There might have been
a very chilly, swirling wind, but my third dry Charing in a row was
much appreciated, even though some people, obviously not regulars,
found the weather not to their liking. What was much more
positive
was that despite the possibility of some very one-sided racing
being posed by the advance cards, there was some quite evenly
contested stuff on show.
South East Bookmakers Restricted
This race was enlivened by one of the most brazenly doggish
performances that the area has seen in some time. The animal
concerned was early season maiden winner Kilvoydan, who clearly
decided that the spoils of success were an experience that did not
live up to it's promise. He started the race fairly prominent in
the eleven runner field, but failed to react when the leaders
kicked clear at the fifteenth, conceding a good twelve lengths.
Turning back down the hill, he made very rapid and unflustered
progress to get on the heels of the first pair by the next fence. A
stylish success looked on the cards, but then Kilvoydan swished his
tail a few times and fell five lengths or so adrift. Inspired by
being ruled out of contention by crowd and commentator, he then
awoke again, and cruised past labouring leader Dancing Fonsenby on
the home turn, with his rider motionless in the saddle. Kilvoydan
leapt the last fence with a two length advantage, and sensing a
chance for some extreme theatre, pulled himself up. Despite the
short run-in, Dancing Fonsenby, upon whom Mark Holdforth had never
surrended his hope, was thus able to win with a bit to spare. This
was fair reward for a game front-running effort. Third went to Mr
Chataway, who weakened quickly when the nutter overtook him at the
second last. One interesting performer that failed to figure was No
Win No Fee, who went to post early and pulled like a train from the
off until unseating when in front at the seventh. His jumping up to
then had been low and fast, giving the suggestion that he would
happily go round on his own but found having a jockey on board a
tiresome chore. No Win No Fee had not run since a couple of bumper
tries three years ago, and left the impression that if he can be
calmed down a bit, there is some raw material to work
with.
Marsh Private Clients / TBA PPORA
Club Member Mares Maiden
When the declarations were announced, my first jotted note was,
'surely there must be some better maiden mares than this?'
Connections of Lady L'Orelei must have been kicking themselves for
not having pursued their entry, if the indignant horse was not
doing it for them. As for the nine that lined up, any form of
previous completion was an achievement, and for punters the best
guess was working out which contender would improve her
competitiveness for tackling the lowest level of opposition. It
proved to be Second Thoughts, who has been placed in maidens but
has run badly equally as often. Having come from the West Norfolk,
connections must have been delighted to find such a golden
opportunity - once in a lifetime may not be an exaggeration. It
nearly went begging, as The Flying Dragon (ironically, she has
tended to find the airborne part of the race a big problem in the
past) plodded on in the last half mile to be beaten barely a
length, although at the speed she was going, much further would
have been required to overtake. The lesson to take from it all was
that in a trace where the horses provided no inspiration, following
the most experienced riders would have found the first three home,
with Messrs Bloom, Bull and Dunsdon on board them. After having
jumped right, Victory Salute jogged off the course when presented
with a big open space after the clump of trees on the uphill
section. She did that last time, and clearly finds the field at far
end of the course a very appealing location.
The Princess Grace Hospital (London)
Mens Open
After the outcome of the last open here, another favoured veteran,
14 year old Seod Rioga, delivered the goods. He headed the early
leader after about a mile and was in the van all the way home,
hardly even threatened. Favourite Tough Terms was never foot
perfect, perhaps remembering his fall here last time, and had lost
third place when pulled up after two out. Kenny Davis was runner-up
and as much as he has improved in the last couple of years with
vastly better jumping, he has never struck as a potential
open-class winner, unless finding a weak one. Satcotino, being her
usual lazy self, gave Philip York plenty of work to do for third.
Slightly disappointing was Night Thyne. He has always had ability,
but shown a tendency to blunder away his rider. This time he was
pulled up, defying the view that he had possibilities if
completing. On the other hand, he is not the first Hickman horse
this season to look fit first time out but run as if needing the
race.
Hobbs Parker Ladies Open
A Simon Tindall-owned double was completed by the now prolific
Sheriff's Friend, who was pestered by Jolly Minster for all of the
second circuit, and only made certain of success by being foot
perfect at the last two, after
pecking on landing quite badly at the fourth last. With Hunter
Chase wins to his name already, Jolly Minster should win an open or
two. A little way behind him, Dook's Delight held the belated run
of Gypsy Gerry for third.
The race might have unfolded in an even tighter finish had Celtic
Duke not uncharacteristically come to grief at the fifteenth. In a
scenario possibly unique to point-to-pointing, Silk Vestments was
greeted enthusiastically happy connections as he walked back down
the hill, the only logical reason being because he had pulled up
instead the more usual unseating of the rider.
Gillian Jarvis South East Hunts Club
Members Conditions
This did turn into a cakewalk for the winner, as the much improved
Star Glow brought his seasonal tally to four out of four. He burst
ten lengths clear after the fifteenth and bucked the trend for
tight finishes, never subsequently being in any danger, except for
an overdose of star-related puns. Lively Lord showed the benefit of
having a run under his belt by leading the distant pursuit home,
with Sound Gossin hot on his heels. Whether it is the ground or the
sunshine, Sound Gossin seems to be at his best later in the season
(despite already having won this term) and this was a fair prep for
that period. Another already on the winning trail, Always On The
Line, looked a bit one-paced in fourth, but this race - barred to
Rules or open winners since the start of 2001 - was of a fair
quality for its type and he will find easier openings. That had
presumably occurred to the rider of Commasarris, who had lost the
lead but still held fourth when pulled up after the fourteenth
fence.
Grants Cherry Brandy South East
Hunts Club Maiden
Not the greatest of races, but a big step up on the mares maiden
earlier! A voyage of atonement was completed by Sendonthecheque,
who last week at Parham pulled up on the run-in when in second
place. He was held up in last early on, which can cause problems
when waltzing through the stragglers later in the race. But not
this time, as he defied a couple of slow early jumps to close on
the leaders in comfort approaching four out, led two
fences later and won quite easily. The Irish-placed Jack Of Kilcash
ran quite well for second, having led most of the way and dug deep
to hold Bavardier's late rally - neither Glen Amber (shown some
ability) nor Going Primitive (not shown the slightest trace of
any), both of whom gave chase were able to last what looked a
decent pace for a maiden.
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