ridden by Phillip Kinsella.

In a great battle to the line, Rising Talisker found extra to lead close home and win by half a length. The Paul Grinrod-trained Ohso Tilly finished second, a length in front of the Karen Tutty-trained Darcaena.

Tim Sharpe's point debutant Kiora Bay (Badsworth) jumped well in landing the first division of the Maiden in the hands of David Thomas.

Coming to the last, Kiora Bay led by two lengths from the favourite, the Ian Mason-trained Duggleby (Middleton), ridden by Clive Mulhall. Duggleby threw down a challenge on the flat, but Kiora Bay responded well and kept on to win by a length.

l The Hurworth point to point takes place tomorrow at Hutton Rudby, first race 12.30