Although
a total of thirty-nine runners between seven races is not great, the
memory of how quickly the course dried out last year once the rains
stopped did give cause to fear that the turnout could be worse. Quality
was a bit thin on the ground, but most of the races were competitive, even
when long odds-on favourites lined up. From a positive point of view, some
new names appeared on the jockey's score sheet, although as far as the
area title is concerned, the absence of Philip York and injury to Andrew
Hickman left a field day for The Great Man. Inspired by the rapid times
posted last year, the start has been moved to the bottom of the first of
the three hills that the course breasts. This added two extra fences, but
one has been removed from the A25 straight leaving eighteen in all. The
access from the paddock to the starting area involves a very sharp
descent, and one or two of the more excitable contenders strived to take
full advantage. A big bonus on the day was that John Beasley was throwing
in a free copy of last year's Big Green Annual for anyone buying the
current version. Thus anyone cramming six into a car could get seven races
and two Big Green Annuals for fifteen quid a piece. Unbeatable value. As
for picking winners once in, that's a different matter entirely.
Wilkins
Family Hunt Members Race
Lively Lord, who fell at the first fence of the first ever race here in
this event last season, made amends by winning a touch more easily than
the three lengths (or so) margin implies. He was entitled to do so on
known form, but was given a challenge three out by Find The Lady - whose
recent form suggests she should have been a bit surprised not to have
pulled up by this stage. Would it be harsh to think that there was a hint
of Lively Lord's rider (Chris Gordon) teasing Find The Lady's (Mrs
Gordon)? Having her first ever ride, Kate Pegram sat tight when Macs View
made a couple of errors and eventually managed third. Based on the size of
the jockey, the 12 stone 5 weight probably involved using every last scrap
of lead in the weighing room. Jack Hackett, reigning title holder in this
division, was last of the five and is beginning to look as if his namesake
has inspired him to prefer a drink to any form of physical exertion.
Monument
Securities Restricted
A tight finish nearly produced a minor upset. Sendonthecheque followed up
his maiden win - the form of which had looked solid - but he had to work
very hard to do so, and only stuck his nose in front on the short run-in.
The threat came from Ishma, who is usually one of the first to be
eliminated from the win possibles. He had secured his maiden back in 1997
and since then had only tasted glory once, in a Members race. However,
Darren Page kicked on a lap out and it was clear with half a mile to go
that Sendonthecheque was not in for a cakewalk. However, Ishma ran wide on
the sharp turn after three out (which catches out plenty of horses) and
then blundered at the next. He still held a slight advantage at the last
but was out jumped and lacked the pace, or perhaps resolve, of the winner.
Hurricane Harry took third on the run-in but it was well behind the main
pair and at the expense of Mr Chataway, who would have been in that
position had he not finished lame. Irish maiden winner Double Thatch was
pulled up for the second time in a row, but still appeared as if he would
come on for the race.
Mitchell
& Cooper Confined Race
In a race littered with slow jumps (but few bad blunders) pointing
debutant Supreme Irony, who looked in fine fettle before the race, won the
day, and as a Mike Roberts horse, his destiny surely lay here, even when
he won his bumper. His main threat came from Tell The Nipper, who was
slower over two out and lacked the oomph to get back upsides Supreme
Irony. Back at his level after failing under Rules, Tidal Reef ran
reasonably until fading late on, and he was overhauled for the third prize
by White Smoke. The latter was having his seasonal debut and will
definitely strip fitter for the run out.
Highfields
Farm Ladies Open
Glamorganese raider Toskano, under Victoria Flood, took the honours here.
His best form in handicap chases marked him as a potentially decent
pointer, but this is the first time that he has lived up to that
potential, and he dismissed the challenge of Bitofamixup readily. That
horse displayed the best and worst of his character as he seemed to lose
interest at the fifteenth and fell a few lengths off the leader, but
changed his mind and ran on again until a mistake at the second last
sealed his fate. Normally, the reduced pressure of a small field helps his
frame of mind, but today the moods fluctuated from stride to stride! Tom
Cobbler was a one-paced third.
Fine
Art Auction Group Mens Open
The race was a landmark in one respect, as in completing a treble on the
day, Chris Gordon notched his 100th winner. Having cashed in when he was
riding, and winning, on more relative outsiders, I would have gone to pay
tribute at the presentation, but it was a very warm afternoon and
acquiring an ice cream was a higher priority at the time. Nice day plus
fair crowd equals ruthless in the pursuit of refreshments. Being on the
classiest contender in this race meant that number one hundred will not
rank amongst the toughest of the wins. The horse that played his part was
Ballinure Boy, who will be competitive in tougher company. In one of those
can-I-quickly-retract-my-words moments, I commented as they cleared the
seventh that Brackenheath was jumping better than usual. He immediately
got the eighth badly wrong and made a pig's ear of the eleventh. With his
history, I-should-have-known-better lessons were finally learnt, not made
up for by the plethora of hyphens. To their credit, Brackenheath and
Philip Hall got back on the same wavelength and kept at the job in hand
for second. They just held the late challenge of five-year-old pointing
newcomer Lunardi, who looked to be given far too much to do and was not
asked for a huge effort. At the subsequent inquiry, jockey Tom Faulkner
explained that he had got behind with a mistake six out and that Lunardi
resents the use of the whip, so could only be nudged along. The mistake
did not appear terribly drastic, but my vague recollection of Lunardi as a
hurdler is that he was a less than straightforward ride who often
flattered to deceive, and it may be unwise to get too carried away about
an eye-catching performance.
Charlie
Corbett Countryside Alliance Club Members for Veteran & Novice Riders
The regressive Glacial Enterprise showed his dark side, getting loose
before the start and doing half a lap. The disruption did not over
stimulate some of those waiting at the start, but there were some very
experienced horses in the race, who surely know the routine by now. By the
thirteenth fence, the race was effectively between three horses. The
front-running Kiltulaa Lad, the dour plodder Master Jake and the
oft-placed Legal Storm. Within a couple of fences, they had dropped Master
Jake and another decent duel looked on the cards. Kiltulaa Lad made a
mistake three out, and Legal Storm returned the favour at the next. But
the complexion of the race was changing as it became obvious that Tooth
Pick, who had been almost tailed off a mile out, was staying on rapidly,
and the strong early pace was finding out the leaders. On top of this,
there was a more than a hint that the first two had not heard him coming.
Another mistake, at the last, slowed Kiltulaa Lad further, and a smooth
jump saw Tooth Pick land on their heels and with more momentum. He won,
giving what was probably a first winner for owner-trainer-rider Miss K
Blatcher. Legal Storm failed to pinch second, yet another tried hard but
cruelly foiled run on his CV. A word of commiseration for Mark Caldwell,
who came all the way from Cheshire to ride and was unseated at the second.
Equestrianpropertyonline.com
Open Maiden
A steady pace resulted with the six remaining runners in a bunch with a
lap to go, and four still fighting for honours at the fourth last. Yet
another close decision for the judge saw The Wee General prevail, having
laid up much closer to the pace than in recent appearances, although
putting in the more fluent jump at the last made the difference between
victory and defeat. He just saw off Rainy Day, who fell on his latest run,
in Ireland last year. By shrewd placement, The Flying Dragon, who was
third, took home prize money
for
the second time this season, but no improvement in ability should be
deduced from this miraculous occurrence, and her jumping still leaves a
bit to be desired. |