The weather has been more than beautiful all week so today it is envisaged that no change will take place and we will have a good day at Kilworthy.  Early start as usual and we get our normal good viewing spot.  We welcomed the rope barrier this year as in the past we have arrived very early and then later found late comers moving to park in front of us.  None of that now and we are OFF to a good days racing.

Not so really!  There was I leaning over the rail to sort out who would carry my investment among the seven runner in 'the farmers' race when my ankle (left leg again!) was attacked -no! not a 'JR' this time, it did not feel like little teeth sinking in, this time it was a three foot pole surmounted by silver coloured handles and when open they displayed a huge amount of plastic upon which to place huge portions of ones anatomy.  These huge portions are sometimes so large that average legs cannot hold them up for long so it is the habit to place them on this sitting stick.  The owner, not only could she not stand for long but she could not control the device for very long either so it slid to the ground down the length of my leg finishing up by clouting my ankle, (left leg!) very heavily.  On seeing the device positioned on my boot  she cries 'That's mine! - 'Madam' I replied - 'there is no argument over the ownership of this thing but I would prefer you took charge of it and prevented it from attacking me!' - to which she replied - 'You miserable so and so!'   I did pick it up for her as otherwise I would have missed the race waiting for her to get that low and back up again. In doing so I noticed that the array of racing badges which adorned the wretched thing started with Royal Ascot and finished with Windsor Horse Show but I also noticed the tatty cardboard ones in between were for Catford dog track, Cartmel race course and Hereford -but they made up the numbers.  I chose my runner to carry my investment and limped off to place the required deposit to make a substantial return -

this did not happen!  Tim Dennis riding Mrs Batchelor's DAMIENS PRIDE was bound to win -at least the boards suggested just that (5/4) and made him favourite with the others available at varying prices, the Geering's BROWN CHIEFTAN (R Darke) carried some money (3/1)but I didn't fancy him as although he is quite a capable horse, he jumped poorly recently and was pulled up.  (A later stewards inquiry to the improved running of this horse accepted the fact that 'he ran better today' and we all agreed!)  The jointly owned LYDFORD CASTLE (L Heard) has been consistent in the past but not a lot of  wins to his credit. The best turned out  T Hughes's PALACE PARADE (M Munrowd) at 8/1, also has past form but none of late.  I chose the favourite to make a little for the tin.  A trainee commentator took up his position high above the crowds and was soon bringing us the news that Dean Summersby on  CARGO FLIGHT had gone and not to be on his own, PALACE PARADE joined him, at the first open ditch.  PALACE PARADE seems to have been around forever and has been a grand servant.  This was to be his last race before retiring but maybe now he will contest another one if he comes out of this all ok!  DAMIENS PRIDE led the field out into the country with R Ford's ALPINE CASTLE (A Barnett) becoming detached from the leading group. It wasn't long before the two main contenders broke away and were soon about 15 lengths up on the following LYDFORD CASTLE and J Cole's BIRCH TOR.  ALPINE CASTLE was pulled up.  The final circuit saw the open ditch by-passed and the two leaders went off into the country with very little between them. We 'patiently' waited whilst they came back into view for the final time.  They were together.  Three out DAMIENS PRIDE ahead by a neck,  stride for stride -final fence -oh dear! DAMIENS PRIDE was slightly unlucky and we saw the opposition stride for the line and come home by three lengths with LYDFOR CASTLE back in third.  A good race by these two but what would have cured a poorly ankle has now made the pain almost unbearable.  The tin which was in a fair state has suffered its first blow. Down!  Bag -down!

Eight to post for the confined hunts maiden division one and another really good finish was raced by three horses.  Mark Treneer's ITWORKED, the best turned out Rame Fell's SOLAR SWING (Liam Heard) and Lucinda Sweeting's FORTLANDER (T Cave).  They finished in that order but only half a length was the judged distance between each of them.  I felt that Reuben Chapman with his CHANCY NATIVE (M Glassonbury) was more than unfortunate in having his horse withdrawn here at the start. We waited more than half an hour for the start of this meeting because of a hiccup with paramedics with whom we cannot start, so surely a few more minutes whilst the horse (without whom we would not have a meeting!) had tack properly adjusted, would not have gone amiss. Mr Chapman is a good hunt and point to point supporter and consideration must be given to ALL those who contribute to making this the great sport it is.  I invested on R Stanton's WARNING BOARD but it proved a wrong one and although I had it on each way, the pay out did not include horses in fourth place. Down again! Bag also down!  Trying very hard to smile as though nothing had happened but the ankle is very sore now!

The second division is going to be equally as difficult to choose the winner as the first one.  I am choosing the favourite this time, at even money, J Bowen's CUT DOWN THE SOUND (S Gaisford) as I collected a little money, each way, before from this combination, but opposition will certainly be the best turned out INDIANA JOHN (T Dennis).  The others in this race are not very popular by investors and the field is eight to one bar those mentioned. Going out into the country for the final time there were seven left in the race and they were well grouped up. H Channon's TOM DOVE (M Munrowd) took his turn up front as did L Bond's CHARMINSKY (Sue Young) and R John's PORTERS LODGE (J Young).  M Smale's SON OF COURAGE (L Burns) was also playing his part.  On coming back into view it was INDIANA JOHN in the lead with PORTERS LODGE very close up with CUT DOWN THE SOUND, TOM DOVE, and S William's GEORGES PLEASURE (D Edwards) all in with a chance. INDIANA JOHN was the first to dash for home but Sarah Gaisford on CUT DOWN THE SOUND was not going to let him go completely on his own.  Over the last it was anyone's race but coming away it was INDIANA JOHN that made the best of it with CUT DOWN THE SOUND in second place and GEORGES PLEASURE back in third.  The tin has been severely depleted of its contents and the bag is in the same state.  The ankle is now more than poorly!!

The next race is a certainty for the very good horse of Charlotte Stucley, her PHOENIX  PHYLER as only two in opposition and although they are no mean things they will probably not beat the seven to two on favourite.  The best turned out ARDROSS (W Southcombe) probably gave Charlotte some nervous moments but didn't manage to catch her when it mattered and she brought her charge over the line three lengths to the good and the Young's LIRSLEFTOVER was a further three lengths back in third.  This was a good race and the fastest of the day and not many horses get around here in six minutes three second   I did not invest nor did Ruth but it did not do our respective containers any good at all.

The confined hunts race saw five go to post.  Serious now -Mrs Alford's JUST BERT (William Biddick) is the favourite, closely followed by Roma Cook's HASTEN BAK (Lucy Gardner).  I know a bit about both these horses and it's decision time -HASTEN BACK has had a somewhat chequered career and two professional trainers never managed to get much out him.  He doesn't like the gallops at the trainer's stable so he is now living down with Roma Cook and can use the larger estate at Cardinham.  Well he must have been feeling a touch of claustrophobia at Buckfastleigh as much to Lucy's annoyance he refused to start.  Will he start today?  Young Mr Biddick has had a couple of rides on JUST BERT and I think this could be the one for him.  He'll surely fly along on this ground.  The form of the other contestants is a little suspect, figures are in short supply so we will leave F Bown's ESERIE DES CORES  (French are not very agreeable at the moment anyway!)  and J Wakeham's ZAHARI out of the equation. Caroline Prouse on the family's FATHER MANSFIELD could be a threat. I changed my mind and settled eventually for HASTEN BAK as probably he has been trotting out along side COUNTY BASH and that one is in fine fettle.  False start! -I was surprised at this as it appeared the man leaning on the vehicle opposite the starter decided it was an improper beginning to a three mile race and not the man on the rostrum.  Family interests I suspect!  Off they go!!  It soon became obvious that ZAHARI (T Dennis) did not want to take part -four left. Oh dear -when they reappear there are only three left -JUST BERT -has gone in the 'out of sight' area of this course. Ruth is not too pleased but I am feeling a little better now as I surely have a chance of winning a little.  JUST BERT and rider are OK!  I enjoyed the remainder of this race as HASTEN BAK managed to maintain a lead and came to the line five lengths to the good of FATHER MANSFIELD with ESERIE DES CORES some distance away in third.  Well done Lucy and Aunty -the tin will really appreciate this addition to its contents.

Only four for the men's open but all with recent acceptable form.  The boards find it a little difficult to settle on the favourite but the way The Double XX's QUICKSWOOD came along the finishing straight at Holnicote suggests to me that he can win this one and I get six to four for a good handful out of the tin.  Mrs Prouse's SHOBROOKEMILL (A Charles-Jones) and Mrs Pengelly and Mrs Stoneman's TELL  TALE (Godfrey Maundrell) were also close in the investors arena and possibly one of these went off favourite.  The best turned out  M Gallagher's PRIMERO (T Eades) was the outsider of the four. The pace was a slow one.  Some call it 'tactical'.  So while they cruised around the first lap I splashed a little ice cold water on my ankle (left leg!) and then accepted an invitation to join a few friends who are also ACJ fans for some refreshments after the race. Oh! the race -yes one lap completed and they are still jogging along in a group. Open ditch, fence eleven -QUICKSWOOD, SHOBROOKE MILL, TELL TALE  and PRIMERO.  So out of sight for the final time.  On appearing -running wide of the marker, its QUICKSWOOD who has taken the lead followed by SHOBROOKE MILL then TELL TALE.  QUICKSWOOD sets sail for home - on by two lengths,  At the last its QUICKSWOOD, over and away but  'ACJ' has not finished yet and the race to the line was an exciting one with SHOBROOKE MILL getting the better of it by half a length with TELL TALE seven lengths back in third.  A great finish but not one I wanted.  The bag profited a little, the tin didn't and the ankle begins to swell.  I'll go and partake of some refreshments and listen to the ACJ (Alex Charles-Jones) fan club singing his praises.

Two divisions of restricted races follow. Four in division one  followed by eight in division two.  I chose the Heard's BILL ME UP  (Colin) to help me out but it was such a clipped price I was not going to get very rich.  Grant Cann's ARDMORE  (A Bush) was a very close second favourite with The Partridge Partnership's KNOCK STAR (Simon) also taking some of the investors money.  Over the last and I thought the tin was going to get a little but on the line it was KNOCK STAR by half a length from BILL ME UP and the best turned out  ARDMOR was 15 lengths back in third.

Division two saw Charlie Rush's KESTICK (T Cave) being made the even money favourite with The Partridge's TH'MOONSABALLOON and Mrs Edwards and P Warren's VALMAN close second favourites.  Six to one and above was available about the rest of the field.  I left my decision very late on this one and at the 'off' I followed a gentleman who had considerable more money in his hand than I have ever had in the tin, to be placed on VALMAN.  I decided very quickly that I would also invest so as the bookie was running around like a headless chicken trying to 'lay-off' this large amount of money, I availed myself with a good dip from the tin of the three to one still available.  Two things came out of this race -I won tin replenishment stock and secondly I joined the ACJ club.  A really good race between KESTICK and VALMAN over the penultimate fences brought them alongside each other over the last when KESTICK just chickened out a little and allowed VALMAN to go to the line and win by a length.  TH'MOONSABALLON was ten lengths back in third place.  My ankle is a lot, lot better now! -and the tin is quite healthy also. Thank you.  The bag has earned a little also -well done Ruth!

Finally the Newton Abbot Racecourse Intermediate Championship Qualifying race saw only three go to post.  How can I make some money out of this one?  The odds on favourite is Mrs Prouse's best turned out MONTY'S LASS (Caroline) so I will have to pick who is going to be second and then invest on the 'forecast'.  A straight forecast is the bet when you tell the man at the boards that you know, not only which one will be first but also which one will be second and in a race with only three runners, if you know those mere details, you will also know who is going to be third.  Well I staked at even money for P Shaw's BONNIE RIGG to be ridden by Vanessa to come home second to Caroline on MONTY'S LASS.  This was a sound investment at a really good price -a return of equal to your stake in a three horse race!  Miss Shaw gave me a fright -she really rode an excellent race and this young lady is improving with every ride but nevertheless the result was as I had forecasted and I collected again.  The tin is now full!  The ankle -what about it?  Nothing wrong with it at all and I am off to Ston Easton for another good day tomorrow. 

A bit short on runners here and no doubt tomorrow as well as rain is not forecast for a day or two yet but we will enjoy ourselves as always.  Incidentally well done to John, Mary and Lauren in getting the address sorted out, either -www.fsampson.com or www.fsampson.freeserve.co.uk will pick up these pages.

My mother taught me about STAMINA

'YOU'LL SIT THERE UNTIL ALL THAT CABAGE IS GONE!!

All the best  Ruth & Fred