Hat-trick hero Hurstwood kick-starts across-the-card double for Peter Niven

Saturday: Ripon

Hurstwood’s win in the opening Class 6 handicap kick-started an across-the-card double for dual-purpose trainer Peter Niven.

The five-year-old followed up two wins at Redcar to complete his hat-trick under Callum Rodriguez before Misty Mani brought up a treble of her own over jumps at Market Rasen for the North Yorkshire-based trainer.

Hurstwood has supplied Niven with half of his Flat winners for the year while Misty Mani is Niven’s sole jumps winner this season. “I have a very small string and could do with some more,” said Niven, who opted to watch the latter’s win in Lincolnshire.

“Hurstwood’s obviously in a weak division but he’s won and that’s the main thing. I think we’ll give him time now as that’s been a bit of a key to him this year, not to run him too often”

Luke Scott, who is based at Richard Newland’s, has been on board for all three of Misty Mani’s wins and Niven, a multiple Grade 1 winner during his riding days, is pleased to be giving the young rider decent opportunities.

“Luke seems to have struck up a bit of a partnership with her,” he said. “We all have to get started once and it’s always hard when you’re claiming. At least that’s his first winner as a professional so hopefully he’ll do well.”

Top trainer

Tim Easterby has been crowned the leading trainer at Ripon for a fourth year in a row and he was on the board again at the North Yorkshire track’s final meeting of the season when Spirit Of Applause took the 6f novice.

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