REVIEW
MIDLANDS AREA CLUB
THORPE LODGE
Sunday 29th January 2006
by Ian Marshall
A bumper turnout of 115
horses for nine races, the novice riders contest having had to be
split on the day, on superb ground meant a veritable feast for
racegoers. The threat of frost put the meeting in jeopardy, but any
firmness had cleared before raceday and the organizers were fully
rewarded for their efforts.
The Midland Area Club Members opened
proceedings with 14 of the 16 entries holding their ground and the
honours went to Tooley Park and Lenny Hicks. A winner at Higham on
his seasonal reappearance in 2005, Tooley Park clearly goes well
fresh. He continues to go from strength to strength and is very
capable of taking his tally between the flags to five. Runner-up
Russian Friend was ridden exceptionally patiently by Joe Docker,
creeping closer on the final lap, before appearing to blow up, then
running on again in the closing stages to get within two and a half
lengths of the winner. He’s one to watch next time. Close
behind in third were Silver Buzzard and Stuart Morris. Always
chasing the leaders, Silver Buzzard got the three miles well.
Providing there is no bounce factor, Silver Buzzard will be of
interest when tackling ladies opens under Gemma Hutchinson. Near
and Phar and Louise Allan could only run on at the one pace in
fourth, but they will surely find easier races. Motcomb Jam was a
shade disappointing as he looked forward enough, however Fine Times
was in need of the race. Clear Dawn set a fast pace before dropping
quickly away, while Native Hunter retains ability, even after
suffering from health problems over the past couple of years. There
may be something amiss with Hi Up Brenkley as he is much better
than he has shown on his two outings in 2006.
In the 12-runner Mens Open, an alarming leap
at the penultimate fence failed to prevent Saint Reverien and
Adrian Wintle staving off the late surge of Another Raleagh and
Liam Payter. Clive Hitchings’ campaigner racked up a
hat-trick last season (and four wins in total) and there is every
chance of him following suit this year. Another Raleagh prefers to
be held up and was putting in his best work at the finish, even
though he usually ran over shorter distances under Rules. He boasts
some useful novice chase form from 2002 and 2003, including a
two-length third to a certain Monkerhostin. Third-placed The Noble
Roman (Tom Ellis) is in good order and was beaten only another
length, probably putting in a career best display to do so. Bedtime
Boys (Joe Docker) in fourth will be better off for the race,
although he still emerged with credit. Northsprite will no doubt be
seen to more effect with a tidier jumping performance and Family
Business was bang in contention when losing all hope through
sprawling on landing six from home. Spring Margot was made
favourite, but ejected Tom Greenall at the second ditch, having
made a hash of the same obstacle first time around.
Since her emergence, Claire Allen rarely
strays far from the headlines, and she showed why in a Ladies Open
that featured 11 combatants to further enhance her burgeoning
reputation. Ignoring a breakneck gallop, she brought Watchyourback
through with a perfectly timed challenge to lead at the last and
run on strongly to score. After a year off, Watchyourback returned
in solid shape and Dick Baimbridge can place him to add to this
victory. Madge Carroll, with Jane Williams in the saddle, was
second and will find easier opportunities. He raced close to the
pace and a mistake at the final fence sealed his fate. Mydante
(Sian Carter) in third was far from disgraced. Find Me Another (Amy
Stennett) was the instigator of the fierce gallop and
unsurprisingly found little at the business end. Dolphin Square
looked very burly.
16 horses set out for the Restricted and Home
By Midnight was victorious under Tom Ellis. Not yet out of the
first three in five point-to-points, Home By Midnight showed a good
attitude to defeat Sweet Citizen and Jane Williams. Home By
Midnight is a game mare and was a sound runner-up to the possibly
useful President Hill at Barbury Castle a fortnight ago. She looked
extremely well in the paddock and is obviously a cut above the
average. Like his stable companion in the previous race, Sweet
Citizen was none too fluent at the last, costing him any chance of
getting closer than the one and a half lengths at the line. A
restricted is well within his capabilities. A warm jolly,
Reasonably Sure was given a quiet waiting ride by Tom Greenall and
seemed set to have a hand in the finish, but he appeared to
inexplicably try to pull himself up after jumping the second last
about four lengths down. Whilst his prowess is not in question, his
worrying temperament means that Reasonably Sure is not one to take
a short price about. The fastest finisher was The Camerengo (Rowan
Cope) in fourth. Detached out the back of the field for most of the
contest, he was flying at the death and put in an extremely
eyecatching performance. It was a big step up on his first run for
Caroline Bailey at Tweseldown, when the ground was admittedly
desperate. A recruit from Ireland, he is definitely one to take
from the race. Mile High City made much of the running and
wasn’t beaten out of sight, while Ever So Humbel will improve
for the outing.
The Novice Riders race was split into two
divisions of ten. The first division went to Nokimover and Alex
Vaughan-Jones, already successful at Higham this season. Nokimover
is a force to be reckoned with in these types of race, having
previously shown fair form in ladies opens. Workaway in second has
obvious stamina limitations, but Henry Kinchin is now able to
anchor this hard-puller at the back. A short course is his best
hope of a win. Whitley Grange Boy filled third, on whom Oliver
Pimlott was having his first ride. The youngster acquitted himself
nicely and the experience will have been invaluable. Fourth-placed
Finbar’s Revenge (Maxine Filby) is headstrong and needs to
learn to settle to exhibit his true ability. Killerine looked a
difficult ride.
The second division saw Abbey Days triumph
with Sian Carter in the plate. Abbey Days indicated that his 33-1
shock at Barbury Castle was no fluke. The winning rider gained her
first success that day, but wasted no time in adding to it. The
partnership get on well together and races of this sort are likely
to be on the cards. Glacial River and Clare Rowson had no answer to
the winner’s burst, but put in a decent effort in second. A
steady display by Only Once and Richard Evans secured third. State
Medlar and Simon Moreton made some late headway to grab fourth in a
race he won last year. Whilst State Medlar certainly isn’t
getting any younger, he remains a force at this level. Sadly,
Dinsey Finnegan collapsed in the unsaddling enclosure after the
race.
15 horses faced the starter for Division One
of the Maiden and Irish Prince tore off in front. He began to
weaken after a lap though, when Linlithgow Lad took over and Scott
Pettell guided the latter home as four tired horses fought out the
finish. Linlithgow Lad grabbed the initiative and stayed on dourly
to make a winning debut. There ought to bags of potential for the
future for this slick fencer. Runner-up Maestro Please (Jason
Newbold) had little form of account over hurdles, but appears to
have stamina in abundance for his new life in points. There was a
whisper for third-placed Our Man In Bangkok beforehand and he
showed himself to be a lively outsider. Richard Wakeham
couldn’t quite galvanize him into fast enough action at the
climax, but he can find a maiden when there’s cut in the
ground. Also available at long prices was French Bey in fourth,
Nick Pearce cajoling the mare to take part in the closing stages.
Although it probably wasn’t a great race, this failed
ex-hurdler showed a modicum of ability to suggest she will be of
consequence in this field. Monalease was never competitive, however
Thisisyourlife went into the wings of the 11th fence, but failed to
come out the other side. Unfortunately, he was found to have broken
a shoulder.
There was a maximum field of 16 for the
Second Division that went to Sadler’s Lamp and Nick Kent.
Formerly with Oliver Sherwood over hurdles, Sadler’s Lamp has
decent prospects in this sphere. In second, Preston Magic had the
assistance of Stuart Morris on top and looks to have strengthened
up over the summer. Shiela’s Legacy claimed third for Michael
Keel on his first outing in Britain. Pretty Lady Rose stuck on
genuinely in fourth under Mark Wall. She was up with the pace for
much of the journey and couldn’t quicken, but there was
sufficient to like about this. Irishtown Leader is an appalling
jumper and lost ground at virtually every fence. Thatlldoya
departed at the 6th, when the headstrong Bonnyjo ran out while
leading. In an open betting heat, Howard Howard vied for
favouritism and was close enough if good enough when getting the
13th all wrong.
There was a sedate gallop for the 11 runners
that came under orders for the Division Three finale. Taking
nothing away from a scintillating display by the five-year-old mare
Ruggtah, it will be remembered for the performance of Lambhill
Stakes in third. Stuart Morris did the steering on the recruit from
Rules and they were an impressive 11 lengths ahead at the post.
Ruggtah can take further advantage of her allowances during the
rest of the season. Second went the way of Fair Promise (Richard
Armson) and this consistent sort surely has a maiden in him. An
injudicious ride from Oliver Greenall left Lambhill Stakes far too
much to do. Behind in the early stages, very little attempt was
made to take closer order or a challenging position. In the home
straight, there seemed to be minimal effort to even try for second,
especially as the pairing ended up only half a length behind Fair
Promise at the line. Whilst Lambhill Stakes is a quirky customer
and exhibited an awkward head carriage, it didn’t look good
and punters were left fuming. Moraira (Simon Walker) in fourth gave
hope after missing 2005.
One disappointing note was four false starts
from nine races. I find it difficult to put too much blame on the
riders as my experience is that one false start every four or five
meetings is the average.
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