Weekend Round-up
5th & 6th January 2008
by Peter Mansell
photos by Graham Fisher

CELESTIAL DRAGON CATCHES THE EYE AT TWESELDOWN

 James Richardson’s patience with Celestial Dragon was rewarded after the 7-year-old scored an impressive Maiden victory during Sunday’s Staff College meeting at Tweseldown.

The winner came into the Andoversford trainer’s hands following his purchase at Fairyhouse in the summer of 2005, and “we have always thought the world of the horse from the start”.

Connections were keen to run the horse last year, but after several minor problems decided that he should be given time to mature.

Celestial Dragon completed the first circuit in his own time but Burton began to put his mount into the race as they started out on their final circuit but the race seemed to be a match between Captain Valiant and Diana Hobbs mount Noeud Vert as they turned back towards home.

The complexion of the race changed dramatically when the latter parted company with his rider before the cutting and when they re-emerged from this unique feature Celestial Dragon was breathing down Captain Valiants neck. He jumped the last with a half-length advantage but this had been extended to three by the time they passed the judge.

This was Richardson’s first runner at Tweseldown and he was keen to praise the work done by his “senior work rider” his mother Susie. The winner carries the colours of the trainer’s godfather Bill Parker who was unable to be present because he was holidaying in Barbados.

Debutant Celestial Dragon and Richard Burton took the Open Maiden for trainer James Richardson

Hannah Wintle had a disastrous season last year when she broke her collar bone and had to overcome several other injuries, so (for riding purposes) she decided to revert back to her maiden name to try and change her luck. That strategy seems to have worked because on just her second ride of the season the Westbury on Severn based trainer/rider took the Ladies Open on Shareef.

This race lost some of its interest when the favourite Fleur De Nikos refused to start, while the long leader Sapega was passed at halfway by Ask Henry.

That horse had to give way when Wintle’s mount took up the running about half a mile from home. He had seen off that rival at the penultimate but Angela Rucker conjured up a late run from Blue Business, who made up about 5-lengths on the run in but failed the gain the verdict by a short head.

Shareef and Hannah Lewis return after taking the Ladies Open by the minimum margin from Blue Business and Angela Rucker (below)

Shareef carries the colours of the 12 strong Copper Horse Syndicate headed by Tony Pendry.

After two places on Saturday afternoon at Larkhill, Fergal O’Briens frustrating run continued when Gulabill and Sam Drinkwater finished third in the Novice Riders at the Hampshire venue.

Gualbill and Sam Drinkwater came home third in the Staff College Novice Riders race at Tweseldown

Irilut crowned a fine weekend for Robert Waley Cohen with victory in the Mens Open. The 12-year-old had finished behind Reflected Glory and Whereareyounow earlier in the season but turned the tables on both those rivals on this occasion.

Marcella Bayliss took her horses to the Waveney Harriers fixture at Higham, but like O’Brien suffered the same fate when Kaki Crazy finished third in the Mens Open, while his stablemate Passerella finished second to Rash Move in the Intermediate.

Larkhill once again upheld its reputation for producing top class racing when the Army staged their fixture on Saturday afternoon.

West Midland refugee Katie Baimbridge decamped to new stables at Adelstrop during the middle of the 2007 season but still qualifies several horses in the area although her first winner of the new campaign was provided by the Heythrop qualified Onslow Road.

Katie decided to stay at home following problems with a horse earlier in the day, but owner Tom Gittins relayed the good news straight after the 8-year-old had scored a pillar to post victory in one of the four divisions of the Maiden.

Gittins commented afterwards “the horse will give somebody a great ride round Aintree so anybody who wants a spin round the course – you will not get a better jumper. He is for Sale.”

Those comments would normally be dismissed in the heat of the moment but Gittins runs about 25 syndicates so should know what he is talking about, a fact born out by his statement that Back on Line would prevail at Chepstow a few minutes later. That proved to be the case but the horse was fortunate to do so.

Onslow Road had finished third in a Novice Hurdle for previous trainer Venetia Williams and was brought to go eventing but then connections decided to try their luck Pointing. “He’s a brilliant jumper so the plan was to make it and put pressure on the others”.

Stow on the Wold based Ran Morgan carried out that plan to perfection but had to pull out all the stops as his mount emptied on the run to the judge but they still had a length and a half to spare at the line.

South Gloucestershire based Ray Geddes suffered a setback when Handy Money was comprehensively beaten in the Army Saddle Club race by Big Brendan but gained compensation in the Ladies when Oracle Des Mottes proved too strong for Polly Gundrys mount Raregem with the favourite Red Brook Lad trailing in third.

A top class field of 19 horses went to post for the Mens Open but at the finish none of them could live with Something Small who runs in the colours of Robert Waley Cohen.

Fergal O’Brien came away from the meeting with a couple of places. Tango Witha Mango pleased connections with his third place in Division I of the Maiden, not bad for a horse making just its second appearance on a racecourse, while his stablemate Marblehead who also runs in the colours of Taddington owner Sue Collett also finished in third place in his Division of the Maiden.

Tango Witha Mango and Mark Wall finished a promising third in the Army Open Maiden Div1

Marblehead and Mark Wall (left) finished a creditable third in the Open maiden Div 2