Heythrop
Dunthrop
Sunday 25th January 2009
by Geoff
Handley
The official going at Dunthrop was Good to
Soft (Soft in the home straight) though the times were a lot slower
than the last meeting shortly before Christmas and the way they
were finishing suggested it was testing and very holding.
Maiden ( Div 1
)
A victory for William Somers who seemed happy in the
sticky condition. He finished fourth in a Larkhill maiden two years
ago and was put away by connections as he was said to be physically
weak. Held up by Mark Wall, this eight year old gelding took it up
at the 10th and gradually pulled clear of the only other finisher,
Shammy Buskins (Emily Harbour - should find a small maiden). The
winner is owned/trained by Tim Sage.
The 6/4 favourite, Handofharperstown (Dave Mansell) was desperately
disappointing, slowly away, mistake at the first, taken wide and
rear when pulling up at the tenth.
Maiden ( Div 2
)
Eleven went to post for the second division and a good
win for Nuits St George for Peter Toole and trainer Karrie Erskine
Crum. He showed the benefit of a run last week at Barbury Castle
when close up for 2m4f (like so many others last weekend ) and held
off the persistent challenge of Artic Fire who was nibbled at in
the ring from 10’s to 7’s and ran a promising race.
Mark Moor finished a remote third.
Again, favourite backers got no run for their money as the Karen
Lawther trained Caught In Time was held up in rear by James Tudor
and never got into the race before pulling up four out.
Maiden for 4,5,6, 7
year olds over 2m 4f
The combination of Julie
Houldey/David Mansell are becoming a force to be reckoned with this
season with three winners between them last week and they carried
on the good work today with Maranach easily winning this short
maiden. This five year finished close up thirds in his Irish
maidens and took up the running at the twelfth and was soon clear -
he looks one to follow.
Run Out The Guns was second for Peter Toole and a head behind was
Frosty Spring who survived a bad mistake four out with Mark Wall
doing well to stay on board – he looks up to winning a maiden
for Feargal O’Brien (made most of the running - opened 4s,
drifted to 6s).
Many of these youngsters caused trouble in the paddock and down to
start, Constant Cupid unshipped Tom David in the paddock and was
reluctant to go down, Aur Cymru boiled over in the paddock and
planted herself when the tape went up, Nearly Sixty bolted to post
and then again when the race started.
Hunt
Members
Only five runners but an eventful race. The
market was dominated by Moscow Court and Nez Rouge with Dancing
Rock and rank outsiders Apple Days and Taxi Fare.
The action started five out when Nez Rouge looked to have got the
better of Moscow Court when coming to grief, horse and jockey Sam
Twiston-Davies were soon up unscathed, and this left the favourite
a long way clear and would have been 1.01 on the exchanges to
stroll home, however, whether the effort of trying to keep tabs
with Nez Rouge had taken its toil, Moscow Court looked tired at the
penultimate fence but still had a ten length lead when jumping the
last, but despite all the best efforts of Ian Howe on board, Moscow
Court virtually stopped to a walk, enabling Taxi Fare and a
delighted Andy Martin to sail past on the run in and cause a shock
win. This was Taxi Fare’s second victory after a maiden
winner at Maisemore Park a couple of seasons ago.
As for Nez Rouge, he has now failed to complete in three starts
this season - unseated rider in Kingscliff's Open race here and
again at Barbury Castle last week, this Bangor novice hurdle winner
should find a race soon.
Ladies Open 3m
5f
Victory went to Derawar ridden by Lucy Jones and
trained by her husband Simon. This ten year old gelding was bought
at the Doncaster sales in 2007 following two victories in Ireland.
Since then he has won three points and has a touch of class about
him though he did refuse twice last season including when well
clear approaching the last at Pentreclwydau. He showed none of that
quirkiness here and was too good for the favourite Touch Closer who
spoiled his chances with several deliberate jumps (Josephine
Banks/Feargal O’Brien).
As for the others, Move Over ran on at one pace to be third as did
outsider Jendali Lad to be fourth. Swifts Hill was disappointing,
never really getting into the race before pulling up for Isobel
Tompsett. The early pacemaker Claridge went off at a blistering
pace and not surprisingly eventually pulled up.
Mens Open over 4m for
the Lord Ashton Of Hyde’s Cup
Nine went to post
for this prestigious race over four miles. The hot favourite was
Bowdens Lane from the in form yard of Julie Houdley and with Dave
Mansell on board. Lord Attica and Spiers Place were next in the
betting.
Bowdens Lane soon had his eight rivals toiling on the second
circuit and had the field stretched across Dunthrop, winning easing
up by a distance from Lord Attica (a gutsy winner last week at
Barbury). Mister Bertolli did well to finish third for Fred Hutsby
despite a couple of mistakes.
This was Bowdens Lane fourth victory between the flags and is one
to watch for a Hunter Chase when the mud is flying.
Club Members for
Novice Riders
Conditions came right for Eskimo Jack to
give Jack Sherwood his first winner and was given a fine ride too.
This thorough stayer has now won five under rules and six in
Points. Like a lot of runners today, he looked rather tired on the
run in but held off the challenge well of Earl Of Buckingham and
the favourite Grenfell who could only run on at the one pace.
The big disappointment was the well fancied Fifty Yearson giving
Nick Slatter his first ride. Always in arrears he never got
competitive and was pulled up, this eight year ex Irish Pointer is
surely better than this and probably didn’t act in the
prevailing conditions.
Restricted
The final race of the day and an easy win for Supreme Royal (Ryan
Bliss), making the long trip from her Somerset yard for Marie
McGuinness worthwhile. He looked well in the paddock and having led
three out he soon saw off his rivals to win by seven lengths and to
send punters home happy. He looks to be improving and this
progressive type won his maiden easily last season at Charlton
Horethorne.
The runner up was Pretty Lady Rose who much to her credit kept
battling on and she can win a small Restricted for Sarah Waring.
Clover Bay was third and Double Encore was fourth in a time of
7m43s.