Easter Round-up
22nd, 24th & 25th March 2008
by Peter Mansell
photos by Graham Fisher & Peter Mansell

EASTER PROGRAMME PROVIDES EXCELLENT RACING AND PLENTY OF WINNERS AS OUR STABLES BRAVE THE COLD WEATHER

Saturday proved a day of mixed fortunes for local stables, although most of our trainers were probably keeping their power dry in readiness for assaults on the North Cotswold and Croome meetings.

Lough Ennel is something of a standing dish at Howick and Rai Jones’s gelding maintained his excellent record over the course with an easy win in the Curre and Llangibby Mens Open.

Liam Payter sent the winner into the lead at the final open ditch and quickly established a useful lead over Red Man, which meant that the runner up was never able to make any inroads into his advantage in the home straight.

Lough Ennel and Liam Payter are well clear at the penultimate in the Mens Open at Howick

Although qualified with the Pentrych, Lough Ennel benefits from the training regime supplied by Nick Sheppard at Eastnor and as she explained afterwards “We changed tactics today because of the ground and had him much handier”.

Upper Wick based Sarah George has been known to make successful forays to this meeting in the past and she was unlucky not to take the opening members race with Regal Storm. They had the race in safekeeping when the 8-year-old overjumped at the penultimate.

Regal Storms error at the penultimate meant that connections were deprived of a well deserved victory in the Curre Members

William and Angela Rucker brought last weeks Cothelstone Ladies winner Honest Endevour to contest a similar event at Howick but they never got a look in following an aggressive front running performance by Chestnut Annie.

Connections did have cause for celebration however when Richard Burton guided Ballylusky to victory over 3 rivals in the Mens Open at Sandon.

Helen Needham’s Kidderminster yard has been in the doldrums over the last couple of years, although they must have taken great delight in Joe Lively’s successes under N.H. Rules this year.

Needham and her father Jim have always had great success bringing on new talent and they appear to have a useful prospect on their hands in the shape of 5-year-old Murphys Fusilier.

The youngster was apparently backed down from 20-1 to 7-1 prior to open his account in the 2 mile 5 furlong Maiden at Sandon, although connections needed the help of Andrew Dalton to make it to their venue after their box broke down on the M6.

Primordial Soup provided James Richardson with yet another training success following that horse’s success in the Maiden at Kimble. The 8-year-old had finished second under Ran Morgan at Didmarton earlier in the season and was back down to favouritism on the evidence of that run. The winner is owned and bred by the trainer’s mother Sue out of Thames Air who she also Point-to-Pointed.

Richardson reported afterwards the Primordial Soup is an excellent hunter and has been out 14 times during the current season, which now doubt explained when they were at the head of affairs throughout and finally prevailed by a length and a half.

Kim Smyly travelled up to Dingley in Leicestershire and left the meeting with a winner after Willie the Kids victory in the Novice Riders race.

Regular pilot Anthony Ward Thomas was riding at Charing so Ed Cookson who works for Bourton on the Water trainer Kahlil Burke deputised.

Mrs Smyly reported that “the horse liked the course and was suited by the ground, but he does nothing in front, he’s a right lazy so and so” so it was surprising given this assessment that the winner was in front at the final open ditch.

They held a 4-length advantage approaching the last, but Johnny Bailey and Tooley Park came with a storming late run, but the Willie the Kid found that little bit extra to win by a head.

After the high, cam the low when the Stanton stable had the misfortune to lose Bonnie Zoe after her departure at the fourth from home. David Maxwell’s mount started favourite for this contest and was still in the lead when paying the ultimate penalty.

Fergal O’Brien consolidated his position at the top of the trainer’s table with a double at Mondays North Cotswold meeting at Paxford. The Naunton trainer took four horses to the meeting won with two of them and was placed in the others.

Just four runners faced the starter in the Members but this was quickly reduced to three when Norwich Country parted company with Guy Disney at the second.

The only possible challenger to the favourite disappeared when Ran Morgan pulled up and dismounted View Hollo approaching the 10 th. Oh So Lively managed to stay in contention over the next couple of fences but Marblehead and Mark Wall easily extended their advantage over the final mile to win by a distance.

Marblehead and Mark Wall are well clear two out in the Members

One of the frequent snow showers which failed to dampen the spirits at Paxford

This was the first leg of a double for owner Sue Collett and trainer Fergal O’Brien who took the Intermediate with 5-year-old Jaunty Journey. The favourite had gone clear with Oscar Royal at halfway but the winner was left in splendid isolation when Oscar Royal made a bad mistake and stumbled on landing after the 13 th.

Connections of these two horses have an embarrassment of riches at the moment and the performances of both horses provokes much debate between the owners husband Jim Collett and O’Brien. The former thinks that Marblehead is the better horse while the trainer’s loyalties lie with Jaunty Journey.

Sue and Jim Collett welcome in their Intermediate winner Jaunty Journey (Mark Wall)

Mark Wilesmith and his wife Claudia must be sick of the sight of the runners up spot this year, but luck finally turned in the riders favour when Mountain Singer was gifted the Restricted.

Mountain Singer was sent to the front at halfway but it appeared that Wilesmith had overdone the forcing tactics when they were joined by Killnascully King at the 14 th.

There was little between these two horses over the next two fences but Nick Phillips mount began to assert approaching the second from home and held a useful lead when they were hampered by a loose horse and parted company after the final obstacle. To echo the words of commentator Chris Leigh “that is the luckiest winner you will see this season”.

Mountain Singer and Mark Wilesmith (blue) take the Restricted

The winner carries the colours of the rider’s father Martin, while his sister Emma trains the horse on the family farm at Dymock.

While Wilesmith Jnr was on the phone to his wife to convey the good news he was informed that their Upton-on-Severn yard had sent out their first winner of the season when Robert Kirk had guided Earl of Buckingham to victory in the Novice Riders Race at Lockinge.

The biggest cheers of the day at Paxford was reserved for Brookings win in the 8-year-old and upwards Maiden. The horse is co-owned by the meetings Willesley based secretaries Robert and Belinda Symonds and Jeremy Hulme and is trained for them by Sarah Stafford at Guiting Power.

Brookings victory provided a first success on his very first ride for 23-year-old Dominic Ruane who joked afterwards that he “was going to retire now!”

Brooking was a very popular winner of the concluding Open Maiden

Ruane showed the coolness normally associated with jockeys with years of experience. He was content to let the leaders go off at their own pace for the first circuit and that proved a good decision because he began to creep into the race as the runners were unable to keep up their frenetic pace during the second half of this contest.

Sorbeididitmyway and Jamie Goss still lead at the penultimate but Ruanne delivered his “coup de grace” at the final obstacle and his mount strolled clear to claim a well-deserved success.

Ruane who is based near Bourton on the Water comes from an eventing background and competed at Badminton last year and hopes to do so again in 2008.

Having sent out the winners of 2 races earlier in the afternoon O’Brien had two near misses in both the Ladies and Mens Opens.

Titus Bramble got rid of Tash McKim at the 14 th and with Father Tom weakening at the next obstacle the way seemed clear for Josephine Banks and Gregory Peckory to pick up the spoils.

Maxine Filby and Alf Lauren began to eat into the leaders advantage at the 16 th but mistakes at the final two fences left Miss Banks mount without any reserves to repel the winners challenge on the flat.

Hambaphambili and Mark Wall were sent off favourites for the Mens Open, but the jockey was already scrubbing along his mount when they re-emerged from behind the old rhubarb sheds at the far end of the course.

High Rank and Jack Watson had been in a prominent position throughout this contest and it looked at one time that this would have repercussions at the finish. There was little between these two horses over the last two obstacles but High Rank pulled out that little bit extra on the flat to land the spoils.

Other success on Monday were recorded at the South Herefordshire meeting at Garnons.

Things did not start off well when the Andy Hobbs trained Premium First was beaten by Worship the Stars in the 3 runner Confined, but things got better as the afternoon wore on.

James Danahar’s Memories of Gold followed up her previous course success for the Tirley trainer by taking the Restricted under Dave Mansell, before recent Stratford Hunter Chase winner Why Connie scared off all the opposition to walk over in the Mens Open.

Ryan Mahon scored a double when the Croome qualified Coldabri beat the favourite Cross the Highman in the Novice Riders, while his stable companion Arfarf sprang a 10-1 surprise in Division II of the Maiden.

Step and Run and Jane Williams beat off the challenge of Angela Rucker and Pirate Flagship to land the spoils in the 6-runner Ladies Open at Eyton. Punters were unable to decide between these two West Midland based competitors who started off as joint favourites for this contest.

Liam Payter finished third on the Marcella Bayliss trained Itsalf at Lockinge but Gaining Ground provided Seanin McPhersons stable jockey with compensation later in the afternoon after their victory in the Maiden.

The last month or so has been frustrating for the Stow on the Wold yard with a bout of coughing in the yard and connections made the wise decision to shut up shop for a few weeks. Their runners are just starting to reappear and this success gives us some idea of their wellbeing.

Upton-upon-Severn Clerk of the Course Martin Weston was rewarded for all the hard work that had been done prior to Tuesdays Croome and West Warwickshire meeting with a double after Dobbiesgardenworlds victory in the Members and Caught at Dawns facile win in the Mens Open.

Both horses were ridden by his son Tom who was prepared to track the favourite Joyful Jack until moving Dobbiesgardenworld into a challenging position at the 15 th.

Their narrow advantage at the final open ditch had been extended to 3-lengths as they approached the penultimate and the Himbleton trained gelding stayed on strongly to hold his rivals challenge on the flat.

Dobbiesgardenworld and Tom Weston take the Members from Un Jour A Vassy

Stable companion Caught at Dawn gave his rivals a jumping lesson in the Mens Open. Punters sent Mike Rowleys Fresh Love off as favourite but his backers soon knew their fate when the 9-year-old blundered Adrian Wintle out of the saddle at the 4 th.

With the riderless Fresh Love distracting the leaders, the field closed up between the 9 th and 10 th fences but Caught at Dawn steadily increased the tempo from the 13 th. He had the race in safe keeping at the second from home but gave his supporters a bit of a shock by taking off a stride too soon at the last. He was never in any danger of falling and gained an easy success.

Tom Weston returns on Caught At Dawn after landing the second leg of a family double in the Mens Open

Julie Houldeys has made an excellent start from her new stables at North Nibley and she also landed a double courtesy of Cottage Rivers win in the Restricted and Bowden Lanes success in the Red Mills sponsored Intermediate.

Dave Mansell and Cottage River are well clear of their rivals on the flat in the Restricted

Both horses made virtually all of the running in their individual contests, with Peter and Liza Halls Cottage River finishing a distance clear of the opposition in the Restricted, while Bowdens Lane outgalloped and outstayed his rivals in the Intermediate.

Bowdens Lane and Dave Mansell have no problem landing the Intermediate

Cottage River and Dave Mansell score an easy victory in the Restricted from Saucynorwich

Front running performances were the order of the day at this meeting and these enterprising tactics paid off for the Fergal O’Brien trained Gentle Rivage in the Confined.

Owners Geoffrey and Donna Keyes were on hand to witness the 14-year-olds success and he was a willing partner for jockey Mark Wall.

They had their rivals at full stretch from the start and with half a mile to go only The Brooklet was able to offer any resistance. Several times it looked as though he was reducing the leaders advantage but Gentle Rivage kept sticking his neck out and refused to let his rival move into a challenging position.

Mark Wall and Gentle Rivage score a pillar to post victory in the Confined

Speaking afterwards O’Brien said, “it was impossible to retire the horse because he has so much enthusiasm and just loves his work”.

Martin Wilesmith, his wife Doreen, their daughter Emma and son Mark had enjoyed an element of luck after Mountain Singers victory at Paxford the previous afternoon, but that could not be said of Mrs White’s victory in the second half of the Mares Maiden.

Marcella Bayliss is still waiting for her first winner of the season. Twiga Woods looked as though she would get the Naunton trainer on the scoresheet when she led at the penultimate, but Mark Wilesmith produced Mrs White with a perfectly timed run to land the spoils on the run in.

Mrs White and Mark Wilesmith return following their victory in the mares maiden Div2

Owner Peter Corbett was dumbfounded after Upton Spring’s victory in Division I of the Mares Race. His home bred mare had apparently run appallingly at Garnons the previous day but she was a different proposition in this race disputing the lead from the start and seeing off the challenges of several rivals in the home straight to prevail by 2-lengths.

The Stewards seemed satisfied that the application of cheek pieces and more forceful tactics were responsible for the improvement.

Upton Springs and Sarah-Jane Davies (left) take the Mares Maiden Div1 Handofharperstown and Karazy Daisy

Brimham Boy provided a first training success for Alison Hyde in the 16-strong Maiden. The 6-year-old was prominent throughout this contest and refused to accept defeat when challenged over the final three fences.