Report from Dart Vale and Haldon Harriers Point to Point meeting at Buckfastleigh Racecourse on Sunday 16^th March 2003.

This bit of weather is just a wonderful tonic - isn't it?  On my way to get petrol for our journey to Buckfastleigh several people said 'Good Morning' and that here in Newquay is the first sign of spring!  Out in the country the dawn chorus would be lovely at this time of the year but these black, grey and white things that bombard you here have a dawn chorus every morning, noon and night.  Not to worry there are probably thousands who would love to hear them.

Off we go!  First to arrive at the track but only just and it is only 1013 am. Not bad for a 1 pm start but it's a great pleasure to walk this course on such a lovely day and I found it in perfect condition.  I think every fence had been shifted and provided new ground for the day's racing.  Well done to all concerned.

The race card paid tribute to Mr Peter Wakeham and provided some lovely photographs in the centre folds all of which he assured me, he knew nothing about until he arrived at the track.  Well done and a big thank you from all Pointers.  What a pity that all race cards were sold out, but then - did you ever expect to see such a large crowd at a point to point.

Wonderful atmosphere, wonderful weather (again!) and wonderful racing.  An eight race card with three divisions of maidens and of course The Totnes & Bridgetown Mixed Open Race referred to as "The Westcountry Champion Chase" with total prize money of £500 of which £300 will go to the winner.

The tin is in a reasonable state but it was a lovely meal last night and the bag is holding up much better, so a loan contract would be possible if the worse comes to the worse.  If the worse comes to both tin and bag we have carried out a plan 'B' insurance by buying the petrol on the way up.  I am bound to win on the first race - so here we go!!

Four to post for the 'farmers' race with a tight finish envisaged between ATP Racing Partnership's EDGAR GINK (R McCarthy) and Miss Kelly's best turned out SEA SPIRIT (T Cave).  The boards show SEA SPIRIT to be favourite and this is the one that will carry my investment.  Ruth differs with me on this one and has opened the bag and produced the necessary and invested on EDGAR GINK at a better price than I.  It matters not to me what price she managed to squeeze out of the layers as you will not be paid on a second in this race of four runners.  Off!  Steady pace, in fact no pace at all for the first circuit and it was Simon Partridge on I Widdicombe's INCBRUSH that led them around for a while, then down the back it gradually increased and EDGAR GINK took it up.  He remained in the lead when they went on down to the open ditch for the second time and then entered the back straight about five lengths to the good of INCBRUSH with SEA SPIRIT back in third.  The pace increased as they passed the judge for the final time.  All runners still standing; the race is now properly ON!  Down the back straight SEA SPIRIT closed up and took the lead from EDGAR GINK but not for long - this is not going right!  EDGAR GINK jumped into the lead at the penultimate fence and kept going well up the hill and over the last leaving SEA SPIRIT eight lengths behind when crossing the line.  INCBRUSH was a further 25 lengths back in third.  I am not sure whether R Welch's GUNNERS MISTAKE (C Heard) finished or not.  I was more worried about my investment.  How can I not congratulate Ruth who was beside me with a big smile telling me how sorry she was that I had lost.  Do better was the order of the day but to do worse was impossible.  I lost!

Now came the maidens!  My chance of finding one of these is about the same as I would have doing the same in a Newquay night spot!!  Difficult!  In division one B Kilpatrick's HENRIETTA (Ollie Jackson) was made the three to one ON favourite.  She fell last time out so whose to say she isn't going to fall this time.  Well a lot of people have backed her so they think she now knows how to jump at the tender age of five.  Her elder half brother - HORUS - does ok so maybe one to three is the right price.  Not for me, I will look for a better priced second or third.  Ruth has chosen the best turned out, the Holmes's GO BOY who will be ridden by M Holmes.  I have selected Mrs Greed's ALICE SUNRISE (D Edwards) to do the job for me.  Away they go and it is the dulcet tones of Bill Harper this time who is announcing the valuable information.  The first bit of information was not too valuable for Mrs Lawrence because her O'ECH (M Hand) ran out at the first - Oh Ech!  John Weldhen's WONDERFUL WORLD was continuing his normal behaviour of not settling immediately and pulled his head to the front and was soon carrying them all along.  Anderson Racing Club's AMY'S GIFT was also prominent and the pace was a good one.  On completing a full circuit it was still AMY'S GIFT and WONDEFUL WORLD leading with the Treneer's IT WORKED bowling along in third and a few lengths further back was Sarah Gaisford on Mrs Wakeham's PLAYING FOR MONEY and the remainder a little further back in a group.  About this time R Squire's TOOK A CHANCE did just that and gave R Mitchell no chance. G Herrod's MALLAM MIST also thought it easier to go through the wing down the back straight and left  James White without a chance.  With a full circuit to run it was PLAYING FOR MONEY who led the field from WONDERFUL WORLD then came IT WORKED. The field began to group up and for the first time I heard my concern mentioned 'bringing up the rear' and Ruth's charge was not a lot to the good of mine but also in with them was the favourite, so the critical part of the race was yet to come.  At fence number sixteen down the bottom HENRIETTA made a mistake and set her back several lengths so that's her out of it!  Ruth and I just smiled gently at one another.  (Hang on! how do you smile gently?) as we appreciated that one of our big threats was pushed back a bit.  They by-passed the penultimate fence.  More in our favour surely! Up the hill they come with WONDEFUL WORLD being challenged by PLAYING FOR MONEY, IT WORKED was also there and, in fact there were about six horses at this stage in with a chance.  Up the hill they came - WONDEFUL WORLD blew up and stopped!  and what's this- here comes Ollie Green and that horse that was out of it back along - HENRIETTA - and going like the clappers, from last to first up the hill   Another one not doing too badly at this stage is GO BOY.  Over the last and to the line was a very good race and that young lady Ollie Green Jackson, (it's OK because I heard her Mum call her that at the presentation and she still gets it mixed up!) rode out a very good finish to take the race by a length from - you guessed it - Ruth's investment carry, GO BOY with IT WORKED  just a neck away third.  An excellent race, full of spectacle and future winners.  Again I lost!  I notice the bag is discreetly being taken out again and being topped up!

Two more divisions and there are 15 maidens in this next one.  With my luck what chance have I so I will follow Ruth to the investors area and see if that helps.  It didn't!  We both went in on Sally Alner's STAN HARRIS which has no form at all.  I knew a barber once call 'Stan' and there is a  make of paint brushes called 'Harris' so how much more than that form does one want?  Well it proved that you do require a lot more as Christian Williams proved when he brought home Mr Maltby's  best turned out RED NATIVE at a sensible price - (what have I said in the past about best turned out horses - they win!) second was the syndicated KJJIMMY(A Goschen) and third was Darren Edwards riding S Stevens & R Vicary's BEAU SUPREME.  Les Jefford was down to ride the latter but took time out after a fall so it looks like Darren is to be the lucky one with a few rides today. Nick Williams brought home R Cox's KAROO in fourth place.  Nothing for the bag or tin!  This was a good class maiden and note should be taken of the placed horses. 

Here comes the final maiden with again, a good field.  I failed to note that Les would have ridden Mrs Down & Mrs Cork's ELVERLENA (D Edwards) so I chose the best turned out R Brassey's TIERNA'S RESPECT (Will White) to carry a little investment.  The price was right will the choice also be I ask myself?  I think the jointly owned EBONY JACK (G Barfoot-Saunt) was sent off favourite but R Fear's UP TO THE MINUTE (Ollie Jackson) was also well fancied to give the jockey a double. This is a lovely course to follow horses as for most of it you can see the line and when a horse makes a move it becomes very obvious.  There was little doubt about the line when it came to the nitty gritty here.  Darren Edwards took ELVERLENA to the front when it mattered and went on to win by ten lengths with Dean Summersby  on CARGO FLIGHT in second place and EBONY JACK was a further length back in third.  The delight shown by all connections in the winners position in the paddock was a sight to behold - a very happy group!  The best turned out  did not feature in the winners enclosure so the tin was left without replenishment and now in a very poor state.

Can I do better in the Championship Qualifying Race.  Only eight runners so that alone increases my chances.  The favourite S Chown's MANLY MONEY (C Williams) was priced out of our reach at two to five ON so I opted for an each way chance. I met a young lady at the investment centre who had just wagered on the favourite and we took up the conversation as to how much she would win.  I told her that she would definitely win but when we worked out her returns it turned out to be forty pence if all went well. It didn't win so I apologise Sue (Mitchelmore) and wish you better luck when you go racing later this week.   I took M Wingfield-Digby's SONG OF KENDA (Darren Edwards - was going to be Les!) who has won me money before to make a little for me and if by chance he managed to beat the odds on favourite I would not complain.  It was this one that took them along first followed by D Legg's LILY LANE (S Hayes) and Mrs Evans's BARTON ROSE (Bruce Evans).   This was still the order as they passed the judge and it was noticeable that MANLY MONEY was being referred to as 'whipping them in'.  The first two were in the same position as they passed the judge with a circuit to go and they were being tracked by the best turned out Mr & Mrs smith's BRIGHT FLASH  and then came MANLY MONEY, the favourite.  The Tory Family's BARDON BOY was bringing up the rear.  On reaching the open ditch for the final time BARDON BOY had woken up and was now  challenging for the lead on rounding the turn.  On going down the back straight it was BRIGHT FLASH who wanted to go on and this he did for a while but BARDON BOY soon put an end to that little burst and took it up with MANLY MONEY now being asked to quicken as well. LILY LANE now under pressure. Two out it was BARDON BOY and BRIGHT FLASH being chased by MANLY MONEY.  BRIGHT FLASH weakened on the hill and MANLY MONEY took up the chase of BARDON BOY for the line.  BARDON BOY cleared the last in front and all MANLY MONEY could do was to chase him home and come in second by two lengths with SONG OF KENDA coming into third place another couple of lengths back.  A good race and I didn't lose but didn't win a lot either but at five to two ON there were a lot of people who did lose.  I can at least get a rattle out of the tin now!

The West Country Champion chase will see nine good pointers go to post and they will be racing in ideal conditions.  A fast pace is expected and the two prime movers in the investment area is P Finn's LORD ATTERBURY at two to one ON and Paul Nicholls's MISTER BENJAMIN at even money or five to four.  Ruth chose the latter (at seven to four) but I had to wager on the former as he brought me in money recently from his Leicester run.  I don't really want to give it back but I am desperate now and the odds on favourite it has to be. It was a super race, really something else to watch.  First circuit LORD ATTERBURY took them along at a good pace with MISTER BENJAMIN bringing up the rear.  The favourite was flowing over his jumps, fearlessly, being followed by LONGSTONE LAD, LEAD STORY and B Robarts's  SIMONS CASTLE (C Williams).  About now MR BENJAMIN was sent up from seventh to second and took up the challenge against LORD ATTERBURY and the remainder of the race was between these two.  The following group would produce a third and fourth but there was no doubt from here on in that the chips were down and a good race followed.  With a circuit left to run it was LORD ATTERBURY who led by a bit from MISTER BENJAMIN and a group followed.  At five out it was the two speed horses going flat out and both jumping extremely well and both gaining distance in the air - wonderful.  As I mentioned before, at this track you can follow this type of racing very clearly.  Nearing the second last they were at least fifteen lengths clear of the following field and MISTER BENJAMIN was a little to the good.  At the penultimate fence MISTER BENJAMIN stood back and I swear he gained a length in the air - beautiful to watch.  Up the hill and it was clear that MISTER BENJAMIN had the power left to leave LORD ATTERBURY in his wake - over the last, a picture - and on to win by four lengths in a time of five minutes fifty six seconds.  A truly wonderful spectacle.  Well done all connections for making this such a terrific race.  Oh! the ATP Racing Partnership's JUST THE JOB TOO came in a commendable fourth with A Tizzard and R Bullock's CHEROKEE RUN in fourth place.

Seven will go to post in the confined hunts race and again I will choose the favourite at even money.  This is one that Les should have ridden but Darren takes the ride now - Mr D Cossey's KHAYAL.  M Rowe's best turned out  TRAVELLING JACK (J Young) is also fancied but the remainder are available at five to one or more.  Well I will not go into great depths about this race as I did not pick the winner but it was exciting as the very much respected pointer in  Mrs Welch and Mrs D Treneer's BOMBA CHARGER made this his race.  J Frost's DEFENDTHEREALM (D McKenna) followed the leader with J Shears's WELSH LAD also attempting to keep up.  Three other horses decided to run, fall or crash through the wings.  Mandy (Hand) was a little bruised but still smiling (a little!) when I saw her afterwards. The winning distance by BOMBA CHARGER was eight lengths from DEFENDTHEREALM with WELSH LAD a distance back in third. The time for this race was six minutes five seconds, the fastest of the day apart from the champion chase.

The champion chase was hard to follow, especially as Ruth won and I didn't but this next restricted race is not to be sneered at.  Even money favourite in G Crumpler's ALEXANDERTHEGREAT (N Williams) and very good prices about the others with possibly the Heard's BILL ME UP (C Heard) the second favourite.  The tin is now about to be turned upside down and what falls out is going to be used to decide my life style for the next few days.  It could be outside a night club with a large begging bowl (one would have to join a queue here in Newquay to get a bit of pavement!) or eating normal meals at home.  Pension day is not until next month BUT there is a little in the bag.  I have great trouble in getting anywhere near the bag when I am desperate as I must make it obvious that there is about to be a great NEED! I have chosen a twelve to one outsider to carry all available investing material.  All on - each way!  Ruth has chosen Mike Weir's HENWYN (R Darke) to complete her day's investing but it's the smiling Sarah Gaisford that I am depending on to let me live in the style to which I have become accustomed.  This jockey and horse have helped me out before but so has the favourite but the need for a lot of winnings is paramount so on it goes on H Wakeham's CAREFREE LOVE at twelve to one.  Away they go!  (I preferred 'They're off!)  Over the first and CAREFREE LOVE was three and half inches back in second.  Yes I was watching this race very closely!  Jamie Snowden on Mrs Perry's NEARLY EASTER upped the pace a little and went out on his own and was a couple of lengths ahead of  CAREFREE LOVE and Mrs Kenny-Herbert's CHOC when they passed the judge for the first time.  On reaching the judge for the second time NEARLY EASTER'S lead had been reduced to just a length with CHOC in second place and my CAREFREE LOVE going very well in third.  I saw that winning look in Sarah's eyes as she went past at about thirty miles an hour and CAREFREE LOVE  gave me a little wink also.  All over the open ditch safely.  Round the far turn for the last time and Mrs Edwards & Mr Warren's VALMAN (Alex Charles-Jones) is now being put in the race and joins the leaders.  At the second last it was VALMAN who had the advantage over CAREFREE LOVE with ALEXANDERTHEGREAT now being asked to hurry up!  At the bottom of the climb Sarah sent CAREFREE LOVE on into the lead from VALMAN.  ALEXANDERTHEGREAT now decided to challenge and started climbing the hill in great style.  This run up the hill by him had been timed well BUT not quite well enough!  On reaching the last fence Nick Williams hadn't expected ALEXANDERTHEGREAT to dive off to the horse box area and when he did it was CAREFREE LOVE who took advantage of it and cleared the last along with - this is not VALMAN! - this is Ruth's choice HENWYN challenging mine!  Numbers six and sixteen racing for the line together with the now third - ALEXANDERTHEGREAT following.  One for the judge.  It is understandable about the mix up because the colours were similar but we are not complaining. We have both won - the judge will decide whether the maximum goes in my tin or Ruth's bag.  The full results are on my other pages BUT it was my tin that finished up almost full and there was not even a dent in the bag.    A great journey home, singing all the way and still in lovely weather and we both agreed we have had one super weekend. 

Next week its Kilworthy and Ston Easton - great cards, great racing - BE THERE!

My Mother taught me:  IRONY

"Keep crying and I'll give you something to cry about."

Fred & Ruth

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