COUNTRYSIDE ALLIANCE CLUB (WESSEX)
BADBURY RINGS
Sunday 24th February 2008

REVIEW
by Brian and Gill Armstrong

The second year of this meeting proved an enormous success and the car parks were filled and racecards sold out as the crowds flocked through the gates at Badbury Rings, near Wimborne.

Deer Valley’s popular Maiden race win provided Droop trainer Louise Alner with her first win of the season and gave a boost to the Alner family following Robert’s recent transfer back to Frenchay Hospital. Patiently ridden by Ian Chanin, Deer Valley picked off his rivals steadily on the final circuit and was never in danger after hitting the front four out. “We bred him, his dam, and his grand dam”, noted proud Devon owners Dennis Bluett and Elizabeth England, who were keen to thank the Alner family and Ian for their handling of the horse.

Deer Valley and Ian Chanin take the last

Nick Scholfield reached the four-winner mark in the Men’s Open on 4/5F Dennis The Legend, who led on the final bend and held a renewed challenge from Trade Off (Ian Chanin). “Dennis” will now contest a novice hunter chase for breeder Pam Pengelly, who still has 24-year-old dam Fly The Wind – herself a 10-race winner – at home.

Ryan Bliss also took his tally to four on Golden Jack, who made virtually all in the opening Club Members. Restricted to just one run since May 2006, the 14-year-old’s win represented a fine training performance by Witchampton handler Michelle Taylor, who bought the horse in September. “I knew how to ride him as he’s beaten me several times in the past”, smiled Ryan. “I could hear them behind, but I knew at the third last that they wouldn’t catch me. Credit to Michelle - she always gets them right on the day”.

Lunar Crystal (Lucy Rowsell) gave a fine front running display to take the Ladies’ Open for Llantrisant-based Lee and Kelly Bridge, who run “The Chequered Flag” car dealership in the Rhondda Valley. Bred to win a Classic, Lunar Crystal relished the good to firm conditions and was always just holding Dizzy Future, who made a promising point-to-point debut under Suzy Berry.

Schoolboy Paul John, 16, rode his first-ever winner on his mother Lynn’s Diamond Monroe in the Novice Riders’ race, after the rider did well to retain his seat after the gelding pecked at the last. “I gave him a bit of a hug after the last”, laughed Paul, who hopes to become a jockey and spent his recent half-term holiday working for Diamond Monroe’s trainer, Emely Thompson.

Commentator’s nightmare Hambaphambili gave a fine display in the Intermediate, leading four out and sealing victory with a fine jump at the last. Trained by Fergal O’Brien and ridden by 17-year-old Sam Drinkwater – both Nigel Twiston-Davies employees – Hambaphambili was a first-ever winner for Barry Barnes and “my first for over 25 years”, said wife Jenny.

Hambaphambili and Sam Drinkwater are well clear at the last

Official Going: Good – Good to Firm in Places
112 entries – 48 runners (43%)

CA Club Members Conditions, 12st (6 Runners) – 2½ lengths, 20 – Six minutes: 12 secs
GOLDEN JACK (FR) R. Bliss, 7-2
KNIGHTON COMBE M. Miller, 5-4F
FORCE TEN Miss K. Squires, 16-1

Mens Open, 12st (5 Runners) – ½, 5 – 6:06
DENNIS THE LEGEND N. Scholfield, 4-5F
TRADE OFF (IRE) I. Chanin, 2-1
MISTER SWALLOW M. Miller, 9-1

CA Club Members (Nov Rdrs), 12st (9 Runners) – 1½, 2 – 6:09
DIAMOND MONROE (IRE) P. John, 5-1
LORD ANNER (IRE) R. Mahon, 10-1
ROYAL TIR (FR) Miss C. Cowe, 9-1

Ladies Open, 11st (7 Runners) – 1, 25 – 6:06
LUNAR CRYSTAL (IRE) Mrs L. Rowsell, 6-1
DIZZY FUTURE Miss S. Berry, 6-1
WATCH THE DOVE Miss C. Tizzard, 20-1

Connolly's Red Mills Intermediate, 12st (7 Runners) – 8, 1 – 6:07
HAMBAPHAMBILI S. Drinkwater, 9-2
FORCE TWELVE (IRE) N. Wilmington, 9-1
ASSIGNATION R. Bliss, 11-4

Open Maiden 7yo&up, 12st (14 Runners) – 10, 20 – 6:13
DEER VALLEY I. Chanin, 6-4F
HEATHFIELD FLYER N. Scholfield, 6-1
QUILLOTA E. Kenney-Herbert, 14-1