REVIEW
ALBRIGHTON WOODLAND
CHADDESLEY CORBETT
MONDAY 31 MAY 2004
by Peter Mansell
photos by Graham Fisher

Richard Burton started the day two winners behind Ashley Farrant in his quest to retain his Riders Championship. The Shropshire based rider guided three horses to victory during Mondays Albrighton Woodland meeting at Chaddesley Corbett, but at the end of the day the status quo was unchanged because Farrant match his efforts with a hatrick down in Devon. 

Snowtre has provided Burton with three wins at a crucial stage of the season due to the generosity of his fellow rider Adrian Wintle who with the co-operation of trainer Helen Needham and owner Jim Callow has willingly stepped aside to aid Burton's Championship aspirations.
Snowtre's early season form left a lot to be desired but the 7-year-old has now won three races in the space of 10 days for his Broome (Kidderminster) connections and he is unlikely to be resting on his laurels during the closing weeks of the season. 
The Campdonian and Edward Walker ran their usual game race but did not have the speed to match Snowtre's effort over the final two fences and they were 5 lengths behind their rival at the post.


Richard Burton completes the first leg of a very welcome treble on Snowtre (right) in the Confined from The Campdonian (Ed Walker) and Sharlom (Gary Hanmer)

With several confirmed front runners, the Mixed Open was always going to be run at a frenetic pace and Jemaro's victory set a course record. Jemaro, Machalini and Philtre were unwilling to give one another a respite and this trio had the field at full stretch from the start. Machalini was still in contention when parting company with Andrew Morley at the 16th while Philtre and Adrian Wintle harried the winner all the way down the home straight and Burton was forced to pull out all the stops on Jemaro to secure victory.


No hanging around for Jemaro and Richard Burton as they land the Mixed Open in course record time

Burton's third win was provided by the Jen Wall trained Sabena Canyon in the Restricted. The 8-year-old joined the leaders at the 15th and held a slight advantage turning into the home straight and then defied Jolly Jakes efforts all the way down the home straight. His current owner Don Constable brought the winner for a modest sum at Market Drayton Horse Sales.


Sabena Canyon (Richard Burton) dives at the last but comes home clear of Jolly Jake and Ed Walker in the Restricted

Emma James is enjoying her best ever season and the Stoke Bliss rider landed a first and last race double with Primitive Son (Members) and Franco Lady (Maiden). Primitive Son gained the advantage with a good jump at the 15th and his rivals were always fighting a losing battle from this point. The 7-year-old increased his advantage all the way down the home straight to land his second win of the season for Halesowen trainer Wendy Bayliss and her co-owner Sue Jordan.


Primitive Son and Emma James comfortably take the Hunt race

James was in tears after Franco Lady's Maiden race success despite the 11-year-old mare's victory. This partnership gained a vital couple of lengths over their rivals at the third from home, but Winnick kept responding to Geoff Barfoot Saunt urgings and both riders asked their mounts for a final effort at the last. Both responded gamely but Franco Lady was fractionally quicker away and stayed on well for a well-deserved success, but finished the race lame, so spoil what should have been a happy occasion for owner Dick Godfrey.


Franco Lady gives Emma James a double in the Open Maiden from Winnick and Geoff Barfoot-Saunt

Lord Daresbury or Peter Greenall as he was then known was National Champion four times during the mid-1980's. He enjoyed numerous successes over this course and was on hand to witness his 17-year-old son Oliver record his second win on the Stephen Wynne trained Double Rich in the Intermediate. The 17-year-old Shrewsbury schoolboy showed impeccable timing producing his mount with a well time challenged to join Ricky B and TheRealBat at the last before quickening clear of his rivals on the flat.


Ricky B (W Kinsey - left) is about to run out at the last as Double Rich (blue) and Ollie Greenall come to overhaul Therealbat (Geoff Barfoot-Saunt - yellow)
in the Intermediate - this time Richard Burton has to settle for third on Petrouge


Double Rich and Ollie Greenall return after their success in the Intermediate (and Dad seems to approve - extreme left)

RESULTS
MEMBERS
1ST PRIMITIVE SON MISS E JAMES 11-10 FAV
2ND WINNING TOWN MISS S TALBOT 5-2
3RD ALWAYS GOOD P NEEDHAM 3-1
4 RAN
CONFINED
1ST SNOWTRE R BURTON 9-2
2ND THE CAMPDONIAN E WALKER 6-4 FAV
3RD SHARLOM G HANMER 2-1
9 RAN
MIXED OPEN
1ST JEMARO R BURTON 7-2
2ND PHILTRE A WINTLE 2-1 FAV
3RD TEME WILLOW J PRITCHARD 5-2
7 RAN
INTERMEDIATE
1ST DOUBLE RICH O GREENALL 10-1
2ND THEREALBAT G BARFOOT SAUNT 4-1
3RD PETROUGE R BURTON 5-4 FAV
RESTRICTED
1ST SABENA CANYON R BURTON 5-2 FAV
2ND JOLLY JAKE E WALKER 4-1
3RD ALL EYES ON ME M WALL 12-1
7 RAN
MAIDEN
1ST FRANCO LADY MISS E JAMES 5-2
2ND WINNICK G BARFOOT SAUNT 7-2
3RD RED SPARK E WALKER 2-1 FAV
12 RAN