Old Surrey, Burstow & West
Kent
Penshurst
Saturday 21st April 2007
by Simon McInnes
photos by Adam Goodburn
http://www.reflexdigital.co.uk
Plenty of work had been put in to avoid
the sparse fields that had afflicted the last couple of meetings in
the area (the official going was ‘easy side of firm’
– it’s marketing gone mad), and although the biggest
field was only six, none dropped below four, which is a bit better
than average for this meeting. The traditional bumper crowd
appeared, and witnessed racing that was perhaps most memorable for
some heroic efforts by the runners-up in keeping tabs on horses
that form suggested ought to be out of their sights. Plus they saw
something amazing in race two, although few probably appreciated
how extraordinary it was.
Hop Farm Country Park
with All Occasions Marquees Confined
1: Pristeen Spy 2: Native Performance 3: Westfield John
Winner owned: Libby Harrison, trained: Chris Lawson, ridden: Nick
Pearce
In a race where all four runners looked a picture in the paddock,
any betting enthusiasm was tempered by bearing in mind their modest
strike rates. The favourite, more clearly than might have been
expected, was Pristeen Spy, conqueror of a below-par Copeland last
time, but who today looked unlikely to deliver for a long way.
Ridden at the tenth, the urgency was stepped up at the twelfth and
had to be maintained even after he got to the front five from home.
Pristeen Spy may not have been especially impressed with it, but
the win was deserved for the strength of ride that Nick Pearce gave
him. It was helped by Native Performance seeming very one paced
once his lead was seriously challenged, but he may have been a
little unwilling to let himself down on the fast going. Westfield
John was knocked out of serious contention when he hit the twelfth
and Blazing The Trail could not do so as he lacked fluency at most
of the fences.
Knight Frank South
East Hunts Club Novice and Veteran Riders
1: L’Etang Bleu 2: Beggars Brook 3: Owenabue Valley
Winner owned: Mrs JA Donegan, trained: Veronica Park, ridden: Peter
Bull
One of the most illustrious pairings in racing history, Pipe and
McCoy, are now joined on the roll of honour by Park and Bull, as
the only people able to coax a win out of L’Etang Bleu
– quite possibly the most reluctant hero running in the
country. There is no malice or madness in his approach, just a
complete unwillingness to try. Career win number two came because
he had the in-form jockey of the race and a very motley bunch of
rivals. As they approached the thirteenth and L’Etang Bleu
(my French dictionary actually says Etang: pond, or colloquially in
SE England: pest) was in contention and on the bridle and suddenly
the unthinkable seemed possible. I do not expect to see such a
thing again in my lifetime. After two wins last year, Beggars Brook
has not finished very often this season and given a hint or two
that L’Etang Bleu is his idol, and whilst bustling away never
quite convinced that he would worry the winner out of it. The other
real threat, Midnight Lord, found the fuel tank emptying quickly
after a mistake three from home and lost the third late on. The
other runner to demonstrate a sense of humour in this was Celtic
Bounty. Having been slowly away and soon fifteen lengths off of the
pace and jumping erratically from fence one, his rider let him warm
up gradually and after one lap they had just made it onto the heels
of the pack when Celtic Bounty made his worst mistake and forced an
unavoidable unseated.
Hiscox Insurance
Intermediate
1: Supreme Vintage 2: Celestial Heights 3: Winapenny
Winner owned: Mr S Laurie, trained: Chris Lawson, ridden: Nick
Pearce
This provided the upset of the day as the wildly inconsistent
Supreme Vintage beat off the in form Celestial Heights for a second
win in a row, when he is the sort of horse for whom a win last time
out (even though it was a three runner race) would be the best
reason not to back him this time. There was no fluke about it as
Celestial Heights, despite jumping right, had overcome early hints
of an off day to have every chance at the business end and not be
good enough. The sedate pace and fast ground helped Supreme Vintage
see out the trip but did not play to the strengths of Winapenny,
who shapes more like a relentless stayer.
Polebrook Elizabeth
Champion Memorial Ladies’ Open
1: Carryonharry 2: Persian King 3: Pampered Gale
Winner owned: Mrs H Silk & Mr R Purkis, trained: Emma Leppard,
ridden: Cynthia Haydon
As his only reverse in his last eleven runs came at Cheltenham,
this looked set to be a lap of honour for Carryonharry, and
although the prize was landed, nobody had told Persian King that he
was just playing a supporting part. Even when it looked as if the
winner had asserted after two out, and mighty leap at the last gave
Persian King one last squeak, which did not pan out but he was
beaten with honour at least intact, if not slightly enhanced.
Pampered Gale was lost touch with a lap or so to go and pinched
third off of a tired Militaire in the latter stages.
Marco Weighing Systems
Mens’ Open
1: Cape Stormer 2: Thoutmosis 3: The Grey Baron
Winner owned & ridden: Marcus Gorman, trained: Carolyn
Gorman
This was a replay of the Ladies’ race, with Cape Stormer the
odds-on cert this time and Thoutmosis playing the part of potential
spoiler. The heat was really on Cape Stormer two from home, as
Thoutmosis was proving a very stubborn rival, but again the leader
never quite looked as if he would do little enough to lose. The
Grey Baron plodded on for third, another run that indicates he has
not sparkled as he did in the last couple of years – his
Easter win came when beaten only for the clear leader to pull up
lame.
Grants Cherry Brandy
Open Maiden
1: Kings Linen 2: Young Rocky 3: Accademia
Winner owned: Dudley C Moore, trained: Paula Twinn, ridden: Rupert
Stearn
Some may wish to crab the form of this four runner maiden, and they
are probably right, but the fourteen and the sixteen year old
(jockey having his first ride) were no real threat to the main
pair. It is arguably less than ideal that the winner was having
only his third run, at the age of eleven, but the positives are
that Kings Linen had shown some ability in his previous runs and
runner-up Young Rocky, a stripling of six, has also not been a
waste of time – although he has tended to trip over his own
feet somewhat since going pointing. The race unfolded oddly, with
Kings Linen in control at the eleventh, but pressurised from the
third last when Young Rocky rallied dramatically, leaving the
winner to work hard at what looked like a shoe-in at one stage. In
fairness to his rider, Kings Linen did not jump well, often going
out to the right, and the tactics over the last few seemed to be to
minimize risk, and as long as that worked, he was always likely to
last home the better of the two.
