WILTON
BADBURY RINGS
Saturday 22ND March 2008

REVIEW
by Brian and Gill Armstrong

Golden Jack achieved an unusual double by winning two races – under different riders – for Witchampton owner/trainer Michelle Taylor at Badbury Rings on Easter Saturday.

Fortune favoured Golden Jack on both occasions. After walking over for the Hunt race under Ryan Bliss, Golden Jack looked destined for second under Charlotte Tizzard in the Ladies Open, when runaway leader Fleur De Nikos blundered badly and parted company with Jenny Carr four out. Golden Jack has now won six races at the Badbury Rings course.

Ryan Bliss doubled up in the Restricted on the Nyland Partnership’s Silver Monarch, leading on the far side and maintaining a four-length advantage to the line. “Silver Monarch has been placed on several occasions since winning at Larkhill two years ago and ran especially well when second to Braeboy at Ottery St Mary recently”, said Ryan. “I wanted to try these new tactics and the faster ground has really helped him today”.

Ryan’s hopes of a treble were dashed – by the narrowest margin – when Maxou Des Brosses was caught on the line by Zesta Fiesta (Danny Cook) in the Mens Open. In an incident-packed race – Willy The Slip (Jimmy Derham) fell at the eighth, bringing down favourite, Dennis The Legend (Alex Charles-Jones) – Danny jumped the last two fences without irons before forcing his mount home, although his efforts did incur a £75 whip fine.

Jenny Carr, 19, took the outright lead in the National Lady Novices table on Alan Walter’s Bucket Awl, who just got the better of fellow front-runners Trade Off (George Scott) and Lord Anner, the mount of Men’s Novice table topper, Rhys Flint, in the Countryside Alliance race.

George Scott, who works for Paul Nicholls, gained compensation on Even Homer Nods in the closing Maiden. Bought privately in Ireland from Dessie Hughes, Even Homer Nods had been placed in his previous two outings, so was not winning out of turn for Marlborough trainer, Tony Gorman, and his five-strong syndicate of owners.

Hunt Members, 12st (1 Runner)
GOLDEN JACK (FR) R. Bliss
Walked over

Restricted, 12st (10 Runners)
SILVER MONARCH R. Bliss, 2-1
FULLY LOADED (IRE) Miss C. Tizzard, 4-1
DEER VALLEY J. Derham, 5-4F

Mens Open, 12st (6 Runners)
ZESTA FIESTA D. Cook, 14-1
MAXOU DES BROSSES (FR) R. Bliss, 2-1
FORCE TWELVE (IRE) N. Wilmington, 13-2

CA Club Members (Nov Rdrs), 12st (8 Runners)
BUCKET AWL (IRE) Miss J. Carr, 3-1
TRADE OFF (IRE) G. Scott, 5-4F
LORD ANNER (IRE) R. Flint, 4-1

Ladies Open, 11st (6 Runners)
GOLDEN JACK (FR) Miss C. Tizzard, 5-2
FIRST THOUGHT Miss J. Buck, 9-2
SPUD ONE Miss A. Goschen, 5-1

Open Maiden 5yo&up, 12st (12 Runners)
EVEN HOMER NODS (IRE) G. Scott, 7-4F
SAHARA LEGEND R. Henderson, 2-1
STANSTED (IRE) D. Cook, 8-1