Weekend Round-Up
Saturday 13th & Sunday 14th February 2010
by Peter Mansell

MORE WINNERS AT BARBURY

Fifty Yearson continued Fergal O’Brien’s winning run by taking the Novice Riders race at Barbury Racecourse on Sunday afternoon, but some of his stablemates put in disappointing performances later in the meeting.

Fifty Yearson and young Nick Slatter became a formidable combination towards the end of last year and that made them look a good thing in this company and so it proved although the bookmakers made Classic Chance favourite.

He was still bowling along in the lead before falling at the 13th which left Rustic John and May Be Possible in front as the remaining runners raced down the back straight for the final time.

These two horses held a 4-length lead over their rivals at the end of the back straight and for a second it looked as though they had stolen a march over the opposition but Slatter was “confident the leaders had gone off too fast” so he delayed his effort until they entered the dip approaching two out. This partnership collared May Be Possible between the final two fences and stayed on strongly for an impressive victory.

Fifty Yearson (blinkers) comes to challenge Maybe Possible at the penultimate in the Novice Riders

“Told you he would win” joked Fergal O’Brien after the race but co owners Geoff Slatter and his daughter in law Angela were heard to reply “no you didn’t, you thought he needed the race”.

Fifty Yearson flies the last to claim the Novice Riders Race in the hands of Nick Slatter

Slatter has endured a frustrating time with Mauricetheathlete this season but this was a well-judged ride by the 17-year-old who is currently studying for his A Levels at the Cotswold School. It also drew praise from the trainer who reported “he works hard and mucks out and rides prior to school – so he deserves this success”.

The Slatter family with trainer Fergal O’Brien on the left

Later in the afternoon, local stables looked to hold a strong hand in the Intermediate, with useful winners from last year including Bradley and Ice Cool Benny, as well as the favourite William Somers.

Mark Wall normally partners Tim Sage’s horses but choose to ride Bradley on this occasion, so James Tudor was called up as a late replacement at 7 p.m. on Saturday evening.

William Somers was always in his customary position in the leading group, but Ice Cool Benny, Bradley and Even Homer Nods were all poised to challenge the leaders supremacy at the 15th.

A fence later the picture had changed dramatically with William Somers establishing a 6-length lead, which he maintained all the way to the post.

James Tudor and William Somers clear the last to win a competitive Connollys Red Mills Intermediate at Barbury Castle

“I told James to wait until he came out of the dip before he asked for an effort, but I was starting to get worried about that advice as the opposition challenged in the home straight” said Sage after the race, and reiterated the fact his horse must have soft ground so the Connollys Red Mills Final at Cheltenham in May was unlikely to figure on any future agenda.

James Tudor and William Somers with owner Tim Sage in attendance

Sue Collett and Fergal O’Brien teamed up with Marblehead in the Mixed Open. After being prominent for the first circuit, the 8-year-old lost ground at halfway before staying on again at the finish to claim third prize behind Chilling Place and Gold Medalist.

Another Collett runner Bradley was in fourth place when falling at the last in the Intermediate, while stablemate Frosty Spring looked as though she would put matters right in the Restricted.

Given a positive ride from Mark Wall she made every post a winning one until collared by the Hannah Lewis ridden Melteme at the last and being outpaced by that rival on the flat.

The grey Frosty Spring and Mark Wall just hold the call over Hannah Lewis and Melteme at the second last in the Restricted

Nothing in it at the last until Melteme (nearside) just proved the stronger on the flat

This continue the fine run of form for Springhill owner/trainer Simon Hart, who normally qualifies his horses with the North Cotswold but this winner races under a Warwickshire certificate.

“I was unsure about coming here as the horses have to come up the hill three times, but he’s done it well”

Hannah Lewis and Melteme return to the winners enclosure accompanied by owner/trainer Simon Hart. Regular pilot Claire Hart is on the right of the picture with the pink glove

Our runners looked to have good chances in both divisions of the split on the day Maiden, but Sam Drinkwater and the Cathy Twiston Davies Rathconrath had to be content with second place in Division I with the Beaufort qualfied Artistic Approach back in third.

We fared no better in the second half where the long time leader the Julie Houldey trained and Dave Mansell ridden Amatara weakened in the closing stages and was caught between the final two fences by Coral Point.

Dave Mansell and Amatara put in a good jump at the penultimate in Division II of the Maiden before they were caught between the final two fences by the winner Coral Point

We had a couple of placed efforts from a handful of runners on Saturday. The Don Constable owned and Zoe Hammond trained Zinc Mine looked to finish second at Black Forest Lodge but was placed third in Division II of the Maiden, while the Angela Rucker ridden Public Esteem also finished third in a Marks Tey Ladies.

The Rucker’s Honest Endevour was beaten into second place by the evergreen Carryonharry at Godstone, while the Oliver Murphy ridden Premier Buck finished in third place in the Restricted.

The Polly Gundry trained and ridden Tom Bach is qualified with the Berkeley and after his success in a South Dorset Maiden inched his rider a step closer to Alison Dares all time record.