OF NEW ARRIVALS, THE DEARLY DEPARTED, AND SCARING A CHAMPION

It's not always a case in life of build it and they will come, but those who have invested a huge amount of effort in today's sophomore running of the Yorkshire Area Jockey Club point-to-point fixture can feel justifiably delighted at the outcome.

Charm Park is, as many will know, the pointing venue where it all began for me nearly a quarter of a century ago, and in all that time I can seldom if ever remember the place feeling so well looked after. Those still-permanent fences redressed (rebuilt in three cases, I understand?) and presented as big and inviting, and the autumn's sizeable reseeding exercise giving rise to a truly outstanding racing surface - the best he'd seen all season, if a quote from Tom Ellis is taken as gospel.

A runner turnout of 51, inclusive of a 15-runner Maiden, on a six-race card is well worth bigging up set against the prevailing narrative of a small horse pool and prohibitively dry conditions elsewhere; and if the circumstances were arguably a little fortunate, a win in the youngsters' race for fixture co-organiser Rory Bevin nevertheless struck me as ample reward.

An intriguing day's racing included no fewer than two what might have beens for the home team. A tidier jump at the last would have seen local mainstay Royal Chant lower the colours of none other than reigning Aintree hero Latenightpass, the latter pitching so erratically to the right at many fences that you'd have to hope something explicable but not serious came to light subsequently (a lost shoe or similar, maybe).

Thirty-five minutes later, there was a perceptible exhalation of disappointment from many present as Jetaway Joey similarly nailed Fascinating Rhythm in the dying strides, the last-named's rider as usual sporting the colours of the now late Alice Easterby.

In a week which reminded us that even the most enduring Yorkshire racing dynasty of them all is not immune to the perpetual cycle of life and death, with the world welcoming little Heidi Scutt just two days before her great-grandmother Alice passed away (and I'm delighted to learn the two did get chance to meet), no success would have been more poignant.

Well worth forgoing for once the beach, arcades and fish 'n' chips the rest of the family was enjoying down the road, though at the same time it was a joy to have them with me on the trip to and from Scarborough today.