REVIEW
SOUTH CORNWALL
TREBUDANNON
SUNDAY 16 MAY 2004
by Lee Glanville

Performance of the day had to go to Virgos Bambino in the Restricted at Trebudannon where the South Cornwall held their point to point on Sunday. The horse unseated rider Alex Charles Jones on the way to the start, crossed a river and cantered off into a copse before being caught. Once the pair were reunited they went on to win the restricted race with their closest rival, Indiana John, one and a half lengths behind.

Charles Jones had earlier been up before the stewards when chaos reigned in the young horses' maiden. The disruption started when half the field went to the two and a half mile start and half to the three mile start. The confusion arose because a similar race at the previous meeting at Trebudannon had been over the shorter distance. Eventually they all set off from the three mile start, but with the fence at the end of the finishing straight taken out after an incident on the first circuit, Charles Jones began to pull up on leader Joyful Jade. Liam Heard on Nditlir almost followed suit but urged on by his father Colin, carried on. Charles Jones realised his mistake and set off in pursuit, winning the race with Nditlir the only other finisher. When the stewards enquired into his actions, Charles Jones reported that the chaos in the race had put him off and he had mistaken the number of circuits. Because he won, he was not fined. Ashley Farrant, currently chasing the national riders' championship, came to grief in the race, injuring his knee in a fall, but he is expected to be fit to ride on Wednesday evening at Kingston St Mary.

Area leading lady rider Lucy Gardner added another victory to her tally when Hasten Bak, owned by her aunt Roma Cook, finally got in the winners enclosure after three seconds and a third this season.

Sarah Gaisford made virtually all to take the confined on Eric Wonnacott's Elegant Light, beating smart horses in Teninarow and Mystic Warrior.

Gaisford generally partners Winnie The Pooh but Mary McCarthy, who has had a terrific season and is battling for novice rider honours, got the ride this time and won.

Intermediate: 1, Heisamodel, M Miller; 2, State Medlar, R Woollacott; 3, Lirkimalong, Miss S Young. Seven ran, 2l, 3l, 6.04.

Open Maiden, 5, 6, 7yo: 1, Joyful Jade, A Charles-Jones; 2, Nditlir, L Heard. Eight ran, only two finished, 10l, 6.21.

Confined: 1, Elegant Light, Miss S Gaisford; 2, Teninarow, R Darke; 3, Mystic Warrior, Miss T Cave. Seven ran, 1/2l, 1/2l, 6.01.

Mixed Open: 1, Hasten Bak, Miss L Gardner; 2, Let's Fly, Mrs M Hand; 3, Midnight Coup, C Heard. Three ran, 8l, 12l, 6.00.

Restricted: 1, Virgos Bambino, A Charles Jones; 2, Indiana John, T Dennis; 3, Indian Raider, A Glassonbury,. Seven ran, 1 1/2l, 3l, 6.06.

Maiden race, eight years and up: 1, Winnie The Pooh, Miss M McCarthy; 2, Mo's O Friendly, M Munrowd; 3, Small Lir, Mrs S Young. Five ran, 6.16, 8l, 1/2l.