Report from the East Cornwall Hunt Point to Point held at Great Trethew Menheniot on Sunday 23rd February 2003.

I will have to be a little less comprehensive on reporting on this meeting because at the end of the day, eleven races had been completed. I love point to point racing but this circuit with two tight bends had cut up considerably by the time we had completed half the card so early runners had a clear advantage over the latter ones. Oh! talking about cards - what cards! None were available for anyone who arrived after the off of the first race. Did that prove a larger than usual crowd or less than usual in the number of cards ordered. A bit disappointing for those that persuaded the family it was good to get out and go P to P'ing after a large Sunday dinner and had paid an entrance fee but no race cards were available.

I watched with interest as the family of 'LIRS' from the Young's yard were unloaded and gosh! don't they all look alike but the one I will settle for in The Cornish Times East Cornwall Hunt Members', Subscribers' & Farmers' Race is the one Susan will be riding, that is FOSSY BEAR, to bring home enough to last me for an afternoon's investing. BELITLIR will be ridden by Jenny Weeks who has gallantly returned to ride a race after injury a couple of years back. Good luck to her. The jointly owned ROSS POLDARK (Tim Dennis) is taking some of the investors money and there is also interest in BELITLIR and the best turned out P Mitchell's MOORLAND ROSE . Unfortunately we will never know, but would BELITLIR have beaten FOSSY BEAR if Jenny had not slipped off after the last fence and just before the winning line. As far as I was concerned the result was as I wanted but I must admit I had a little shiver as I watched them land over the last. BELITLIR had made up ground from coming down the hill in fine style and was really going well and surely headed FOSSY BEAR at the last fence. Susan was looking across at BELITLIR, but was it because this game little mare was in front of her or was it to find out whether she should increase speed a little. Jenny said it was prudent not to beat Sue. A good race and promises of more to come for the rest of the season. Second place then went to ROSS POLDARK with MOORLAND ROSE eight lengths back in third and because Jennie remounted BELITLIR she was awarded fourth place.

The next four races were over the 2.5 mile course and were for maidens aged five, six or seven years old. In the first one it was Mr Walter's PARTE PRIMA (R Woollacott) who was made favourite and readily obliged and came home three lengths to the good of T Bailey's DIZZY LAD (G Maundrell) with Richard Darke riding the jointly owned BROTHER JOSEPH back in third place.

In the next race the Cole's CILLAMON trained and ridden by Les Jefford was made clear favourite and duly obliged by three lengths from Lady Earle's QUIZZAL (L Gardner). This five year old mare will be going places as no doubt CILLAMON will also progress being only six years old. In third place was M Nicholls's VIRGOS BAMBINO ridden by Polly Gundry who, incidentally, had to leave soon afterwards to ride at Exeter. Only three finished.

In the next division it was NORTHERN EDITION from the Long's stable that took the honours. Geoff Barfoot-Saunt brought this Good Thyne gelding up to the line nicely to win by one and half lengths from Les Jefford on another one he trains. This one belongs to The Josh Partnership and M O'Brien - JOSH MOR but only a neck to the good of Lucy Gardner on her GOING SOLO. In fourth place was The Ansell Partnership's OFF THE HOOK and after the way Ian (Hambly) 'spoke' to this horse and fellow jockeys whilst riding the top turn I expect to see him in church next Sunday (before P to P'ing) to pray forgiveness.

The best turned out in division three was the Heywood's IMPREVU and Clare did not stop at that as she brought this dark bay gelding home to win by one and half lengths from Les Jefford on the jointly owned BEAU SUPREME with Ashley Farrant back in third place with Mrs Robarts' JUST SALLY. That really must be the epitome of pointing when you own, train and ride such a winner. Lovely!

I didn't expect to see such a horse as COUNTY DERRY at Great Trethew but there he was to take part in The Land Rover Men's Open Race along with eight others. Not possible to invest at all as the price could not be accommodated by my tin but nice to watch him run as I might be tempted to invest on him at Cheltenham. Neil Harris brought him home ten lengths in front and in the equal fastest time of the day, from Mark Sweetland on the best turned out DANNY DO LITTLE who as we know is no mean slouch and back in third place was Darren Edwards on Mr Rawle's newcomer DOUBLET G B.

I mentioned in my report from Milbourne St Andrew how Chloe Roddick had unseated on her very first ride on Paul Nicholls's MISTER BENJAMIN. Well she made no such mistake today in The Jefferys Ladies Open Race and brought this odds on favourite home by seven lengths from an impressive run by the best turned out R Woollacott's JENTAR EQUILIBRA (T Cave) and half a length back in third was A Tizzard's CHEROKEE RUN (C Tizzard).

With four more races yet to go and very little having been added to the contents of the tin since my first winner I thought I had better buck up, so I did and chose Tabitha Cave to help me - and she did! Riding S Smith's ONMYWAYHOME she crossed the line six lengths to the good of Mary McCarthy on the family's LINGERING FOG with Neil Harris managing to control John Weldhen's WONDERFUL WORLD into third place. BIRCH TOR ridden by his owner, J Cole, crossed the winning line to cheers from the public for completing practically two circuits of the course without irons. I for one did not cheer as the same situation occurred at a different course last year with the same rider and if you think it does your horse any good by landing on the middle of his back over fences for that distance without anything to take the weight, then you are wrong! A check on riding gear would be the most sensible action - BEFORE racing.

Another young lady came to my rescue in the second division of the confined hunts maiden race for the over 8 years old. Sarah Gaisford rode Mike Weir's PHAR AFIELD to win by three lengths from Les Jefford on K Redwood's BUTLER DID IT with Tim Dennis just half a length back in third place on the Heywood's SMOKEY JOE. This enabled me to replenish the tin a little but I am so cautious at the moment with all these odds on favourites going in that I am watching more than investing and thoroughly enjoying myself.

Now came The Newton Abbot Racecourse Championship Intermediate Race and may I remind everyone that ALL runners qualify for the Newton Abbot Racecourse Hunter Chase final at Newton Abbot on Tuesday 29th April 2003. Mr Kilpatrick's LEGATUS from the Pipe's yard is made odds on favourite and he has won me money before but again I opt out and leave the tin under lock and key. He had no trouble winning this and Ashley Farrant brought him home to cross the line six lengths to the good of Lucy Gardner on her BAK ON BOARD who was a length clear of Neil Harris on the jointly owned DON ROYAL. Vanessa Shaw gave BONNY RIGG a good ride and crossed the line in fourth place.

Finally came The Baco Metals Restricted where again the favourite was made odds on to win and under Christian Williams MANLEY MONEY, who the Barber stables rate very highly, came home clear by three lengths from Richard Darke on Mike Weir's HENWYN with Tabitha Cave on Charlie Rush's KESTICK half a length back in third place.

A long day and a lot of racing where I make it 10 out of 11 favourites won! We have some very nice pointers in the offing and we are only a month into the season. It continues to be very exciting and creating a lot of pleasure for all concerned. Next week its East Devon Hunt at Ottery St Mary and then on to Larkhill Just be there!! Fred & Ruth