This is a direct quote from my post race blog 12 months ago: ‘Not many people beat Amicelli in his own back yard and after Harty won the race on Palypso De Creek it looks like she is now going to be banned from travelling north of Derby until further notice!’. What was the reason for that statement? Because Claire Hart and Palypso De Creek had just won the AGA Ladies Open race at Sheriff Hutton, beating local (and national) legend, Amicelli into the bargain.

Amicelli, who at the time was the reigning AGA series champion, did not go down without a fight, but the 12 length margin of victory was enough to prompt calls for Claire to be banned from returning to Yorkshire! Claire had obviously never heard of the law that says you’re not allowed to beat Amicelli in Yorkshire.

The ban was only for race riding and she is still allowed across the border for social occasions, however, I have some bad news for our Yorkshire friends. At about 1.30 on Saturday afternoon Miss C.V. Hart will be loading her kit into the back of the AGA man’s car and I will be bringing her back to Yorkshire … and she doesn’t intend to leave empty handed!

The national leading point-to-point horse from 2013 is among the 17 entries for the third AGA Ladies Open race of the season, and his rider is oozing confidence ahead of the long journey north.

I’m sure the welcome in Yorkshire will be a warm one – it always is – but I’m not so sure that Claire will be planning a night out in Malton on Saturday, just in case the legendary Yorkshire hospitality results in a hangover from hell!

Jill and Mike Dawson’s stable star has his own facebook profile page, so we’ll let him have the last word with a quote which is literally straight from the horses mouth – “Hi, I’m looking forward to seeing everyone! I am very well and final preparations are going very well, so come Sunday hopefully I will be tip top and raring to run. It is very competitive so all I can do is the best I can, and may the best horse win ( hopefully its me and Claire ) but I wish a safe and clear round for all”.

**Read all about our last visit to Sheriff Hutton by clicking here.