WEST SOMERSET VALE
COTHELSTONE
SUNDAY 13th April 2008
REVIEW
by Brian and Gill Armstrong
Michael Miller celebrated his birthday in style by riding his 150 th point-to-point winner on Massimo at Cothelstone on Sunday. Michael settled Massimo in rear before the gelding quickened clear in a matter of strides with a circuit to go. “He’s a superb jumper with an abundance of pace, and ideally we would have waited longer, but I didn’t want to leave it too late on the gluey ground”, explained Michael. Now unbeaten in two outings this season – he landed a huge gamble when reappearing at Kilworthy in March – Massimo may now be aimed at the Connolly’s Red Mills Intermediate Final at Cheltenham on 7 th May.
Neil Harris took his career tally to 199 (under both codes) on Yufo, who led at the last in the Restricted. “Some of the owners are betting on when I’ll get to 200”, joked Neil, “and it could be Southwestern at the Punchestown Festival”. Neil and wife Keri share Yufo with John Simpson and Nicki Martin. “We bought him privately out of Nick Gifford’s yard from the Sweeney family, who were Southwestern’s original owners”, explained Keri.
Yufo (Neil Harris)
Richard Woollacott took his seasonal tally to 16 on Heathfield Flyer in the 3-mile Maiden. “He’s my first point-to-point winner to go with my 39 wins [12 from prolific winner The Leggett] under Rules”, said Honiton owner Alfie Hunt, whose familiar green and black colours have graced West Country racecourses for many years.
Summer Liric (Alex Charles-Jones) held off Pilgrims Quest (Ben Clarke) in the 2m 4f Maiden Division 1. “I think my last winner was here with The Frosty Fox”, recalled Fovant trainer Linda Syckelmoore. “It’s a relief, as he’s failed to finish in six previous outings, and thanks to John Dufosee and Alan Walter who have worked hard to iron out his jumping”.
Summer Liric (Alex Charles-Jones)
Qualypso D’Allier made the perfect debut when sauntering home in 2m 4f Division 2 under Kyle Yates, one of the stable amateurs at Alan King’s Barbury Castle yard. “His future lies under Rules now”, said trainer Geoffrey Deacon, who shares the four-year-old with Nick Quesnel. “He is for sale and might go to the Cheltenham Sales this week”.
Harbridge put up a resolute performance when outstaying the opposition in the Novice Riders’ race. “He’s won here before, but we thought it would be too soft today”, said Hemyock’s Corinne Matthews, mother of winning rider Sam, “but actually it looks as though he’s loved it”.
Dandooley – trained by Julie Pocock at Stolford on the North Somerset coast for Andrew Pope, Roger Plowright and Chris White – made all and forged clear coming up the final hill in the Hunt race under Charlotte Tizzard.
Hunt Members, 12st5lb (4 runners) – 12 lengths – Seven minutes: 15 secs
DANDOOLEY Miss C. Tizzard, 11-10F
KNIGHT OF SILVER Miss J. Buck, 10-1
MAGNEMITE – W. White – disqualified. Jockey failed to weigh-in
Open Maiden (Div 1) 456&7yo, 2m4f100y 12st (9 runners) – ½ - 6:00
SUMMER LIRIC A. Charles-Jones, 10-1
PILGRIMS QUEST Ben Clarke, 10-1
only two finished
Open Maiden (Div 2) 456&7yo, 2m4f100y 12st (8 runners) – Dist, hd – 5:47
QUALYPSO D'ALLIER (FR) K. Yates, 5-1
CASSIA ROSE Miss A. Goschen, 9-1
MISTER LEGEND D. Cook, 6-1
Mixed Open, 12st (5 runners) – 20, 5 – 7:00
MASSIMO (FR) M. Miller, 2-5F
ASKERS JACK D. Edwards, 12-1
THE QUARRY MAN R. Woollacott, 4-1
Dodson & Horrell PPORA Club Members (Nov Rdrs), 12st (11 runners) – Dist – 7:01
HARBRIDGE S. Matthews, 12-1
WINSLEY N. Byrne, 4-5F
only two finished
Open Maiden 5yo&up, 12st (13 runners) – 15, 6 – 7:14
HEATHFIELD FLYER R. Woollacott, 4-1
ETNA'S CONQUEST J. Barnes, 10-1
BUTTERLEIGH LADY D. Edwards, 8-1
