Weekend Round-up
29th & 30th March 2008
by Peter Mansell

LEDBURY MEETING WASHED OUT ON SATURDAY AFTERNOON

There is little to report this weekend, because most of our trainers were concentrating their efforts on Sundays Ledbury fixture at Maisemore Park.

The weather seemed to reserve its worst for this area, so the postponement was not entirely unexpected, but frustratingly for the organisers Sunday was the complete opposite of the previous day with wonderful springlike conditions.

The organisers are undeterred and have arranged for the re-scheduled meeting to take place on Sunday 13 th April (original start time and entries remain).

Sweet Citizen’s success in the Puckeridge Restricted at Horseheath provided the areas solitary success and rewarded the patience of owner Diana Williams and her daughter Jane.

The gelding has been placed three times since coming over from Ireland and had been a model of consistency prior to that by finishing in 26 out of his last 27 outings but his supporters must have been wary that he could convert these efforts into another win.

Sweet Citizen obviously relished the conditions are Horseheath because he came home 15-lengths clear of his rivals in the Restricted, which provided compensation for connections after his stablemate Madge Carroll had suffered a comprehensive defeat behind Frosty Run and Tooley Park in the Ladies.

Only the most ardent enthusiasts braved the elements at a rain sodden Larkhill on Saturday afternoon.

James Richardson selected the Red Mills Intermediate for Celestial Dragon. The Andoversford trained gelding started second favourite for this contest and seemed to be going easily for Richard Burton at the back of the field, but he went out like a light over the final four fences on conditions that obviously did not suit him.

Jeans Joy and Polly Gundry caught the long time leader True Tara at the second from home in the Mares Maiden. The North Ledbury qualifier was given another chance when the winner slowed dramatically at the last, but was too tired to take advantage of the situation.