ROYAL ARTILLERY
LARKHILL
Saturday 26th January 2008
REVIEW
by Brian and Gill Armstrong
David Bass, 19, rode his first-ever winner when 33/1 Man From Highworth bolted up in the Royal Artillery Men’s Open at Larkhill on Saturday. “You’ll never ride a better horse”, beamed Highworth farmer John Manners, owner-trainer of the aptly named nine-year-old. “He’s out of a full sister to [Cheltenham and Aintree hero] Cavalero, and we’ll be back here in a fortnight for the Coronation Cup. If he wins, he might go to Cheltenham”.
There were three other “firsts” at the meeting. Pat Bryant, who has taken over the point-to-pointers from partner Caroline Keevil, opened his training account when Ken and Sara Biggins’ Sound Stage gave a stylish display in 2m 4f Maiden Division 2. “I bought him privately at Doncaster Sales as a two-year-old store”, revealed Ken. “Mind you, he travelled from Doncaster to Ireland and then on to Newmarket before we finally go him home to Somerset. He’s always found everything easy”. Champion James Tudor was equally impressed. “He wanted to break the sound barrier early, but switched off beautifully coming up the hill. He’ll get three miles and is very exciting”, said James. Thorncombe vet Susannah Reynoldson was a popular first-time winner, taking 3 mile Maiden Division 2 with The Cad, trained for her by Jane Western. “I had my first ride in 1997, and this is my 24 th attempt”, reported Susannah. “I’d like to thank Robert and Sally Alner for selling the horse to me”. Gunner William Merrick, 18, from Shropshire, made a winning debut when Reflection short-headed Highfield (Harry Wallace) in the King’s Troop race.
The sun shines on Lisadell King and Godfrey Maundrell as they take the last in the Members' race
The Cad provides owner rider Susannah Reynoldson with her first-ever winner in Maiden Division II
Big Brendan gave a fine round of jumping – “apart from the second last” – to take the Intermediate under a fine tactical ride from Richard Woollacott. “I picked the best ground, and kept him going on the run for home as I didn’t want the others to get a breather”, said Richard, whose partner Emely Thompson trains Big Brendan for Brian and Ann Watts.
Richard Barber introduced a nice prospect when Alfie Sherrin coasted home under Nick Scholfield in Maiden Division 1. Named after the West Country commentator, who was present to see him, Alfie Sherrin looks a certain future winner under Rules from Paul Nicholls’s Ditcheat yard.
Sally Alford’s Raregem (Polly Gundry) passed Goblet Of Fire (Chloe Roddick) close home to justify favouritism in a top-class Ladies’ Open., Raregem, who is trained at Ottery St Mary by Polly and partner Ed Walker, will now go hunter chasing. “He’s quite hard to keep fit, so I imagine we’ll run him regularly”, explained Ed. “He’ll go to Ludlow in 11 days time”.
Amanda Bush secured her first win of the season aboard her family’s homebred Good Lord, who made all the running in 2m 4f Maiden Division 1, while Godfrey Maundrell and Lisadell King were back in the Larkhill winner’s enclosure after the eight-year-old’s emphatic success in the hunt members.
The next Wessex Area meeting is the United Services at Larkhill on Saturday 9th February.
ROYAL ARTILLERY at LARKHILL – 26 JANUARY 2008
172 entries – 94 runners (55%)
Official Going: Good – Good to Soft in Places
King’s Troop RHA Club Members, 2m4f (9 Runners) – Six mins:30secs – Sht.hd, 2 Lengths
Hunt Members, 12st (5 Runners) – 6:15 – 20L, 20L
Open Maiden (Div 1) 567&8yo, 12st (11 Runners) – 6:14 – 5L, 6L
Open Maiden (Div 2) 567&8yo, 12st (10 Runners) – 6:22 – 3L, 4L
Ladies Open, 11st (9 Runners) – 6:10 – 3L, 10L
Open Maiden (Div 1) 456&7yo, 2m4f 12st (14 Runners) – 5:32 – 2½L, 5L
Open Maiden (Div 2) 456&7yo, 2m4f 12st (12 Runners) – 5:27 – 4L, 6L
Mens Open, 12st5lb (10 Runners) – 6:10 – 15L, 5L
Intermediate, 12st (14 Runners) – 6:14 – 1L, 6L
