Farmers Bloodhounds at Dunthrop
by Peter Mansell
photos by Graham Fisher

NO EARLY CHRISTMAS PRESENTS AT DUNTHROP

Despite an 11 a.m. start Sundays Farmers Bloodhounds meeting at Dunthrop attracted runners from a wide area, who displayed an act of faith in the organisers who had given the “meeting definitely goes ahead” early on Sunday morning.

Although temperatures were hovering just above freezing for most of the day, the course was described as good, good to soft in places but by the time that the last race had finished at 3-45 p.m. car windscreens were just starting to freeze up.

Judging by the number of runners it has to be said that most trainers agreed with the official assessment but some horses returned to their stables without a run, which may have avoided potential problems with further divisions later in the afternoon.

Our local trainers came closest to success in the opening race on the card, Division I of the Maiden where Clive Hitchings All Thyne Greats attempted to make every post a winning one to justify his position at the head of the market.

All Thyne Greats and Adrian Wintle lead the field over the first in the Open Maiden Div1

They set a strong gallop from the start but unfortunately for Adrian Wintle he was unable to get a breather into his mount at halfway. After setting such a strong pace they had nothing left in reserved when passed by Worship the Stars turning into the home straight and they eventually lost second place to Blazing Guns in the very last stride.

Clive Hitchings and Andy Hobbs decided against running Premium First, who was returning after a long absence, in the Mixed Open. This race was won in impressive fashion by the Richard Burton ridden and Caroline Robinson owned and trained Reflected Glory, who may be tempted the run this progressive 8-year-old in the Cheltenham Foxhunters although he is said to be far better going right handed.

Reflected Glory and Richard Burton go post ahead of an impressive victory in the Mixed Open

The Graeme McPherson trained Calvic was prominent for the first circuit in this contest but could not keep up with the pace after that but on a plus point probably finished closer to Irilut that he had done at Tweseldown a few weeks ago.

Claire Allen had ridden her first winner of the season the previous day after Innocent Rebel had prevailed by 4-lengths in the North Cornwall Ladies Open, had a couple of unplaced rides earlier in the afternoon, but teamed up with the well fancied Springbrook Girl in the concluding race on the card, the Confined.

Four horses were in with a chance as the leaders turned for home, with Alpheus holding Candarili, Simply the One and Springbrook Girl, but as they reappeared out of the dip approaching the final obstacle, Candarili had fought his way back into the lead, while lack of a previous outing told on the other three runners.