Report from Mid Devon Foxhounds Point to Point meeting at Black Forest Lodge at Kenton Exeter on Sunday 9th February 2003.
The conversation was slow to start as we made our way to our B & B at Ken near Black Forest Lodge for tomorrows meeting of the Mid Devon Foxhounds. The dulling effect at not having a winner soon disappeared and the excitement of what tomorrow may bring took over. The accommodation we use is truly wonderful here and I tried to persuade Ruth that we could save money by staying in and watching the telly and I would have some credit for tomorrow but where as I can manage on an orange and an apple Ruth tends to like, starters, main course, sweet and coffee plus After Eights if there are any and the Australian Shiraz with the meal and a Bells before and sometimes after (I always drive home from the meal!) and as this was not available in our room we motored off to The Swan's Nest. Good meal at a very sensible price and in the company of fellow P to P enthusiasts made for a lovely evening. The bit of plastic did not bounce but they would not give me any 'cash back' even though I explained how I required it for tomorrow! Bring in plan B obviously!
I walked the course and even though there had been some heavy overnight showers the course was in 'good' condition throughout. Much thought during this walk gave me a little headache as not when to bring in plan B to provide for the day but what was plan B? I settled to borrow the completely unexpected price I paid in Devizes for a haircut. An extra for which I had not budgeted and the difference in Newquay's OAPs shop and the fancy one in Devizes was incredible. So that's it, a little for starters and build up gradually is the ploy! Ruth understood fully about my predicament and the haircut prices so into the now, not mildewed bag, to find sufficient to set me up.
No Farmers race so straight off with a confined hunts race, sponsored by The Howard Financial Service Ltd. A poor price came up for David Pipe's CLASSIC MASQUERADE (A Farrant) so I did not get involved - figures like two to one on, four to seven on and the like frightened me considerably so the haircut money and I were not going to be parted on this race in particular when you have the likes of Pedrick's best turned out WILLIAM O'DEE (R Woollacott), G Brown's GREY CISEAUX (Lucy Gardner) and Mr J Morrish's SELECT STAR (L Jefford) quite capable on their day of sneaking this one. Off they go and led by WILLIAM O'DEE they reach the open ditch for the first time without mishap and GREY CISEAUX was 'whipping them' in and appeared quite prepared to race in rear. On completing a circuit it was still WILLIAM O'DEE who led with SELECT STAR and CLASSIC MASQUERADE following about three lengths back and then GREY CISEAUX and further back was LINK COPPER. Lucy brought her charge into the fray as they went out into the country for the final time but it was still WILLIAM O'DEE who went over the ditch for the final time three lengths to the good of CLASSIC MASQUERADE followed another three lengths back by GREY CISEAUX. LINK COPPER was well out of it by now and SELECT STAR had been pulled up. As they came down the hill for the last time it was CLASSIC MASQUERADE who took it up and as commentated it looked as though he was going to take all the beating. A certain Miss Gardner had different thoughts and no doubt very exciting ones at this stage. She had two good horses in front of her and provided her horse jumped well she must have know she had the beating of both of them. Her horse had lost ground in the air - (how the hell can that be right!! - here we go again!!) at previous jumps GREY CISEAUX lost position whilst jumping so she is going to have to nurse him over the remaining fences. At the second last Lucy was a couple of lengths adrift of CLASSIC MASQUERADE with WILLIAM O'DEE running a blinder just adrift of the leader. Ashley Farrant had the inside at the elbow and with one more to jump it was Lucy's turn to challenge for the lead. Three horses in with a chance but after the last GREY CISEAUX was driven to win by three lengths followed by WILLIAM O'DEE and CLASSIC MASQUERADE was a length back in third place. A very good win but it was a good run by all placed horses and a credit to their pilots jockeys. Whew! no income yet but no loss either by me but Ruth had invested on the winner and is smiling as well as making sarcastic remarks about my competence!
The Hi-Line Contractors Ltd Mens Open was contested by five good horses but again David Pipe's horse LEADING OPTIMIST opened at four to seven ON and Ashley (Farrant) was intending to make no mistake with this one. Neil Harris on Mr Lever's PORLOCK HILL had different ideas and no doubt some schooling with the likes of that good horse - COUNTY DERRY - has brought this horse to such a standard. The price of two to one against was available but with only the price of a haircut available I refrained from investing this time but looked forward to another good race. Well! the result will speak for what sort of race it was. PORLOCK HILL first, a distance away was the favourite - LEADING OPTIMIST and a further distance away was WELSH LAD (M Shears). Hunter 'chasing for the winner soon I expect.
The result of the ladies open was very similar. Sponsored by The BJ Barkwell & Lyndridge Residential Home at Okehampton it saw five runners go to post. The Stucley family pet PHOENIX PHLYER to be ridden by Miss Stucley opened up at five to two ON and went off at a similar price. I think the crowd were more interested in the best turned out - the Jones's SANDFORD ORCAS who at seventeen was older than Miss Jones the jockey. After the principals had finished the crowd waited to give this couple a very well deserved cheer as they mastered the last fence and completed the course in fine style looking after one another. The distance of twenty lengths between the winner, PHOENIX PHLYER and the second horse should not put punters off the White's BELLS WOOD (V Lucas), this horse remains a very consistent performer and will win. It was good to see John Weldhen's HANDSOME HENRY complete the course and will surely improve immensely for the race.
If I am going to get back some of my 'loaned' money I had better start soon. The Newton Abbot Racecourse Ltd Intermediate Race is to be the one. Not all the haircut money but a percentage. I have chosen Mr Jones's BUCKLAND BOY (T Vaughan) but the opposition is strong. R Westacott's SIR WILLIAM (D Edwards) has won this season, The Scudamore's ZAFFARAN WINDS (A Farrant) has a good form record and S Evans's BARTON ROSE (B Evans) is no slouch. I am happy with my choice as he has proved himself in the past and Tim Vaughan knows how to handle this little fellow. Away they go and as they passed me with two complete circuits to go it is P Shaw's BONNY RIGG heading the leading group with ZAFFARAN WINDS and Ross Oliver's DIGITALIS (R Darke) close up and the remainder not too far away. A little chopping and changing and as they passed me again with only a circuit to race now, BONNY RIGG being demoted to last and ZAFFARAN WINDS taking up the running with my concern now in second place and giving me no cause to worry as he has been up and near the van at all times. SIR WILLIAM in third place with DIGITALIS now back in fourth and the remainder following on. At the open ditch for the last time the three leaders were in the air together - my concern BUCKLAND BOY touched down first (I said so!) and the pace now hotted up considerably. The first break was when SIR WILLIAM opened up a length lead of my horse with ZAFFARAN WINDS dropping back. SIR WILLIAM continued to improve his lead and the field of 11 were well and truly strung out but my concern was not beaten yet. On reaching the final bend though with only one left to jump it was Darren who had SIR WILLIAM going well and too good for mine and all the others, and came home by four lengths from BUCKLAND BOY with BARTON ROSE fifteen lengths back in third place. A good race and I consider I had my monies worth in that one. A second - I am getting better!
The Dave and Terri Fisher Restricted Race saw 12 go to post. Now I am in a right state! Very little money and little to go by in this race. The House Family have their SUNSHAN (G Barfoot Saunt). NO! There is a chance the maidens will be split so maybe it will be better to wait but then who has ever made money out of maidens with ten or more runners in each. I will today attempt this feat! SUNSHAN has gone off favourite with decent prices about all the others. This was a good race to say the least. Mandy Hand on her JO'S WEDDING led them out into the country after passing the judge on the first circuit from BEADNELL BAY who was to fall at the next giving Mark Shears a nasty dump leaving NICK'S WAY (D Harvey) in second place with DRUID MERILL (R Woollacott) and The Bottle Bank Club's GLASS BREAKER (G Barfoot Saunt) back in third. Out into the country for the final time and GLASS BREAKER leads NICK'S WAY and now Lucy Gardner is at it again with her BAK ON BOARD who is nudging up a place or two. DRUID MERILL and the best turned out T Bailey's DANTE'S PROMISE (M Walters) are still in with a chance. On reaching the cross fence at the far end a blanket could cover the remaining runners and it is now one good race for the line. NICK'S WAY and SUSEJEBHA were the first to tail off from this group. With three left to jump its DANTE'S PROMISE making a go of it tackled by JO'S WEDDING and BAK ON BOARD. On reaching the elbow it was any one of these three to win in a very exciting finish. It was that Lucy Gardner who prevailed to cross the line just two lengths ahead of DANTE'S PROMISE and JO'S WEDDING a length back in third. This completed a double for Lucy and surely now this young lady is en route to maintain her title.
I will cut short the chat about the final four races which were open maidens with one of them being split but suffice for me to say just that I invested 100 per cent of the remaining hair cut money on Julian Pritchard in division one and he brought the best turned out HARRY'S MARE home by one length to win a nerve jangling race (for me anyway!) so that proved a sound investment. In division two part one I had a small touch on Tigger Barnes and he rewarded me with a four length win on GILZINE and now there was money in the tin again so it ALL went on Ashley Farrant and would you believe it he brought Mr Johnson's PORCHESTER CLOSE home by twenty lengths. Not such a good price but it didn't half please me and THE TIN! Julian Pritchard carried a little investment in the last division on R Francome's RESTLESS NATIVE but he only managed third place so nothing to pick up as the price didn't allow each way punting. This division gave Richard Woollacott his first win for the season after a very clever ride on R Mitford-Slade & G Fisher's TEDDY BOY who was ridden to the line some 15 lengths ahead of ABRAKADALPHA (S Blackwell).
A quick check in the tin and I began to smile again. I have not won but believe me my losses have been reduced considerably. Ruth is now looking for a new bag - a bigger one would you believe. She had done extremely well this weekend and even won a bottle of whisky for a quid to boot. (bought one - yes ONE ticket and won!)
We are ready for next weekend at Buckfastleigh and will probably get to Milbourne St Andrew on Sunday. Keep smiling and get out Point to Pointing - its great fun. Fred & Ruth