QUANTOCK STAGHOUNDS
COTHELSTONE
Saturday 15th March 2008
REVIEW
by Brian and Gill Armstrong
Riders Giles Hawkins, 16, and Rachael Jones, 31, were first-time winners at Cothelstone, where the persistent downpour made conditions testing for horses and spectators.
Giles, from Simonsbath, opened his account – from eight rides – in the Men’s Open on Croix De Guerre, who stormed clear in the straight after looking in trouble on the far side. Formerly trained at Bilbrook, near Minehead, by Philip Hobbs, for whom Giles works, Croix De Guerre has now won three of his four point-to-points and was an 11 th winner of the season for Spaxton trainer, Marie McGuinness.
Rachael, from Parracombe, North Devon, got off the mark on Kensal Cross, who got the better of 1/2F Sir Oscar (Neil Harris) passing the dolled off final fence. “This is only Rachael’s second ride and I don’t normally put a novice rider on a novice horse, but she’s ridden a fine race”, said owner/trainer/breeder Mike Trickey.
Neil Harris had earlier gone one better on So Long, comfortable winner of the Restricted. “Despite the going, they weren’t going quickly enough for her, so I waited in front and kept a bit for the run-in”, said Neil. The win was deserved reward for Neil and Brompton Regis trainer Camilla Scott after Southwestern’s fine fifth in the Christie’s Foxhunter 24 hours earlier.
So Long (Neil Harris) wins the Restricted
Honest Endeavour, jumping superbly under Angela Rucker, took the Ladies’ Open, leading on the far side and forging clear of Brown Cockle (Rachael Green). The race was run in memory of Denise (Den) Burland, who died in December, aged 37, after a long battle against cancer. Denise’s father, Harold, and two of her friends, Laura Young and Sarah Ingliss, presented the trophies to Angela.
Bishops Lydeard owner Gerald Greenway’s familiar blue and black colours came to the fore when El Hombre Del Rio went clear on the final climb in the confined. A second winner of the season for trainer rider Charlotte Tizzard, El Hombre Del Rio has been placed in both 2008 outings, so was not winning out of turn.
Just Gladys (Will White) took the 2m 4f Maiden Division I in which just two of the 10 starters completed. “He’s home-bred by my father Pat, in fact his grand-dam was the second mare we ever bought”, said trainer Julie Pocock, from Stolford on the North Somerset coast. Just Gladys is owned by Pat Pocock, Andrew Pope and Quantock Staghounds point-to-point secretary Ben Bartlett, so was an appropriate winner.
Mendip trainer Pat Bryant reached the five-winner mark with Midnight Queen (Tigga Barnes), who led on the flat in 2m 4f Maiden Division II. A half-brother to Ottery winner Kings Bitter, Midnight Queen was bred by Avon Vale Point-to-Point Secretary Robert Fear, and races for Robert, his father Mervyn and Tom Coombes.
Midnight Queen (Tigga Barnes) wins the Quantock Staghounds 2m 4f Maiden
Mollycarrs Gambul took the opening hunt race for owner breeder Jeanette Carr-Evans and trainer Brian Robinson. A good fourth at Stratford in May 2006, but absent since, Mollycarrs Gambul made all to get Merv Woodward on the 2008 scoresheet.
Hunt Members (3 Runners) – 4 lengths – Seven minutes:18 secs
1 MOLLYCARRS GAMBUL M. Woodward, EvensF
2 NOBILE (FR) B. Wright, 2-1
only two finished
Open Maiden (Div 1) 456&7yo, 2m4f100y (10 Runners) – Distance – 5:54
1 JUST GLADYS W. White, 8-1
2 RYEMAN D. Cook, 3-1
only two finished
Open Maiden (Div 2) 456&7yo, 2m4f100y (12 Runners) – 3, 3 – 5:59
1 MIDNIGHT QUEEN J. Barnes, 3-1
2 ALFIE'S ISLE W. White, 10-1
3 ASHCLYST (IRE) D. Edwards, 3-1
Ladies Open (4 Runners) – 5, dist – 7:07
1 HONEST ENDEAVOUR Mrs A. Rucker, 4-6F
2 BROWN COCKLE Miss R. Green, 6-4
3 GIFT OF LIFE (FR) Miss S. Robinson, 25-1
Restricted (7 Runners) – 8, 6 – 7:35
1 SO LONG N. Harris, EvensF
2 COOMBE HILL Miss C. Tizzard, 2-1
3 ROSS GO LAD (IRE) G. Hawkins, 20-1
Open Maiden 5yo&up (9 Runners) – 1, 15 – 7:41
1 KENSAL CROSS Ms Rachel Jones, 14-1
2 SIR OSCAR (IRE) N. Harris, 1-2F
3 ATARAXIA D. Edwards, 7-1
