REVIEW
BERKELEY
WOODFORD
SATURDAY 26 APRIL 2003

by Peter Mansell

Northern Deal's winning run continued in the Mens Open during Saturdays Berkeley Point to Point at Woodford, when the Dick Baimbridge trained gelding retained his unbeaten record for the season with his fifth win of the current campaign. 

The 8-year-old faced just four rivals but was made to pull out all the stops by the West Country challenger Tell Tale before prevailing by 3 lengths. Adrian Wintle was initially disappointed with his mounts performance until it was discovered that Northern Deal had recorded the fastest time of the day. This was another fine training performance by the Berkeley trainer who has turned what was previously a moderate performer into a top class Point to Pointer.

Teme Willow beat Heavy Hustler in last years Members but the 12-year-old gained compensation on Saturday. It became a battle of attrition up the home straight between Blue Rosette and Heavy Hustler with Polly Gundry and Hottentot breathing down their necks in third. The favourite fought off the attentions of Blue Rosette and had sufficient reserves to hold the challenge of Hottentot in a blanket finish to land the prize for Anna Clifford and her Frampton on Severn based father Rollo.

Dorset Trainer Richard Barber landed a treble, taking the Ladies with Rimpton Boy and both divisions of the Maidens with Keitho and Landrover. Steady Eddy made much of the running in the Ladies but after his departure at the 14th Rimpton Boy was never in trouble and came home well clear of his rivals.

Despite Keitho and Landrover's previous form figures both horses started favourite for their respective events. John Honeyballs 8-year-old had failed to complete the course in previous Point to Points but was nursed round in this contest by Nick Williams before quickening clear on the run in.

Landrover was the impressive winner of his race, taking the lead at the end of the back straight and galloping his rivals into the ground from that point to score an impressive win in the colours of his Malmesbury based owner/breeder Lucy Dickinson.

Beadnall Bay took the Restricted after Julian Pritchards mount Spring Cabbage had slipped up on the bend after the 15th while Merry Shot scored a surprise win in the Intermediate at the expense of the runner up Border Farmer.

BERKELEY RESULTS
RESTRICTED
1ST BEADNELL BAY MISS A GOSCHEN 11-8 FAV
2ND NORTHERN EDITION G BARFOOT SAUNT 5/2
3RD MASTER GRASS P MASON 6/1
7 RAN 10 - 10 LENGTHS
MEMBERS
1ST HEAVY HUSTLER MISS A CLIFFORD 2-7 FV
2ND HOTTENTOT MISS P GUNDRY 6/1
3RD BLUE ROSETTE N COOK 8/1
6 RAN 3/4 LENGTH - NECK
INTERMEDIATE
1ST MERRY SHOT J SNOWDEN 20/1
2ND BORDER FARMER J RICHARDSON 5/1
3RD MR NABORRO A WINTLE 11-10 FAV
8 RAN 6 LENGTHS - NECK
LADIES OPEN
1ST RIMPTON BOY MISS P GUNDRY 10-11 FAV
2ND FAIR WIN MISS O JACKSON 9/1
3RD JOLITAN MISS A GOSCHEN 6/1
9 RAN 15 - 3/4 LENGTH
MENS OPEN
1ST NORTHERN DEAL A WINTLE 1-4 FAV
2ND TELL TALE J PRITCHARD 6/1
3RD MACY G BARFOOT SAUNT 5/1
5 RAN 3 LENGTHS - DISTANCE
MAIDEN - DIVISION I
1ST KEITHO N WILLIAMS 2-1 FAV
2ND CARAT MISS P GUNDRY 4/1
3RD STRONG FINISH M WALTERS 8/1
11 RAN 20 - 8 LENGTHS
MAIDEN - DIVISION II
1ST LANDROVER N WILLIAMS 11-8 FAV
2ND MISS BIDDY A HARRIS 4/1
3RD CELEBRATION MARCH MISS P GUNDRY 7/2
14 RAN 15 - 1 1/4 LENGTHS