REVIEW
STAINTONDALE
CHARM PARK
Easter Monday 17th April 2006
by Ian Marshall
Morning showers left near perfect
ground for this Easter Monday fixture and as a result there were
plenty of runners that produced tight finishes in all six
races.
The Hunt Members was for horses qualified
with both the Staintondale and Derwent and there were six
declarations, three of whom completed the course. Brown’s
Beck and Whitley Grange Boy had a real tussle from the final fence,
which the former got the better of by a nose. Brown’s Beck
responded gamely to Steve Charlton’s urgings on the run-in.
He kept improving by one place last season and remained in the same
vein on this seasonal reappearance. Whitley Grange Boy will
continue to boost Oliver Pimlott’s fledgling riding career.
Colonel Ludlow in third was attempting to bring Chris Cundall a
step closer to a century of winners. He is more suited to a shorter
course as he was unable to quicken sufficiently in the last half
mile. Abbey Whin was out in front for the best part of a circuit
before dropping away.
A bumper field of 17 lined up for a highly
competitive Restricted and there was a surprise victory for Hattie
and Philip Cornforth. There were still several with chances turning
into the home straight, but it was the mare that stayed on best of
all. She can be difficult to restrain, but on this occasion had
more than enough left in the tank at the death, having been up with
the pace throughout. Sajomi Rona kept up the good work of recent
weeks in the hands of Ian Smith and chased Hattie the entire way to
the line to be runner-up. Harwood Dale, with Mark Walford in the
plate, stuck on doggedly for third, certainly holding his own in
the higher grade. The horse he beat at Brocklesby Park, True
Legend, won a maiden over the weekend. Eastern Royal put three
disappointing displays behind him in fourth under Clive Mulhall.
One for the future could be Winanoscar, who has performed with
merit on each of his three outings in 2006. He didn’t get
outpaced until the run to the last and might be able to find a
restricted on reasonable ground. Mile High City and Clever Nora
weren’t disgraced, but Bulmer Bank, made a warm favourite
after getting to within a length of Ruggtah at Brocklesby Park in
March, was never traveling and hardly seems to run two races the
same. Lambhill Stakes led until the penultimate obstacle and was
beaten in about fifth when he came down at the last. Freds Heir has
changed stables and ownership and been off the track since scoring
in an Alnwick maiden in January. He might have been in need of the
race.
The Mixed Open was an exceptionally hot race
that brought together ten horses that included some very talented
individuals. The first four home were covered by just six lengths.
Barryscourt Lad triumphed under Mark Walford, meaning that the
injured Ben Woodhouse missed out on another winner. Prominent from
the off, Barryscourt Lad grittily powered forward on the flat in
search of the lollipop. He was down the field in the Aintree
Foxhunters, but had previously won a point-to-point at Witton
Castle and an Ayr hunter chase. Imps Way (Clive Mulhall) was held
up in the early stages, making stealthy progress to lead with five
to jump and chasing resolutely in second when she was passed by
Barryscourt Lad. Her attention will soon be back to hunter chases
with some hope of additional prizes to go with her two Hexham
successes in 2005. Robber and Michael Morley have been a formidable
presence this year and the pairing are keeping their sound form. In
fourth, Duchess Account (Emma Brader) posted a lifetime best
effort, finishing like the proverbial train. She will be a tough
nut to crack in a slog around Heslaker and could possibly go
further afield looking for races at extended distances. This should
have put Civil Gent spot on for cracks at the sharper tracks of
Easingwold and Garthorpe.
The Confined also featured ten runners and
Oliver Greenall got on the scoresheet aboard Trooper Collins, the
eight-year-old being produced at the final fence to gain the
verdict by three-quarters of a length. On the whole, he is pretty
consistent, already having landed a Bangor intermediate this year,
prior to getting bogged down at Mordon. Runner-up Charlies Memory,
partnered by Jacqueline Coward, didn’t give an inch in an
eventually vain pursuit and one can envisage him adding to his
tally of three victories in 2006 in the coming weeks. Flat Stanley
was plucky in third with Niall Saville on top and went close again.
Another success must be just around the corner. Sweeping Storm in
fourth has been putting in his hardest work at the finish all
campaign for Richard Smith and has been knocking on the door
without threatening to carry off a race. Gabla showed much more
than on Saturday at Stainton, while Dilsaa, formerly a fair hurdles
and flat performer with Kevin Ryan, isn’t particularly easy
to evaluate and it wouldn’t be a complete shock to find him
winning before the season is out. The five-year-old debutant Mister
Worthington was in touch until the back straight for the second
time and will be a different proposition when next seen.
The Open Maiden was a thriller and had 15
competitors. There were four in line at the last and it was Riot
Act and Jacqueline Coward that conquered their rivals. A peach of a
ride saw Riot Act pick up the leaders leaving the far side and join
issue in the final furlong before forging ahead to the judge.
Richard Mason’s charge is a full brother to the same
owner’s Just A Man, who has been a dual scorer this year.
Protecting Heights in second really doesn’t appear to be a
natural jumper, but nonetheless has enough ability to outweigh any
shortcomings and should land a maiden under Guy Brewer. Third were
Top Pack and Richard Wakeham. They got in a bit tight to the last,
which might have cost them the race and their turn should come in
the near future. Moraira (Simon Walker) was fourth, staying on at
the one pace from the home turn, but running a solid race in the
process. Royal Return got rid of Oliver Greenall at the 4th, but Mr
Bee Gee will benefit for the experience. Whisky In The Jar showed
up for a long way and there are signs of promise in stable
companion Ellerslie De Hooch, while Comfortably Numb gave
encouragement on his third outing after a lengthy lay off.
15 horses went to post for the Open
Conditions Maiden, which was solely for animals that had previously
been placed neither second nor third. You might imagine a low key
affair, but this race has thrown up some useful types in the past,
none more so than the 2005 winner Skew Whip. This year’s
renewal pitted two highly regarded youngsters against each other:
Bob Woodhouse’s The Howardian and Maxine Stirk’s Sunday
Lunch, with Mark Walford on the former and Guy Brewer on the
latter. A ding-dong battle between the pair over the final couple
of fences saw Sunday Lunch fill pole position. Sunday Lunch is a
fine stamp of a horse and exhibited the worth of his debut in a
Whittington intermediate. He just didn’t give up, having been
left in front at the 15th following Archenko’s fall, and can
add brave to his many nice characteristics. His next appointment
could be at Doncaster Spring Sales. The Howardian is due to go
under the hammer himself at Cheltenham Sales later this week. He is
without doubt an above average performer, as this was his initial
visit to a racecourse, and he stuck his neck out and tried his
best. Welham (Oliver Greenall) in third got round for the first
time on his fourth start. He got as close as three lengths to the
principals and has the physique to progress. Midnight Prince
(Jacqueline Coward) was a distant fourth. Radical Jack was well
supported in the ring, but never figured. Archenko, however, cut
out the running and still held a slight advantage when he crumpled
on landing six out. It was too far from home to say where he would
have finished, but it is difficult to imagine him ending up any
worse than fourth and he is beginning to show some potential.
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