REVIEW COTSWOLD ANDOVERSFORD SUNDAY 7 APRIL 2002 by Pete Mansell |
Raymond
Moulds Grand National hero Bindaree appeared none the worse for his
exertions in Saturday's Aintree marathon and looked a picture of health
when he was paraded before an appreciative audience during Sundays
Cotswold Point to Point at Andoversford. Success
in the saddle continues to evade Fergal O'Brien, head lad at Nigel Twiston
Davies yard at Naunton who finished fourth on Tee Tee Too in the Members
but his training exploits cannot be faulted, a fact emphasised by Look in
the Mirror's pillar to post victory in the Ladies. Jelly
Nolan had Chris Hammett's 11-year-old in front from the start with Members
Cruise is close contention. His presence was more of an irritation than a
threat and he was unable to respond when the winner drew clear between the
final two fences. O'Brien was unclear about future plans for Look in the
Mirror but indicated that he will probably kept to Point to Points in the
foreseeable future. It
had been a busy afternoon for Miss Nolan who saddled two runners from her
Naunton stable in the Members. Partnering Arctic Grey she eventually had
to settle for second place behind Greenwich and Robert Biddlecombe who
were scoring for the sixth time in succession. The Jenny Powell/Marilyn
Scudamore owned gelding led from halfway but Biddlecombe had a major
challenge on his hands when Nolan produced Arctic Grey with a well-timed
run approaching the last, but Greenwich was not going to be denied and
held on to win by a length. Cherokee
Run scored his second victory in six days in the Intermediate. Front
running tactics had been successfully employed at Paxford and faced with
similar conditions the Chaddesley Corbett trained gelding again attempted
to make every fence a winning one. Ed Gretton's mount jumped superbly but
had a fight on his hands when Geoff Barfoot Saunt produced Master Buckley
with a strong challenge turning into the home straight and the runner up
was probably flattered by his proximity to the winner who was eased down
in the final strides. 33-year-old
Bromyard Property Developer Robert Langley scored his first win and his
girlfriend Elaine Hill her first training success after Raise a Gale's
impressive win the Maiden. The ex-Irish mare was always in contention and
swept into a clear lead at the penultimate before sprinting away from her
rivals on the flat to win by 10 lengths. Hook
Norton Farrier Andy Martin and Banbury owner Rosemary Gasson landed a
double with Freedom Fighter taking the Confined while stablemate Romany
Chat was successful in the Land Rover sponsored Mens Open. Half the ten
strong field were still in with a chance in the Confined but Freedom
Fighter suddenly burst clear of the chasing pack to win far more easily
than the official verdict suggests. The West Country challenger Fanfaron was all the rage in the Mens Open and Paul Phillips mount made the running from the start. Unfortunately, he was unable to establish a clear lead and had nothing left in reserve when Martin produced Romany Chat with a winning run at the penultimate. |