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West Somerset Vale
Cothelstone
Sunday 17th April 2011
by Brian & Gill Armstrong

Gaelic Flight benefitted from a change of bit to land the West Somerset Vale Mixed Open at Cothelstone on Sunday. The Camilla Scott 13-year-old led throughout under Neil Harris and easily held Richard Woollacott's challenge in the last half-mile aboard Johnny's Way. "He ran out at Treborough Hill and then hung badly left when winning here in March", said Jeremy Scott, who had stopped to watch the race while bringing Gone To Lunch back from his seventh placed run in the Scottish Grand National at Ayr the previous day. "He's worn a different Dexter Ring bit today and Neil says that he has run much straighter". A Hunter Chase outing is on the cards.

Charlotte Tizzard opened her seasonal account on Ali Holland's "family pet" Stealing Moments in the Restricted. "I thought I'd left a message on Charlotte Budd's answer phone asking whether James Best or Suzy Berry were available to ride Stealing Moments in the Quantock Staghounds Hunt race here in March", explained Ali. ""But I'd rung the wrong Charlotte, and when Charlotte Tizzard rang back, I booked her. Stealing Moments was second that day, but Charlotte gave him a great ride and I booked her again for today".

Micheal Nolan took the outright lead in the National Novices' table on the Marie McGuinness-trained Adeus Ayrton, who collared long-time leader Grove Melody (Will Biddick) after the last in the 2m 4f maiden. "He cost Harry Findlay £140,000 as a three-year-old but we paid slightly less than that [£800]", smiled John Sherwin, Mike Roe, Tim Harris, Will Tilley, John Rees and Rupert Snook, the six members of the Senna Loose Move Lively Club.

Fellow Philip Hobbs-employee Matt Hampton kept tabs on Micheal – he is three behind in the standings – on Jacqui and Nick Dawe's Hunt race winner Rio Laine. "He's a private purchase from Tom George's yard, and he's been hunted hard in the Quantocks", said Nick.

Bradley Gibbs, who opened his account with an Ystradowen double 24 hours earlier, was back in the winner's enclosure with Welsh raider Pelennor after the Novice Riders' race. Pelennor led throughout and went further and further clear of his field in the final half-mile despite a clumsy jump at the last.

After a frustrating weekend, Richard Woollacott finally got on the scoresheet when Webberys Dream passed long-time leader Ned White (Will White) halfway up the run-in in the closing Maiden contest. "That's my first home-bred winner and a first-ever winner for my joint owners William Hill and Jim Partridge", said George Searle, who named the horse after his Bishops Nympton farm.

Hunt Members (4 runners)
1 RIO LAINE M Hampton, 7-4F
2 BLACK BEAUTY J Park, 4-1
Only two finished

Restricted (9 runners)
1 STEALING MOMENTS (IRE) Miss C Tizzard, 8-1
2 MIDNIGHT MARINE S Parish, 5-2
3 BENARCHAT (FR) J Barber, 16-1

Open Maiden 456&7yo, 2m4f100y (11 runners)
1 ADEUS AYRTON (IRE) M Nolan, 7-4
2 GROVE MELODY (IRE) W Biddick, 5-2
3 QUINE DE BEAUCHENE (FR) Miss J Buck, 10-1

Mixed Open (5 runners)
1 GAELIC FLIGHT (IRE) N Harris, 4-6F
2 JOHNNY'S WAY R Woollacott, 7-4
3 BOBSLEIGH Miss A Pearn, 7-1

Dodson & Horrell PPORA Club Members (Nov Rdrs) (6 runners)
1 PELENNOR (FR) B Gibbs, 4-5F
2 JOHN FENTON (IRE) Miss H Chandler, 20-1
3 WEE BERTIE (IRE) M Nolan, 5-1

Open Maiden (7 runners)
1 WEBBERYS DREAM R Woollacott, 7-1
2 NED WHITE (IRE) W White, 11-8
3 LADY OAKSEY J Barnes, 8-1