MINEHEAD HARRIERS & WEST SOMERSET
HOLNICOTE
Saturday 10TH MAY 2008

REVIEW
by Brian and Gill Armstrong

Sampford Courtenay owner Robert Reddaway celebrated his birthday in style when Incoady (Sam Allwood), backed from 16-1 to 6-1, won Maiden Division I at Holnicote. “This is my first winner for 25 years”, confided Robert afterwards. “I bought Incoady as an “unrideable” two years ago and this fast ground has made all the difference”.

Incoady (Sam Allwood)

Polly Gundry gained a vital win to leave her 32-28 ahead of Rachael Green in the National table. Rachael looked to have the advantage as Reviewer led approaching the last in the Ladies Open, but her mount dived through the fence and lost momentum. Polly seized her chance and forced Dr Cerullo ½ length ahead at the line.

Fool On The Hill’s Hunt race win was a boost for Bilbrook rider Diana Hobbs ahead of a shoulder operation. “Diana has dislocated her shoulder three times – twice skiing and once when knocked off Croix De Guerre – so she’s getting it fixed on Wednesday”, explained her mother, Sarah.

Beat The Bandits caught pacemaker Redlynch Spirit at the penultimate to take Maiden Division II under trainer Peter Mason. “This is my first runner at Holnicote“, said owner Chris Clarke, a Gloucestershire neighbour of National Hunt trainer Jonjo O’Neill. “We’ve often stayed at Exford for this week, and I’ve always been keen to run a horse at one of the two meetings”.

Barney Blue recorded his second Holnicote win of the week in the Men’s Open. After Machrihanish’s early departure, 5-4F Maxou Des Brosses made much of the running, but had no answer when Will White pressed the button on Barney Blue at the second last.

The Intermediate went to Coral Cay, who surged clear when challenged in the straight. “She doesn’t like to hear other horses behind her when she’s leading, so I hoped she would pick up like that”, smiled winning rider Martin Atkinson. Coral Cay is trained at Cattistock by Martin’s parents, Robert and Nicky, who jointly own the mare with Portman Entries Secretary, Nicky Turner.

King’s Wood’s win in the Restricted under Darren Edwards surprised Bampton trainer Ashley Farrant. “Darren has been telling me and [owner] Laura [Claydon] that King’s Wood wants fast ground, and he was right”, said Ashley. “I suppose King’s Wood is a typical Oscar – their action suggests they want soft ground, but they all seem to go well on a faster surface”.

Ashreigney schoolboy Paul John, 16, rode his second career winner on his mother Lynn’s Diamond Monroe in the Confined. “Paul is doing his GCSEs at the moment and then leaves school in a fortnight’s time”, said Lynn. “His ambition is to be a jockey and he’s off to the British Racing School in July. Hopefully he’ll then spend another season with [Diamond Monroe’s trainers] Richard [Woollacott] and Emely [Thompson]”.

Diamond Monroe (Paul John)

Results

Hunts Members, 12st (3 runners) – 5 lengths. Six minutes: 45 secs
FOOL ON THE HILL Miss D. Hobbs, 1-4F
MOONLIT KNIGHT S. Parish, 3-1
only two finished

Open Maiden (Div 1) 5yo&up, 12st (9 runners) – 4, 5. 6:42
INCOADY S. Allwood, 6-1
MISTER LEGEND D. Cook, 14-1
ASHWOOD Miss P. Gundry, 5-1

Open Maiden (Div 2) 5yo&up, 12st (9 runners) – 20, ½. 6:30
BEAT THE BANDITS P. Mason, 2-1F
SIR OSCAR (IRE) N. Harris, 5-2
REDLYNCH SPIRIT (IRE) M. Griffiths, 16-1

Ladies Open, 11st (5 runners) – ½, 15. 6:19
DR CERULLO Miss P. Gundry, 5-2
REVIEWER (IRE) Miss R. Green, 7-4F
DANCING CREDIT Mrs L. Jones, 5-2

Mens Open, 12st5lb (4 runners) – 8, dist. 6:30
BARNEY BLUE (IRE) W. White, 7-2
OH SUNNY BOY (IRE) M. Miller, 25-1
MAXOU DES BROSSES (FR) R. Bliss, 5-4F

Intermediate, 12st (5 runners) – 5, 4. 6:25
CORAL CAY M. Atkinson, 3-1
FRAZERS FORTUNE S. Parish, 8-1
LADY EDISON R. Bliss, 11-10F

Restricted, 12st (12 runners) – 4, 3. 6:24
KING'S WOOD (IRE) D. Edwards, 10-1
THE BUSY FARMER (IRE) R. Woollacott, 4-1F
SPELLAR PARK A. Charles-Jones, 9-2

Confined, 12st (5 runners) – 2, 8. 6:47
DIAMOND MONROE (IRE) P. John, 9-2
MY PAL VAL (IRE) Miss C. Woods, 7-1
BISHOP'S BLADE T. Dennis, 7-1