I have been carrying a sticker advertising this meeting across the back of our Jimny for weeks now and we left our B & B at Alison's at Ken near Exeter casually because we did not want to be too early for a 2 pm start but on arriving at the venue it proved to me that one should always read the stickers on their cars and inwardly digest the content as we were unusually NOT first to arrive because those that had read the sticker knew it was a 1230 pm start and had already taken up their viewing positions. Not to worry, there is a nine race card to look forward to and the course will ride good (good to firm in places) and the recent heavy showers have been very welcome.
We kick off with the 'farmers' race for which there are four runners. The same situation as yesterday as regards the favourite in the first race, it will again be ridden by Rilly Goschen and although slightly odds on Mrs McCullough and Mr Salter's GAMI will be carrying a fair amount out of the tin. The best turned out the Holmes's GO BOY is second favourite with their other horse, SHOTLEY AGAIN to be ridden by Rebecca third favourite and P Gibbins's ASHDOWN KING the outsider of the field. A steady pace for most of this race with the Holmes family turn out doing them justice but it was the money carrier that turned on the good work when the finishing line was in sight and Rilly brought GAMI home two lengths to the good of SHOTLEY AGAIN with GO BOY a distance away third. Whilst I appreciated the intake to the tin I also thought the photos of the Holmes family will make a lovely addition to their albums. Now I can use 'their' money for future investments and that is how I like it but the liberty of the situation can sometimes quickly turn to disaster!
Next came the confined race with 9 runners going to post and it was the best turned out LORD OF THE MIST (N Williams) that caught my eye at a sensible price in the arena as favouritism flip flopped between Tabitha Cave on Miss Kelley's SEA SPIRIT and Geoff Barfoot-Saunt on The Wakehill Partnership's GOOD THYNE GUY and it was the latter that took that honour in the end and went off at about two to one against. I will have to keep running details to a minimum for some of these races otherwise with nine races I will never get the pages out but please be assured that the excitement afforded to one race was equalled by them all. This race saw a determined race run by the Bishop's GLADIATORIAL who was available in the investment centre at six to one, who came home eight lengths to the good of Tabitha on SEA SPIRIT with Emma Tory bringing her SPRING MARATHON into third place some ten lengths back.
Twelve go to post for the mixed open race sponsored by The Axminster Carpets Ltd. A slightly uneasy favourite was established when G Lever's PORLOCK HILL (Neil Harris) was made available at five to two against with ATP Racing Partnership's JUST THE JOB TOO (R McCarthy) very close and then some late money came for The Bateman Family's best turned out ROSS COTTAGE (R Stephens) and J Sprake's JACKSON HILL (Alex Charles Jones). I run around a lot at this meeting because of some viewing restrictions and I get a good view from the top long bend of the riders faces when there is doubt in their minds whether their chargers will slip on this surface. It is a real study! Beautiful young ladies look as though frowns and freckles are in vogue, the utterances of young men on what they would like to do with the jockey in front of them, no doubt preferably it be a lady, leave me blushing as they race past. The next time round I view it I am at a jump, and the frowns have increased, the freckles have gone to be replaced by a mud pack and the language now is louder, more direct and will definitely result in a birth of some sort whether it be male or female in the action line is of no consequence. In amongst the pack on this occasion was a young man who, although very successful last season, did not hit it off so well this year and took time out to relax a little. He came back recently and was seen walking back from two of his three rides. I was very pleased to see him again at this meeting and in this mixed open race he was on a sixteen to one outsider but a ride is a ride and owners will not hang on to their horses for any particular rider while they take a break so Richard Woollacott had the ride on The Elson family's WESTERN FORT. His determination and sheer guts shone through on this ride and he captured the best and came up the home straight to loud applause and good wishes to win by eight lengths from JUST THE JOB TOO and one and half lengths back was Nick Mitchell on G Foot's FRANKLINS BEST, a good each way investment at 20 to one. Well done. Nothing for my tin and even less, if that's possible, for the bag!
In the intermediate race there again was a good field, thirteen runners to post. The announcement that Nick Williams would ride Sir Richard Cooper's best turned out CASPERS CASE from Richard Barber's stable brought about the question being asked by a group of retired farmers as to my opinion of professional trainers using the point to point field along with amateurs. Is it fair? No it is not -my friend brought his charge from way up country but he had to do with sheep, goats, and fat bullocks first plus watering the mushroom beds (diversification it's called!) Incidentally every day for the last week or two as he prepared his Cheltenham Gold Cup aimed pointer, this was done before riding out. The box needed a new floor and fortunately a hotel nearby have just changed their carpets so the loading ramp is now looking much smarter and safer. The push chair developed a puncture so a haversack has to be used for a future P to P jockey and we will use the harness from the hand crop sprayer as the proper one is now a head collar for the pony. So it goes on - no its not fair when you see these lovely great lorries deliver their goods in wonderful comfort. No it's not fair - BUT it is completely within the rules so stop complaining and get on them - is what I say! CASPERS CASE went off favourite with The Mightly Friends' DANCING FOSENBY also fancied and Colin Heard on the family's BILL ME UP was also expected to do well and the locally qualified VANSELL (Rilly Goschen) is repaired and back to run again for Mrs McCullough. Away they went! Mrs Maude's TIMPANI was an early leader with the remainder in close company and on they went into the distance but when they returned it was, with one circuit to go, BILL ME UP in the lead closely followed by MORRIS PIPER (R Woollacott), CASPERS CASE and the now slowing TIMPANI. The Tory's GENERAL TYPHOON thought it about time he joined in the fun and closed on the leading four or five and in the distance it could be seen that six horses had gone for home and drawn away from the remaining field. At the penultimate BILL ME UP had the advantage over CASPERS CASE with DANCING FOSENBY (M Holdforth) now taking part. At the final obstacle it was still BILL ME UP being pressed by DANCING FOSENBY with CASPERS CASE who jumped this last one well. BILL ME UP will not be denied and it is now a three way charge to the line. The judge will sort them out, he has previously given dead heats but not on this occasion. CASPERS CASE by half a length from BILL ME UP and DANCING FOSENBY four lengths back in third place. A good race and a little for the tin.
The Countryside Alliance Novice riders race will see 12 on the start line with a very worthy favourite in Paul Nicholls's MISTER BENJAMIN with Chloe Roddick onboard. If I could provide a novice rider with such a good looking animal as this one I would be very pleased as no doubt Paul is. Certainly looks a picture and acts superbly on the course. A sure winner. Ignore it! For betting purposes in the ring I look for the man who will take my money without the favourite. I find one and invest in the best turned out, the Fry family's BLACKWATER BRAVE and ignored the second favourite from Exmoor ZATOPEK with Liam Heard up. I travelled to many fences and bends during this race to catch the faces of these gallant young novices. They are a great bunch and will supply us with much sport over the coming years. The first one to pull up was M & M Partnership's SOLO GENT (K Jones) so anyone who took the fifty to one about this chappy is fresh out of luck BUT young Miss Jones no doubt learnt from this experience and that is very valuable. The Nelmes' SUMMER SNOW (Olwyn Nelmes) was leading as they reached the start area for the first time with the consistant CAHORS (did he win at Larkhill?) close up in second, NODDANTE in third and those charming words -BLACKWATER BRAVE is improving! As they came up the home straight for the first time Chloe asked MR BENJAMIN for an effort as she had been happy to bring up the rear until now -the response from this eight year old was most impressive and in no time at all this horse was in the lead followed by CAHORS and SUMMER SNOW. Out around the tents for the final time. We lost TOUCHING DOWN, Will Biddick, at the first down the back straight but again he has got away without a picture of the happening as the camera was busy following those upfront. At the third from home I am now really interested and begin to run around a little more than usual as MR BENJAMIN is out in front but it is the following horses that concern me. NODDANTE, CAHORS, SUMMER SNOW and BLACKWATER BRAVE are cruising along behind the favourite. Over the last MR BENJAMIN with a commanding lead goes to the line with NODDANTE keeping on and depriving me of any earnings as he held BLACKWATER BRAVE back in third position by eight lengths.
Two divisions of the restricted race are to follow. I am into the tin for the first one as Nick Williams is about to bolster my earnings again by bringing home P Maltby's RED NATIVE who has been progressing this season and did put some in the tin at Buckfastleigh. According to investors the only other horse with a slight chance is G Robarts's BEYONDTHEREALM ( A Glastonbury) at four to one as all the others are at a much bigger price. Away they go and 12 set off to win The Ruth Wilmington Memorial Cup and no doubt other perpetual silver. On passing the judge for the first time it was Mrs Perry's NEARLY EASTER (J Snowden) taking them along closely followed by Terry Brady's MACARONI BEACH (E Tory) and RED NATIVE with a closely knit bunch behind these. The order had not changed much when they got back to point of departure but the leader had increased his distance out in front to some 12 or 13 lengths . On passing the judge with a circuit to run the lead had now decreased to about two lengths but the order was still the same with MACARONI BEACH and RED NATIVE looking good with Mrs Kessler's DRUID MERRILL (R Woollacott) and Mrs Fuller and Mr Dutfield's RUSSIAN RELATION (N Wilmington) the best of the others. Approaching the third from home the pressure was on and my concern RED NATIVE, was taking closer order but MACARONI BEACH was not done for yet. Two more plain fences left to be jumped and then the long run in and it was now RED NATIVE taking it up closely followed by MACARONI BEACH with NEARLY EASTER upsides. RED NATIVE continued to increase his lead and crossed the line fifteen lengths to the good of MACARONI BEACH with The Rawlins's FLORA MACDONALD (R Young) getting up to come in third four lengths back. Off tin lid and stash it in -not a lot but a welcomed little.
As I have previously mentioned, Ruth is an Alex Charles-Jones fan so her choice would be obvious for the next division as he is aboard R Crabb's KELTIC LORD who is available at the very sensible price of four to one, I have chosen Mr Foot's ASKERS JACK (N Mitchell) to increase my wealth and I have invested heavily in this one as he did me the favours in grand style at the WSV meeting. He was favourite at some stage but Les Jefford on G Robarts's mare JUST SALLY is also popular and the Fry family's EARL'S TOY (H Fry) is also popular. Off they go and the visibility is not at its greatest with a little sea fog rolling in now. As they past the judge I caught sight of ASKERS JACK leading the field so I took off to cross the patch and catch them coming down to the first on the other side. Yes, ASKERS JACK still leading with J Studs ILE DE RE up alongside followed closely by Mrs G Brake's FRANKLY FEAR (J Young) and JUST SALLY with the remainder bunched up behind. As they rounded the turn back to the starting area, no matter how many miles I ran I could not keep them out of the fog but I was happy that my concern was still in the group up front. On reaching the plain fence -fence nine in the home straight, it was getting a little clearer and at the second ditch it was KELTIC LORD, JUST SALLY, FRANKLY FEAR, CAN'T BE SCRABBLE who were leading the field. My jaw dropped suddenly as there was no sign of ASKERS JACK. He was probably whisped away in a curling cloud of thick fog and was now looking down at this lot or he had more than likely ran out, but that didn't help me or my tin one little bit. I now had to walk all the way back to the finishing line doing so much mental arithmetic that I tripped over two picnic tables, one Jack Russell who tried to bite my left leg and one piece of angle iron which was supposed to be holding up a small tent but was doing the National Health Service no service by cracking several ankles as losing punters which included me, oblivious to its presence continued to walk into it. I arrived at the line to see KELTIC LORD cross over it ten lengths ahead of CANT BE SCABBLE (P York) who was only half a length ahead of FRANKLY FEAR. The time of this race was the faster of the two divisions so the winner collected the very beautiful silver ware on offer. I had severely damaged the contents of an otherwise very healthy tin. Not a case of half empty or half full BUT the bottom was now showing quite clearly and to add to my misery when I reached the Jimny for some consoling from Ruth I found out she had not backed her A C JONES but opted for some other lesser known and had nothing to pick up. This is bad -but temporarily I am sure!
Two more divisions of maidens were to follow and the fog continued to pester us and we were running a bit late due to the air ambulance arriving to carry some unfortunate person off for attention so viewing was desperate and the legs were getting a little tired by now but nevertheless I got to positions where I could still enjoy the racing. It was good to see whip waving, hollering, standing-up in the irons Emma Tory pass the post some ten lengths ahead of her nearest rival on the family's ENOCH, after a previous second (MACARONI BEACH) and a third (SPRING MARATHON) it was her turn for a win. Les Jefford on R Stevens & Mrs R Vicary's BEAU SUPREME followed her home with Tabitha Cave on J Whitley's GLENGARRA in third place.
The final race saw another clear favourite in the White's MAGNEMITE progress from previous form and provide the Barber yard with yet another winner and came home to much cheering for Jimmy White as he passed the post seven lengths ahead of OUR selection, G Foot's STRAND ONTHE GREEN (J Snowden) and K Biggins and J Doughty's best turned out EBONY JACK was three lengths back in third place. We had backed each way so picked up a little but a savage hole had been produced in the tin by one ASKERS JACK so that one definitely owes me.
Unfortunately there were mishaps during the final race and I am sure that many supporters of this sport returned home bitterly disappointed and upset but the horses involved were doing what they like doing and the jockeys are a tough lot, they must be or they wouldn't be doing it, and will be back. Lets just hope ALL injuries get repaired soon.
It will be a quiet journey back to Newquay but one question will be repeated "Why didn't you back your favourite jockey Darling?" The reply WILL NOT be in next weeks edition!
Point to pointing at its very best -see you next week at Hunnycot or Flete, Barbury Castle and High Bickington -BE THERE!
My mother taught me: MEDICAL SCIENCE " If you don't stop crossing your eyes, they are going to freeze that way!"
Fred and Ruth
