Weekend Round-up
19th & 20th April 2008
by Peter Mansell
photos by Peter Mansell & Graham Fisher

DUDLEY CUP GOES TO THE BERKELEY FOR THE FIRST TIME

It was easy to see why there were smiles on the faces of Peter and Liza Hall after Cottage River helped them achieve what many others spend a lifetime pursuing - winning one of the most sought after prizes in the sport, the Lady Dudley Cup.

Co-owner Liza Hall leads in Cottage River following the horses success in the Lady Dudley Cup. Trainer Julie Houldey is on the left chatting to Dave Mansell

The official going was good but that was not sufficient to persuade the connections of Coolefind to take his chance and he remained in his box.

The owners of 8 other horses did not have any fears about the ground and as the runners went to post for the final classic of the season Irilut was favourite at 9-4, although there was also significant support for The Hookie Bookie and Cottage River.

Ran Morgan and Gentle Rivage set a strong pace so this was always going to be a true run race and for most of the first circuit they held a narrow lead over Cottage River and the Welsh challenger Cannon Bridge, with the others in close attendance.

That order remained virtually the same throughout the first mile or so, but The Hookie Bookie had already made a couple of mistakes before he was pulled up by Tom Ellis after making another at the 11 th.

Gentle Rivage maintained his lead until the 13 th but at the open ditch on the far side of the course he was passed in the air by Cottage River with Cannon Bridge 3-lengths away in third, while Irilut was noted making progress into fourth.

Having committed a long way from home, Dave Mansell was pushing Cottage River along to maintain their advantage as they made the climb into the home straight, where Irilut began to make their bid for glory.

Cottage River skipped over the third last and the gap over his pursuers began to increase, but at this point it was evident that Irilut was not going to repeat last years success. Cottage River held a healthy advantage at the penultimate but Dai Jones’s mount Cannon Bridge began to look threatening as Irilut weakened back into third place.

Cottage River’s stride began to shorten as they came to the last and this coupled with Cannon Bridge’s renewed effort had the crowd on its feet, but having safely negotiated the last, Dave Mansell drove his mount out to claim one of the sports best pieces of silverware.

The winning connections in the unsaddling enclosure. Owners Peter and Liza Hall (Appropriately attired in Racing Post Weekender jacket and cap) with winning jockey Dave Mansell and trainer Julie Houldey

The jockey reported afterwards “that the horse does nothing when he hits the front but always finds more if required”. This was the first win in the race for Bishops Cleeve based David Mansell and he had another good day in the saddle, although he was beaten on Deep Hall in the Restricted.

Owner Lisa Hall leads in her Dudley Cup winner Cottage River and Dave Mansell

This victory was yet another feather in the training cap of North Nibley trainer Julie Houldey. She has always said that the horse “just gallops and stays” while Peter Hall said the 8-year-old is just like clockwork “you wind him up and he just keeps galloping”.

Nick Lowe’s Orion de Sienne is described in the form book as being “totally batty” and his recent racecourses appearances appear to be out that assessment, but the Westbury on Severn trainer insists the horse has “some engine” but needs to be covered up as much as possible.

Adrian Wintle drives out Orion De Sienne to take the Restricted from Deep Hall and Murphys Fusilier

Adrian Wintle carried out his instructions to the letter on the 6-year-old and after moving into a challenging position at the uphill fence 4 from home they then led over the remaining three fences.

Deep Hall was tracking that move but probably made what turned out to be a race-losing mistake at the 14 th, which cost him ground at a vital time. They were soon back in contention but had 2-lengths to make up at the penultimate. Dave Mansell then got down into the drive position and the partnership suddenly began to eat into the leaders advantage but Deep Hall was still a head adrift as they swept past the judge.

The afternoon finished on a winning note for Julie Houldey/Dave Mansell partnership when they took Division II of the Maiden with Will Gaskin’s Grey Image.

Dave Mansell notches a double aboard Grey Image in the Open Maiden Div2

The West Country challenger Max’s Choice looked to have this race in his pocket when left clear by the fall of his nearest challenger Good Time Willie at the third from home.

Ian Popham’s mount was left with a healthy advantage at this point, although Grey Image was just starting to eat into that lead by the penultimate. The complexion of the race then changed completely as Max’s Choice stride suddenly began to falter while Grey Image appeared to sprout wings (although the trainer confirmed afterwards that her charge does not have a turn of foot). Grey Image stormed past his rival on the flat to claim the spoils by a length and a half.

The opening Members race had set the standard for the rest of the meeting with one of the days most exciting finishes. Mikey Harris had taken Carthago to the front at the 13 th and they maintained a narrow advantage until challenged over the final two fences.

A one time it looked as though Harris’s strength would prevail but he was passed in the last 75 yards by Alex Smith Maxwell and Hi Tech Man who got the better of her cousin Josephine Banks and Coole Venture by a length and a quarter with Carthargo a head away in third.

A delighted Alex Smith-Maxwell returns on Hi Tech Man following their success in the Members race

“We’ve got the firmer ground at last” was the post race comment of owner Katherine Smith Maxwell, while the winning rider was full of praise for trainer Pip Hooley.

Fergal O’Brien consolidated his position at the top of the trainer’s championship after Fergals Find and Hambaphambili had filled the first two places in the Confined.

Fergal’s Find and Ran Morgan return following their win in the Confined

Philtre set a strong early pace so Mark Wall was content to bide his time on the favourite, but with Philtre dropping back at half way the lead was taken up by Jane Williams and Sapega. They had nothing left in reserve when Hambaphambili struck the front as they turned back towards home.

Briefly outpaced down the back straight Fergals Find suddenly began to find his stride and came through to claim the spoils at the penultimate before sprinting away from his stablemate on the flat.

The 9-year-old has found a new lease of life this season and was winning his third race of the campaign for owner Patricia Duncan.

Oh So Lively had finished second to Croix de Guerre at Andoversford recently but went one better in the Ladies Open over the extended 3 mile 2 furlong trip.

The 10-year-old had been brought privately from Edward O’Grady by his Wormington based connections. The horse had been brought for Tom Evetts to ride but when he broke his collarbone in a schooling accident his trainer/father James decided the horse should take his chance in Ladies Race.

That proved a wise decision because there was only one winner when Claire Hart sent her mount to the front at the 15 th. The writing was on the wall for their rivals thereafter because the leader just went further and further ahead and won by 25-lengths without coming off the bridle.

The Mares race went to the Puckeridge qualified Scarre Lotte, who was given a confident ride by Claire Hobson. This partnership stormed to the front between the final two fences to land an easy victory in the colours of the rider’s mother Rosemary. This is a real family affair because the mare is trained by Harry Hobson and was making up for last weeks unlucky defeat at Higham where she lost her weight cloth.

Adrian Wintle was taken to hospital with suspected back injuries after Ole Maestro had run out through the wing of the 3 rd in Division I of the Maiden, but returned home on Saturday evening – just battered and bruised.

This race resulted in the easiest win of the day, when Jeff Tredwells home bred 8-year-old Alf’s Spinney made up for his recent fall at Kimble with an easy win under Mark Wall who was replacing regular pilot Charlie Wadland.

There was only one success for local stables during Sunday afternoons Cotswold Vale Farmers meeting at Andoversford and this took place during the opening member’s race.

Just three runners went to post for this contest and after a few fences it turned into a match between Diamond Merchant and Steel Mill.

The former consistently outjumped his rival but had nothing left to offer when Jeremy Mahot sent Steel Mill to the front as they meet the rising ground. The 13-year-old just had to be ridden out with hands and heels to prevail by 10-lengths.

Kempley based Owner/trainer Natasha Stallard revealed afterwards that this was her first training success. She decided to hand the ride the Mahot “because she had been unable to get her eye in this year”; a statement borne out by the fact that she has parted company on three previous outings.

Jeremy Mahot steers Steel Mill round the final bend for an easy win in the Cotswold Vale Members

Shobden trainer Steve Flook left the meeting with a double following Oopsmylords victory in the Maiden under a determined ride from the irrepressible David Mansell, while Sian Carter steered No Virtue to land the Restricted.

Welsh horses took the remaining three races with the Ystrad qualified Lady Myfanwy providing “find of the season” Rhys Flint with his 16 th win of the season in the Mens Open.

The race looked over when Flint sent his mount to the front past the weakening Dancing Credit on the uphill run to the penultimate. Catch the Bus began to reduce the deficit as they turned into the home straight and with Ed Cooksons mount much swifter round the tight corner they made up 3-lengths by this critical manoeuvre. Both horses were in the air together at the last but Lady Myfanwy found that little bit extra on the flat to prevail by a neck.

Rhys Flint and Iris’s Prince are well clear at the last in the Mens Open at Andoversford

Flint went on to land a double following Iris’s Prince win in the Mens Open while Derawar came all the way from the South Pembrokeshire to claim the Ladies Open under a fine ride by co-owner Lucy Jones.

Our runners also ran well at other meetings, with the Wilesmiths Mrs White finishing a good second to the favourite Kiama in the TBA/MFHA Mares Final at Clifton on Dunsmore, while Titus Bramble also finished in the runners up spot in the Ladies Open.

Claire Allen rode her first winner since a protracted spell on the sidelines when she teamed up with Sue Taylors Mad Victor who justified favouritism in the Restricted at the same meeting.

Mad Victor and Claire Allen take the Atherstone Restricted from Eydon Run

Charlotte Jones’s North Ledbury qualified Clifford T Ward benefited from Liam Payters presence in the saddle when they took the Maiden at the rewarding odds of 10-1.

Clifford T Ward and Liam Payter are clear at the last from The Factor in the Atherstone Maiden Div1

Fergal O’Brien had a couple of runners at Andoversford but actually tasted victory at the Seavington meeting at Little Windsor.

Josephine Banks had finished third at Chaddesley Corbett the previous day, but made no mistake this time around by taking the Novice Riders Race.

Showing impeccable timing (which was the trademark of Touch Closer’s owner Pat Tollitt) she had 8-lengths to make up turning into the home straight and was still 3-lengths adrift at the last but got up close home to beat another local combination in the James Ridley ridden Baloo.