REVIEW

FOUR BURROW
TREBUDANNON
Saturday 29th April 2006

by Lucy Johnson

The Four Burrow organisers had done a splendid job of watering to take the sting out of the drying ground at Trebudannon. Their efforts were rewarded with a total of 46 runners in the seven races, though both the Men’s Open and the Intermediate attracted only two declarations.

Lady Misprint returned to form to record her first win this season under Derek McKenna in the Men’s Open. The popular mare drew away from sole rival Polligana from the fifteenth to win as she pleased. “She loves the sunshine and the spring grass” said trainer Rebecca Jordan, whose father-in-law John owns the mare. “We get her fit on Dartmoor and out hunting “ added the trainer who is based near Chagford. Lady Misprint may tackle a Hunter Chase at Wincanton on May 12 th. Off The Hook was not hard pressed to win the other two runner event. Ian Hambley sent his mount clear of I Move Earth after the final ditch to win the Intermediate by twelve lengths. Ten year old Off The Hook is one of four pointers in training with his jockey at Five Lanes and gets fit on Bodmin Moor.

Two of the four runners for the Ladies’ Open were out of the race before the first fence. Silent Guest refused to race and old Hasten Bak also dug his toes in and slowed himself to a trot before declining the obstacle. This left odds on favourite Let’s Fly and Karadin to battle it out. It was course specialist Let’s Fly who came out on top under Polly Gundry, asserting from the second last to score by two lengths. Owned and trained by Ross Oliver at nearby Morganporth, Let’s Fly is likely to be aimed at the only handicap Hunter Chase in the calendar at Newton Abbot on May 11 th.

Darren Edwards was the jockey in form at Trebudannon, completing a first and last race double courtesy of Lifeinthefastlane and Phantom Walker to take his winning tally for the season to eleven. The latter just held the strong challenge of Tog Go Boge to win by a head, but Darren was able to peep over his shoulder on the run in when steering Lifeinthefastlane home in the first section of the two and a half miles Maiden. The latter was bought by owner John Panes at Ascot in December 2004 and had been runner up in his two previous outings this season. The improving six year old is trained at Bampton by Ashley Farrant.

Seven year old Qualicum and Richard Darke made all the running to win the other division of the shorter Maiden at the expense of Ballyclare and Molly O’ Malley in a field of eleven. The winner, bought cheaply at Ascot eighteen months ago, is trained by Pauline and Tony Geering for joint owners Rob Jones and Roger Knowles, the latter celebrating his first win as an owner.

The consistent mare Tyre Hill Lilly had too much finishing speed for Joli Christmas in the Restricted. Lucy Gardner was content to bide her time on the winner until easing into the lead after the third last, drawing clear of Joli Christmas and Bishlir in the home straight. The progressive Tyre Hill Lilly was “nuts when we had her two years ago,” according to current connections, who do very well with difficult types and look to have secured a bargain with this mare.

RESULTS

Open Maiden 5, 6, & 7 year olds Division 1
1 Lifeinthefastlane (Mr D Edwards)
2 Last Concerto (Mr R Quinn)
3 Phairy Storm (Mr B Robarts)
9 ran. 2l; ½ l: 4mins 51

Open Maiden 5, 6, & 7 year olds Division 2
1 Qualicum (Mr R Darke)
2 Ballyclare (Mr R Woollacott)
3 Molly O’Malley (Mr A Charles-Jones)
11 ran. 2l; 8l: 5mins 2

Intermediate
1 Off The Hook (Mr I Hambley)
2 I Move Earth (Mr M Sweetland)
2 ran. 12l: 6mins 21

Men’s Open
1 Lady Misprint (Mr D McKenna)
2 Polligana (Mr R Woollacott)
2 ran. Dist: 6mins 0

Ladies’ Open
1 Let’s Fly (Miss P Gundry)
2 Karadin (Miss S Young)
4 ran. 2l: 6mins 4

Restricted
1 Tyre Hill Lilly (Miss L Gardner)
2 Joli Christmas (W White)
3 Bishlir (D Edwards)
7 ran. 2l; 1l: 6mins 10

Open Maiden
1 Phantom Walker (Mr D Edwards)
2 Tog Go Boge (Mr A Charles-Jones)
3 Treesmill Millie (Mr N Harris)
11 ran. Head; 20l: 6mins 0