SOUTH DORSET
MILBORNE ST ANDREW
Sunday 17th February 2008

REVIEW
by Brian and Gill Armstrong

Ask Again (Sarah West) won a memorable Ladies Open when just getting the better of Red Brook Lad and Rimpton Boy, who led over the last, at Milborne St Andrew on Sunday. Ask Again is now unbeaten in six completed point-to-point outings, but a hunter chase campaign beckons. “That’s why we came here, I knew these fences would test him and he’s jumped superbly”, explained Sarah, PA to Paul Nicholls. Neither Red Brook Lad nor Rimpton Boy – winners of 43 races over jumps between them – lost anything in defeat and both look sure to add to their wonderful records.

Ditcheat trainers David Staddon and Caroline Parsons opened their account when Foolish Myth (Nick Scholfield) ran away with the Maiden. “That’s the second win for the Ditcheat gallops”, said David, grateful to the Champion Trainer for allowing them to use his training facilities. “I was disappointed with Foolish Myth at Larkhill but he needs a left-handed course”. Owned by Mere breeders Richard and Deborah Webb, Foolish Myth recorded a good time and looks another to note.

Rupert Tory rode his sixth career winner when 2006 winner Bush Park took the Hunt race after leading throughout the final circuit. Bush Park is owned and trained at Winterborne Whitechurch by Rupert’s parents, Norman and Monica, sister of trainer Robert Alner. “Robert trained Bush Park for Harry Wellstead and he’ll be so pleased when he hears that we’ve won”, said Monica.

Bush Park and Rupert Tory lead over the last

South Dorset Point-to-Point Committee chairman Richard King was in the winner’s enclosure after Vigzol (Richard Bandey) overtook Fully Loaded (Charlotte Tizzard) on the flat in the Restricted. Vignol suffered from a virus and broken blood vessels in the last two seasons. “But the vet said the other day that the horse was well”, explained Richard. “The credit goes to Ali Trim, who does a lot of the work with him”.

Rhys Flint rode his sixth winner of the season – he now leads in the novices’ table by four – on comfortable Countryside Alliance winner, Whites Touch. “Rhys said she jumped really well”, said Hardington Mandeville trainer Ben White, who handles the grey for parents Malcolm and Sharyn, and Suzanne Fletcher.

White's Touch provides Rhys Flint with his sixth win of the season

King Lok (Ran Morgan) surged clear of his field in the far corner to take the 2m 4f Maiden – the first-ever 2m 4f race staged at Milborne - for Hinton St Mary trainer Alice Fox-Pitt. “Tom Jenks, who used to ride Earth Summit, sent him over from New Zealand”, explained Alice, familiar to racegoers as Channel 4 racing presenter Alice Plunkett. “He stayed really well, and Ran, who’s Tom’s brother-in-law, thinks he’ll be even better over three miles”.

Maxou Des Brosses (Ryan Bliss) easily took the Volkswagen Touareg Men’s Open after surging past pacesetter Highway Oak with four fences to jump, while Dean Nelmes took the closing one-mile South Dorset Invitation Flat race – held in aid of the Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance - on his family’s Darling Approach.

Results

Open Maiden 45&6yo, 2m4f 12st (7 Runners)
KING LOK (NZ) R. Morgan, 7-1
KING OF THE ROAD M. Griffiths, 12-1
BRITESIDE N. Scholfield, 2-1JF
8 lengths, 4 – Five minutes:28secs

Hunt Members, 12st5lb (5 Runners)
BUSH PARK (IRE) R. Tory, 5-1
RINGS OF POWER (IRE) D. Drake, 7-1
TORY BLUE Miss E. Tory, 3-1
6, 2½ – 6:21

Restricted, 12st (8 Runners)
VIGZOL R. Bandey, 10-1
FULLY LOADED (IRE) Miss C. Tizzard, 2-1F
HEAVENLY GREY R. Bliss, 5-2
¾, 10 – 6:17

Ladies Open, 11st (4 Runners)
ASK AGAIN Miss S. West, 7-4F
RED BROOK LAD Miss C. Tizzard, 2-1
RIMPTON BOY Miss R. Green, 2-1
Hd, ½ - 6:13

Volkswagen Touareg Mens Open, 12st (3 Runners)
MAXOU DES BROSSES (FR) R. Bliss, 11-8
HIGHWAY OAK M. Miller, EvensF
25 – 6:14

CA Club Members (Nov Rdrs), 12st (7 Runners)
WHITES TOUCH (IRE) R. Flint, 11-8F
LORD ANNER (IRE) R. Mahon, 5-1
TAKSINA Miss C. Atkinson, 6-1
6, 2 – 6:20

Open Maiden 5yo&up, 12st (13 Runners)
FOOLISH MYTH N. Scholfield, 7-2
FREEDOM OF CHOICE (IRE) James Tudor, 5-2F
LORRELINI (IRE) M. Miller, 8-1
25, 6 – 6:15