Report from the East Cornwall Hunt Point to Point held at Great Trethew on Sunday 30^th March 2003.

 

Why could this meeting not be held yesterday, Saturday, then the withdrawal symptoms I had to suffer all day would not have had to be endured. I could have then gone to Maisemore Park or Little Windsor today and two hunts would have profited by my visit plus many other Pointing supporters who would have done the same.  I am sure attendance figures will be down at this meeting because of  other  'nearby' meetings being on the same day.  Whenever I ask who arranged it this way and why? -I am met with a stony silence.  Never mind eh! East Cornwall have two point to point meetings so that will no doubt make up for any loss of spectators and entries.

The organisers must be heartily congratulated on the deliverance of a very good racing surface during a period of a lack of 'sensible' rain.  It was 'good' going and not 'hard' or 'firm' as many had feared but a cleverly watered course which was to produce a fair racing surface.  Well done to all concerned.  It would have been even better on Saturday!

The weather plays a very big part in this sport of ours and at present, for this season, it has treated us very well.  Out picnics for this afternoon in beautiful sunshine, good company and good racing and now carry out a brief inspection of both tin and bag -not too badly off!

After the first two races even the 'bookies' were smiling as the two divisions of maiden races for the younger horses over two and half miles produced favourable results for all.  Whilst everyone (or nearly everyone!) was watching Mrs G Wilson's DOLITANLAD (D Edwards) and J Chanin & A Knox's FIVEMINUTES (C Heard)  fight the battle as joint favourites, it was the better priced BEYOND THE REALM who came through to cross the line in first place to provide Mrs Robarts and her jockey, Andrew Glassonbury, with their first P to P winner. FIVEMINUTES came in second with DOLITANLAD in third place. Lucy Gardner on Mr G Brown's LEE ANNA was going very well after leading the field for a considerable distance but unfortunately came to grief  three from home and ruined her chances.  

Division two saw close punting on S Williams's HOLD ON HARRY (A Sweetland), Mrs Walter's MELCHIOR (Les Jefford)  and S Marsh's WOOLLY JUMPER (D Edwards).  I chose S Hooper's CHASING KATIE (C Studd) to carry a little investment but it proved a poor choice as although she put in a good effort, it was far too short an effort and she was not in the first four.  I was disappointed but there were a few more than me disappointed as the punted-on trio were left behind when it came time to put in the extra special effort and it was Mr Pannel & S Carpenter's COOMBE CHOROUS (R Darke) who crossed the line first, a length in front of the Symes's ERICS WAY (J Barnes) with HOLD ON HARRY back in third.  Another outsider, Vivien Dunne's MARQUIS MAX (Wayne Smith), was fourth.

Race three brought five to the line for the men's open.  The much improved S Messer-Bennetts's ITSNOTSIMPLE (Ben Trickey) who now has the correct bit and 'going', is expected to do well but P Finn's FAMILY BUSINESS (H Fowler) was made an odds-on favourite and this was a good favourite and acted like one.  This chestnut gelding led the field practically from flag fall to finish. The second favourite was D Cossey's KHAYAL (Les Jefford) who chased the winner home and was ten lengths back on the line.  The best turned out C Brake's GOTHA was a long way back in third and only three finished. I wonder what it is that ITSNOTSIMPLE didn't like this time?

Only three contest the Ladies open race and there is not doubt in my mind who will carry my investment.  The same horse and jockey that have managed to replenish the tin on many occasions -The Young's FOSSY BEAR (Sue ) will take all that's in the tin.  The price is poor but the best turned out Ross Oliver's LETS FLY (Mandy Hand) is fancied by some and although John Weldhen's HANSOME HENRY (Sarah Gaisford)  has not quite lived up to expectations this season, this maybe his day.  I don't think so!  Again well ridden, it was FOSSY BEAR, smiling all over her face (have you ever seen a LIR smiling at you ?) who came over the line four lengths to the good, with more to spare, from LETS FLY  and back in third was HANSOME HENRY.  That's better!

Next came the confined hunts maiden with nine to go to post.  Very close on the boards.  K Redwood's BUTLER DID IT (Les Jefford), Lucinda Sweeting's FORTLANDER (Tabitha Cave) and D McCarthy's LINGERING FOG (Mary McCarthy) all very popular.  These three have been very consistent this season and are due a win -which one?  Well! Polly isn't here to ride FORTLANDER but the alternative is a very good choice so I will rely on Tabitha to put a little more in the tin.  They were all grouped up going to the ditch for the first time but prominent was John Weldhen's WONDERFUL WORLD (Sarah Gaisford) and Ian Foale's MASTER PAN (Colin Heard) and amongst the others was my concern going well. With a circuit to go, these two were still there but LINGERING FOG had joined them and FORTLANDER was taking closer order.  No hurry yet!   For a couple of the fences coming up the hill one can get right close to the action and that really is a thrill in particular if your concern is going well and up near the leaders. Its even more of a thrill when they reappear to go down hill and yours is still in there after rounding the turn behind the tents. Over the ditch for the final time and FORTLANDER and LINGERING FOG are leading, followed by Paul Tylor's MENATOL (Lucy Gardner) and WONDERFUL WORLD, up to the top bend and temporarily out of sight.  Back into view and its my concern and investment carrier up front still with LINGERING FOG in close attention.  BUTLER DID IT is now trying to get up to them.  Down the hill.  Two to jump.  A real ding dong battle now but Tabitha gets the better of Mary  and brings her charge home by three lengths with Les back in third place. I really enjoyed that race and so did the tin!

Joint favourites were on the boards as the intermediate race went to the line with five entries but it was A Geering & A Cowlishaw's BROWN CHIEFTAIN (R Darke) who eventually went off favourite with Mike Weir's PHAR AFIELD (Sarah Gaisford) as second favourite.  Ian Hambley's FINNIGAN'S LOT was fancied by some and was available at the same price as J Ferguson's CUCKLINGTON  with  S Redwood's MASTER BUCKLEY (Les Jefford).  Another exciting finish to this race was witnessed when most eyes were on the favourite and second favourite fighting their way to the line when an unperturbed Les Jefford brought his mount up the inside to pip them both by half a length.  There was also half a length between second and third.  Nil for the tin and the bag is not doing too well either.

The restricted race was sponsored by The Who'd Have Thought It Inn, a place where I have spent many a good evening as a young officer in the RN and I am looking for this race to bring me some more of a good time.  I have followed some of the nine participants closely with a hope that I chose the right day to reap the benefits.  Today I feel sure is THE day. Mike Weir's HENWYN (R Darke) finished well recently, Ross Oliver's ACTING TOUGH has been very consistent, David Pipe's SAJOMI RONA (E Eades) won his last race in style but today the tin is going on Charlie Rush's KESTICK (T  Cave).  This horse is now right to bring home the goods.  He was unfortunate at the last at Kilworthy otherwise I think he would have won.  A good price at three to one and I am ON in a big way.  I have a very good idea how this race will be run so I will not be too eager to see my investment carrier up front too soon.  Although the normal expression for the start of a race, which is an established part of racing folklore is being ditched, I don't care if its -They're Off', 'They're Racing', or 'Away they go!' that the commentator uses I just want it to happen.  Now would you believe it -the favourite SAJOMI RONA fell at the first.  HENWYN led, followed by W Dennis's MILLA'S MAN (T Dennis) and Ross Oliver's ACTING TOUGH (Mandy Hand) to the field around the top bend for the first time.  Another faller was the Wilson's MAGIC GENERATION (D Edwards).  With two circuits to travel KESTICK was -'ere we go, was whipping in!  J Selby's CAN'T BE SCRABBLE (P York) took a turn at leading.  MILLA'S MAN always prominent.  KESTICK moved into fourth place whilst travelling down the hill and on to the open ditch on the second circuit.  All is well!  The Ansells Partnership's NEVERADULLMOMENT (I Hambley) pulled up.  As they went out of sight at the top of the course it was MILLA'S MAN, KESTICK, HENWYN and ACTING TOUGH probably in that order.  With three fences to go MILLA'S MAN still headed the field. HENWYN then took it up! KESTICK second, MILLA'S MAN in third.  May the best horse win and may it be mine!  It was  by six lengths from HENWYN and MILLA'S MAN a further three lengths back in third place. A double for Tabitha.  The expression used by KESTICK'S owner that 'this is better than medicine' seemed a very good one but then who ever  needs medicine when there is point to pointing about?

Finally the confined hunts race saw seven runners got to post. This was a tight betting contest but I had no trouble in picking out the investment carrier for me but a lot of others were not convinced by my selection and the money was shared around quite a bit.  Roma Cook's COUNTY BASH (Lucy Gardner), J Phillips's SEA URCHIN (Mandy Hand) and  Henry Wakeham's CAREFREE LOVE (Sarah Gaisford) were all fancied but I chose LIRSLEFTOVER (Sue Young) to bring home a little cream to top the day off.  False start at first then when they did go it was Will Biddick on Mrs Alford's JUST BERT that stole a flyer and took COUNTY BASH and Reuben Chapman's INDIA RAIDER to the first fence with W Turner's SOMERTON REEF (Les Jefford) bringing up the rear.  The leaders swapped places during the race but no one managed to get too far away from the pack.  At the open ditch for the final time it was COUNTY BASH,  JUST BERT and LIRSLEFTOVER who led the field.  On going out of sight at the top of the hill the order was the same but there was not much in it!  On coming into view it was COUNTY BASH followed by LIRSLEFTOVER but no JUST BERT.  Will (Biddick) had done his 'out of sight' trick again and unfortunately JUST BERT had joined the others who had slipped on this far bend today and unseated.  The remainder of the race resulted in two strong young ladies wanting to be the very first one over the line.  Second will not do!  Win this I have to! Be there in front!  I can and will win!  One helluva race to the line and one for the judges.  I took side bets on LIRSLEFTOVER winning this one.  I laid six to four on my investment carrier returning the odds for me.  I attempted to read the judges lips but got no sense out of what I presumed he was uttering.  I made it out to be that 'this heat is deadly today' but in fact he was simply saying none other than 'DEAD HEAT'!  A fair result and the bookies will have to pay out on both but only to one half of the odds.

A thoroughly enjoyable day and tin looking OK but the bag was a little out of sorts -not to worry next week we are at Cherrybrook for some more exciting contests between real good contestants.  BE THERE!

My Mother Taught Me OSMOSIS

'Shut your mouth and eat your supper'

Cheers  Fred & Ruth