SOUTH EAST HUNTS CLUB
CHARING 20th February
2005
by Simon McInnes
With the excitement of other
hunt related events in the last few days, the crowd for this was
somewhat down on previous years, but perhaps also the weathermen's
doom-laden forecast of Siberian blasts that may have caused
racegoers to be snowed in, or worse, the meeting to be off,
dissuaded some from turning up. Which was a shame, as there were
plenty of runners, and most of the best that the south-east has to
offer on show as well. Top performer on the day was Philip York,
who won both maidens and the members.
Gillian
Jarvis Memorial Open Maiden
The field for the two and half miler, limited to young horses, had
an alarming quantity of Fs and Us in their form for a fairly
lightly raced bunch, so it was sadly ironic that the favourite,
Highfields Clover, should be the one to take a fatal fall when he
had been previously sounder over the obstacles than his rivals. It
also gave Chris Gordon a heavy tumble, which prevented him riding
in the later races. The winner, who had a great deal in hand at the
end, was Lady Mordaunt, who had fallen in both of her points before
today, but had shown some physical ability in the process. She was
left in the lead two out, which sealed the race at a time when she
was travelling best of all. Shanghai Noon made the second spot,
just ahead of Alittlemoreaction, who was demonstrating
alittlemoreability than had been apparent so far. After her
confidence booster at Godstone, Hills Of Rakaposhi took a big step
backwards with another accident, four from home when she was in
contention but just coming under pressure.
South
East Bookmakers Restricted Race
Is this a record? No, not a round piece of black plastic on my
gramophone player, but a race in which thirteen were entered and
thirteen ran. Despite a pace that was modest to the naked eye, the
field were soon well strung out, as if in some bizarre equine
line-dancing ritual, and the gaps between them gradually increased.
Across the top of the hill, It'sallinthestars and Miss Biddy had
kicked clear, and although the latter had a small advantage there,
her rival was biding his time and once taking it up three out was
in little danger - especially as the second last was omitted due to
an injured rider. It'sallinthestars did wallop the final fence, but
recovered quickly and Miss Biddy's energies were by then spent.
Midnight Lord and Kniveniven worked hard in pursuit without looking
likely to succeed. The second fastest horse in the race actually
finished seventh, as he sportingly gave his rivals a furlong start
before Harry Fowler coaxed him round , narrowing the gap slowly
throughout the race. The creature was Only Me, who needed constant
reassurance in the paddock, had to be mounted on the course and
went to post early. Clearly he is mad as a brush, but does have the
raw talent. At the subsequent enquiry, the trainer (who was
watching near me and was fairly livid with the misbehaviour)
phlegmatically reported that he was 'proving difficult to
race.'
Hobbs
Parker Men’s Open
After an unexceptional win in the Members' at Godstone, we all may
have drunk (to his health) and thunk (that age was catching up with
him) on Struggles Glory, but he put us in our place today with an
exceptional round of jumping, even by his own high standards. The
oppo could not get him off the bridle, and late in the race, the
horse had enough in reserve to defy the advantage his rivals had in
younger, fitter riders on board. Little Farmer, proven in Opens,
was second, just ahead of stablemate Tod's Brother. This was
neither the best nor worst of opens, and the veteran winner is
surely not finished yet - but it does make him look a bit of an
underachiever in his prime!
Barfields
Ladies Open
Ten lined up for this, and again the Godstone form stood up, as
Millennium Way was delivered full of running after the second last
fence and a brief snow flurry to double his seasonal tally. The
runner-up, Little Worsall, lost his way last season but made a good
start to this one, especially as he looked in need of the run. He
also showed a tendency to jump right, which is especially
inconvenient here as there is plenty of room for a horse to
sacrifice lengths by doing so. Charing regular Storm Castle was
third, and he also seemed not quite at 100% fitness, despite having
had a race already. He is still capable of adding to his existing
eight open wins. Market leader Belvento was in midfield when he
quickly weakened and was pulled up after the thirteenth. An
interesting recruit from Rules was Persian King, but he unshipped
his rider on the first lap, long before his pointing prospects
could be assessed with anything more reliable than astrology.
Princess
Grace Hospital (London) South East Hunts Club Members Conditions
Race
Another big field, this time fifteen, in a race populated mostly by
horses that know their way round Charing blindfolded. The road side
fences, which proved tricky all day, sorted this out early on, with
Kenny Davis unseating at the first, favourite Sanamour falling at
the second, and Glory Trail being brought down. This left the race
open for an upset but Charlie's Angel, a likeable grey mare that
underachieved a bit last season, saw off the challenge of Stylish
Dave, a stroppy black Kiwi-bred that has struggled to see out the
trip in the past. Tell The Nipper was third, having every chance
four out, but his advancing years have rendered him something of a
one-paced plodder. In fifth Perching ran in snatches, showing why
he has failed to win a point since switching from Rules, where he
had the form to suggest he ought to be able to pop up now and again
in this sphere.
Grants
Cherry Brandy South East Hunts Club Maiden
This came close to being divided, but as
the cold weather and wind was beginning to wear hard on the crowd,
nobody was heard to be complaining that we did not get an extra
race. Perhaps one or two trainers, lacking confidence in their
charges, took financial inducement not to declare, as the
percentage turnout from the entries was the lowest of the day, and
the course was still in pretty good nick by this time. The mentally
challenged Hendrix took the field in a much improved frame of mind,
only to ruin it by unseating at the second, where Mister Pearly hit
the deck. The field thinned out rapidly on the last lap, and Blaze
On (second in a novice hurdle last summer) pulled away from the
pursuers fairly easily. He tired towards the end, giving the last
fence a bit of a nudge, but on the whole looked fairly impressive
and probably has plenty of improvement still to come. Blakes Road
won a battle for second over Badgers Glory and some time later - he
was taking four out as the winner came over the last - Moon Rising
made up the quartet of finishers. Having been slowly away and never
asked to close the gap, completion was presumably the objective,
although had there been a seventh race, the leaders in it might
well have overtaken him.
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