South Devon Hunts Club
Ideford Arch
Sunday 30th December 2007
by Peter Mansell
photos by Graham Fisher

WINNERS THIN ON THE GROUND, BUT PLENTY OF CLUES FOR LATER IN THE SEASON

The last race at Sundays South Devon Hunts Club meeting at Ideford Arch was run just as darkness was beginning to fall and the Stewards did well to overcome every obstacle that was placed in its path.

Both divisions of the short Maiden were divided on the day, one race was delayed due to temporary shortage of ambulance cover but at least 2007 went out with a bang rather than a whimper.

The year ended with a 10-race programme although it failed to yield any winners for West Midland horses but it did throw up plenty of clues for later in the season.

David Maxwell does well on his “shopping trips” to France and looks as though he has found himself another useful prospect in Pingaro De La Vire.

This combination did well to survive a bad mistake at the second in part two of Division I of the 2½ mile Maiden. Maxwell soon had the strapping 4-year-old son of Ungaro back on an even keel and moved up into a challenging position as they raced along the back straight for the final time.

They had a protracted battle with the favourite Come What Augustus and had drawn well clear of their rivals as they hit the rising ground. According to connections Pingaro de La Vire made a mistake at the third from home but was back on the bridle and on level terms with the leader when he parted company with Maxwell at the penultimate. The favourite came home with his head in his chest, but opinion was divided as to the outcome should these two horses meet again.

With fate conspiring against them earlier in the afternoon the Smyly stable were justifiably over the moon after Unleash had finished runner up to Double Honour in the Mixed Open.

Diana Hobbs and Nick Sutton both kept their power dry during the first half of this contest but began to move up to the leaders as they raced along the back straight towards the final open ditch.

Double Honour struck the front soon afterwards but Unleash was always in his shadows and these two horses gradually began to dry clear from the favourite Lord Trix. Double Honour went a couple of lengths clear between the final two fences and Nick Sutton had to accept defeat soon afterwards.

Unleash and Nick Sutton return after finishing a close second to Double Honour in the Mixed Open

Mister Putt did well on his reappearance with the Berkeley qualified gelding finishing second to King Georges in the Club Members Race a contest which saw Springbrook Girl struggling at halfway.

Springbrook Girl (Adrian Wintle) returns safely after the opening Club Members race

Miss Gundry had to settle for another second place later in the afternoon after Arvakur, a horse she trains for her mother Helen and her partners Ed Walker mother Sally was beaten by Cool Defender in the first half of Division II of the 2-1/2 mile Maiden.

There was compensation for Gundry later in the afternoon when Wee Fly got the better of Adrian Wintle and the Beaufort qualified Ten Pressed Men during the final half-mile of the Division I of the 3-mile Maiden.

Horses qualified in the West Midland filled the first three places in the Mens Open at Cottenham with the favourite Ballylusky carrying the Ruckers colours to victory at the expense of the Sarah Stafford trained Full Minty, while Toms Prize was 10-lengths away in third place.

The Ruckers make a substantial commitment to the sport with the introduction of new horses each season and their well touted Falcon Lane was expected to bring home the bacon in the Restricted, but things did not go as planned when the favourite was pulled up at the 13 th which left Stuart Morris to claim the spoils on Northall Lad.

Claire Allen rode her second winner of the season when Christy Beamish justified favouritism in the Ladies Open. His path to victory was eased when Candarli who was attempting to win his third race of the season was harassed out of the race by a loose horse at the third from home, while another fancied runner Abbey Days was beaten when falling at the last.