Weekend Round-up
24th, 25th & 26th May 2008
by Peter Mansell
photos by Graham Fisher & Peter Mansell

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

 2009 could see the implementation of the Variable Fixture Fee for Hunts who hold their meetings on the most popular dates. A formula has been developed to identify a suitable rate but recent weather patterns may dictate that these require some fine-tuning.

The Albrighton Woodland have traditionally held their meeting at Chaddesley Corbett on the Bank Holiday Monday at the end of May. This has in the past attracted a crowd to match the occasion and the hunt has been able to reap the financial dividends but last year meetings suffered from bad weather.

This year’s fixture suffered the same fate and Chaddesley Corbett could not escape the incessant rain, which swept across the area for most of the afternoon, which meant that only the hardened Point-to-Point enthusiasts remained at the end of the afternoon.

Earlier in the year, details of a new syndicate run by our photographer Graham Fisher were publicised on this website, and happily for the horses connections (which include Fishers son David and David Potter) the horse in question, Parsifal won at our final meeting.

Restricted winner Parsifal (right) and Claire Allen is clear at the last in the teeming rain

The season has not panned out as originally planned for Dick Baimbridge but the Berkeley trainer finally got his name on the score sheet when Parsifal prevailed in the Restricted.

The 9-year-old only seems to know one way of running and as is customary led the runners as they jumped the roadside fence for the first time. He was 6-lengths clear at one point but Himself Dreams On had reduced the advantage as they jumped the open ditch for the final time.

Given his previous performances the writing looked on the wall when Himself Dreams On led at the 13 th, but Claire Allen had the winner back in front at the next and it was Himself Dreams On who started to send out distress signals as they turned into the home straight.

Parsifal then stayed on strongly to provide his trainer with the 499th winner of his career (485 in Points and another 14 in Hunter Chases).

The winner was brought out of Peter Wegmann’s Maisemore Park yard by Graham Fisher (who co-owned that wonderful old campaigner Well Ted).

Speaking afterwards Fisher revealed “the horse has had lymphangitis and a bout of colic when resulted in several visits from the vet – so I never thought of backing him today”.

Parsifal had been due to run at Kingston Blount on Sunday but following overnight rain Claire Allen received a phone call from Alan Hill to say if the horse wanted firm ground don’t come.

Baimbridge must have had high hopes of landing his 500 th winner as Equivocate held a useful advantage turning into the home straight in the Maiden, but a mistake at the third from home tilted the table back in Mels Moment favour and he secured victory with a good jump at the last.

Mel’s Moment and Marcus Price return following their success in the Open Maiden

This was the first training success for Weobley Farrier Rob Lowe, who has spent a considerable amount of his life in Africa but has recently returned to Herefordshire where he acquired the 6-year-old from Ullingswick trainer Richard Price.

This victory provided a first success for Price’s 19-year-old son Marcus who has considerably experience both under Rules and between the flags.

The meeting attracted runners from far and wide and several horses that had travelled long distances were rewarded for their efforts, although the members race went to Jane Williams mount Sapega who is based at her mother Diana’s yard at Enville between Kidderminster and Bridgenorth.

Sapega and Jane Williams are clear at the last in the Members race

Phil Needham and Philtre attempted to repeat last year’s success but they were never able to get on terms with the winner who drew clear on the climb into the home straight.

Andy Hobbs had a significant amount of ground to make up on Fergal O’Brien in the Trainers Championship but the Hanley Swan trainer had cause for optimism after Premium First beat the favourite We’re Confused in the Conditions Race.

Adrian Wintle returns on Premium First following a great battle with We’re Confused for the Harkaway Club Conditions race

The latter was never jumping with his usual fluency and lost ground at several fences, while the same could not be said of Premium First who relished the conditions.

Adrian Wintle’s mount held a narrow lead turning into the home straight but their advantage increased when We’re Confused made another error at the third from home and he was always fighting a losing battle from this point.

Hobbs and owner Clive Hitchings both agreed that the ground was the key to the winners success. David Mansell returned with a blood splattered face as a result of a clash with the runners up head during the course of the race, but he was unconcerned as the 5 points secured in this contest allowed him to narrow the gap on his principal rival Mark Wall.

Hobbs added more points to his tally later in the afternoon but Fergal O’Brien ended the season with the title of Leading Trainer.

“It was a gamble worth taking” was the comment of trainer Patrick Hutchinson after High Gear had triumphed in the Ladies Open under his daughter Gemma.

Gemma Hutchinson brings High Gear (centre) with a well timed run to take the Ladies Open from Clever Liz (leading) and Trevira

The 10-year-old is a full brother to Albertas Run who has won numerous races under Rules, but his present connections were able to secure the horse from previous trainer Jonjo O’Neill.

High Gear had won at Garthorpe on Saturday, but it would have been a close run thing if the leader Clever Liz had not bungled away her chance at the final obstacle.

Trainer Robert Luke was rewarded for his 4-½ journey up from Havodfordwest after Seaforde had prevailed in the Mens Open under Rhys Hughes.

Seaforde and Rhys Hughes is clear of Magicien at the last in the Mens Open

The 10-year-old was acquired from Mouse Morris at Doncaster in August 2007 for current owners Paddy and Wynn Davies, but apart from winning his Members Race has been pulled up on a number of occasions. He showed improved form at Bredwardine recently and connections now seem to have sorted out his problems.

He hit the front on the climb out of the back straight and fought off a succession of challenges by the runner up Magicien all the way down the home straight.

Mr Cee and Nick Oliver led throughout the second circuit of the Intermediate and had opened up a race winning lead as they turned back to face the judge.

Intermediate winner Mr Cee puts in a fine leap for Nick Oliver at the last

David Mansell’s mount Deep Hall lost his place quickly at this point but stayed on strongly down the home straight to secure second place and claim the area title for the Bishops Cleeve based rider.

Uncle Dan who had moderate form between the flags in Ireland scored at the first time of asking for Zoe Hammonds Lower Broadheath stables in the first Division of the two and a half mile Maiden during the Berks and Bucks Draghounds meeting at Kingston Blount on Sunday.

Uncle Dan made a forward move as they breasted Crowell Knoll for the final time and was making his bid for glory when a mistake at the fourth from home halted his progress.

David Mansell gave his mount time to recover before driving him back into contention as they approached the penultimate and they scooted clear round the final bend to land the spoils by 8-lengths in the colours of Market Drayton owner Don Constable.

Dave Mansell and Uncle Dan lead at the last in the Maiden at Kingston Blount

Constable purchased the 6-year-old son of Windsor Castle from previous handler Louise Archdeacon who was adamant that the horse would win over a shorter distance. Connections would have been happy to make the first three as the horse is entered for the Ascot Sales in early June.

This was the first training success for Mrs Hammond since she assumed responsibility for the stables Pointers after her husband Mike took out a licence under Rules.

Note
 DVD’s/Video’s for the Albrighton Woodland meeting are available at a special end of season price from
www.davidjonesmedia.co.uk