Report from South Pool Harriers Point to Point held on Saturday 15 February 2003 at Buckfastleigh Racecourse.
After debating the pros and cons of life with Ruth we set off for Buckfastleigh with my tin half empty and Ruth's bag half full with the proviso that I was to do better and that she could continue in the same vein.
The frost around the remainder of the UK was not so evident here in Cornwall but as I walked the course there was still some in the ground at this lovely venue but as the sun rose it soon disappeared and racing began after prudently being put back half an hour.
As a little extra time was available I took a good look at the arrivals around the lorry park and marvelled at the dedication which the owners, trainers and grooms put into this sport. There was Ollie Jackson, whew! what a worker, and the Pipe's horses with Joanne Giles filling me in with names of her charges for the day, five in the lorry. The Partridge's couple who Simon will ride, one as quiet as a lamb and one not quite so and wanting to get on with the job. Ross Oliver and Mandy dealing with one who was living up to his name and calling for a high degree of professionalism and patience. This area is a hive of activity and does point out the necessary amount of work that goes into providing the sport. Declarations are to be on time but races will be half an hour later - does this confuse or assist I ask myself? Well done all of you.
By the boards in the investment area there was little doubt about who was going to win The Agriwise Intermediate Race but who would be placed is my concern. The Pipe trained LORD ATTERBURY was marked up at four to nine ON so I would be looking for a fairly good priced second or third horse as there are eight runners so either place would suit me. I chose Ross Oliver's ACTING TOUGH (M Hand) and providing she hadn't used up all her energy whilst being prepared she would surely be in the frame as she was at Wadebridge. The Tanner's VERCHENEY has been withdrawn which was a pity as I am sure this little horse is due a win but due to lack of information about the half hour delay in start times getting to Mr Tanner there was now nothing that could be done, as the horse had already been withdrawn. Disappointing! The Partridge's best turned out KNOCK STAR was also a picture and so laid back, is he the one at ten to one to put the first investment on? Darren Edwards is riding that very capable WILD BAVARD for Andrew Congdon so at eleven to two he will just give me a little for my place money. I will stick with my first choice. LORD ATTERBURY soon set the pace and on passing the judge for the first time led the field with WILD BAVARD and The Gent's REEFER DANCER (S Blackwell) up alongsides, WALTER Dennis's MILLA'S MAN (Tim Dennis) in fourth and KNOCK STAR close up but the sad news that ACTING TOUGH had lost a few places here was not received very well BUT a long way to go yet! At the open ditch we lost Paul Tylor's MISS WILD CAT as she unseated young Andrew Glastonberry after being interfered with by the Hicks's SPECULATIVE (Richard Woollacott). Don't worry Andrew, I am sure Jimmy will not sack you for that! On passing the judge for the final time the lead hadn't changed and apart from SPECULATIVE they were all in with a chance but there was no doubt about it that LORD ATTERBURY was going the best and my concern was at the back of the group but was taking the shortest route on the inside. With five left to jump LORD ATTERBURY increased the pace and went on to an ever increasing lead leaving the remainder to fight out the places. REEFER DANCER soon lost touch, WILD BAVARD was now hard driven, ACTING TOUGH now decided it was time to join in the fun and began to pick up nicely. MILLA'S MAN kept on going but there was a final charge by all the remainder after the last fence and ACTING TOUGH came out of it in second place with KNOCK STAR in third and WILD BAVARD in fourth. The time was the fastest of the day and all or any of the placed horses can win a race this season while LORD ATTERBURY will surely challenge 'open' horses soon. A note for the punters - I invested half as much as I would if I chose the favourite. I picked up a little AND I had three chances when with the favourite I would only have had ONE! In the tin it goes!
Next comes The Winston Pincombe Confined Hunts maiden division one. Nine go to post and this will be the first ride for young Marion (Chanin) on her home bred horse JOLLY BANJO. This is different from side saddle. I would definitely put this family forward for any nomination possible in recognition of their dedication to 'anything' to do with horses. It was unfortunate that JOLLY BANJO didn't let Marion complete the course with him but I know she will not give up at that. My concern this time is Miss D Green and Mrs Jackson's (that's Ollie's name now!) FORTYSIXALLOUT to be ridden by Mrs O Jackson (that's Ollie!) based on last season's form but another one who came in with the Pipe's team is SAJOMI RONA (Ashley Farrant) who has had a run this season and was made favourite but the jointly owned TRIBAL LORD (R Darke) was also well fancied. I am going to take Mrs Jackson to beat her boss's favourite but TRIBAL LORD is a worry. Off they go and would you believe it, my money carrier is left detached in last place and that phrase which I cannot bear is being used on my charger - 'whipping in is FORTSIXALLOUT - detached!' - at least 15 lengths from the leader at the third fence - and the voice didn't stop at that - and further back to the weakening FORTSIXALLOUT - with two full circuits to go it was Mrs Wakeham's PLAYING FOR MONEY (S Gaisford) who led from Marion on JOLLY BANJO with the favourite SAJOMI RONA in third place with the remainder close up except last of the nine - FORTYSIXALLOUT! On passing the start line again it was - and still last is FORTYSIXALLOUT! Believe it or not I was not too concerned at this stage but there were two little pits underneath me where I helped Ollie over each fence. Over fence eight in the back straight where Marion leaned forward on landing and gave JOLLY BANJO a little hug around the neck - he seems to like that little hug as he encouraged it several times. It was in this back straight that M Smales's STRAIGHT COURAGE (C Heard) let FORTYSIXALLOUT overtake him and picked up the 'whipping in' position., we were soon to overtake the Holmes's GO BOY. Going for the open ditch on the final circuit it was SAJOMI RONA over first with PLAYING FOR MONEY second and it was here that a good hug for Marion was not sufficient and JOLLY BANJO went on without her. On rounding the far bend it was very noticeable that TRIBAL LORD was now getting interested along with - would you believe it - FORTSIX ALLOUT. Two out and the leaders were six lengths to the good of my concern and facing up the hill with it all to play for. SAJOMI RONA and TRIBAL LORD fighting it out with a very good horse in third place FORTYSIXALLOUT but - six lengths back. Over the last and TRIBAL LORD landed first and the race for the line was on. The right length of run in provided the facility for my concern, YES! FORTYSIXALLOUT came home by half a length to the good of TRIBAL LORD and GO BOY picked up and came in third another half a length back with SAJOMI RONA in fourth place. A brilliant ride by Mrs Jackson and more for the tin = considerably more!
The Confined Hunts race division two was another one with a terrific finish and did me no favours but it was Ruth's turn to pick up a little more as her choice the Wakeham's CAREFREE LOVE may have been late into the paddock but when it really mattered carried smiling Sarah Gaisford over the line to win by half a length after a battle with young Liam Heard on P Silcocks's GO POSITIVE with Tim Dennis on the Cox's INDIANA JOHN back in third place. The best turned out Mr Brassey's TIERNA'S RESPECT came in fourth. It was HENRIETTA from the Pipe's yard ridden by, yes Mrs Jackson, who went off favourite but unfortunately fell when three from home and in with a chance with the leaders at the time.
Ten go to post for The Totnes and Bridgetown Men's Open Race. It was a quite open punting race with any one of three being made favourite at different times. The syndicate horse FANFARON (P Phillips), R Rawle's LONGSTONE LAD (D Edwards) and the Farrant's TRUE HUSTLER (A Farrant) all being fancied. It was not to be any of these over the line in the coveted first position. Mary Trueman's LEAD STORY well ridden by Richard Woollacott got the judge's verdict over J Read's WELSH SILK (N Mitchell) by a head with LONGSTONE LAD half a length back in third place and NEARLY GOLD in fourth place. A good race but not good for the tin or bag but there is still time to improve things!
The first division of the Restricted saw eleven go to post. Mrs Edwards's VALMAN was made favourite and as Richard Woollacott is running into good form it might be worth following that one but Tim Dennis could bring Mr King's ROSS POLDARK into a paying position but what about Les Jefford on Mr Wingfield Digby's SONG OF KENDA who has had the advantage of a run? Then The Chase Club's IT'S THE BIZ (J Young). A tight one to call and fortunately for me I settled on Les Jefford to be my bank manager for this one and he kindly obliged as he obviously belongs to 'the listening bank' and he must have heard my pleas! Les brought SONG OF KENDA home by ten lengths from IT'S THE BIZ and T Needham's GEMOLLY (L Burns) back in third. This was a very positive race by Les as his horse was deserving of some 'wake up' calls with at least a circuit to race and had nearly all the field in front of him. In the back straight my banker made a mistake and was still five lengths behind the leaders who were being carried along by IT'S THE BIZ. Two out and without a chance (some thought!). Coming up the hill it was Simon Partridge on TH'MOONS A BALLOON leading IT'S THE BIZ by a couple of lengths when suddenly Les heard my pleas again and literally took off. TH'MOONS A BALLOON was possibly frightened by the sound of my banker travelling so fast so - he stopped. (seriously, I hope he's OK!) and IT'S THE BIZZ also suffered a little by the noise and was passed as my banker went on to win by ten lengths with GEMOLLY fifteen lengths behind in third place. Now the tin is really looking good - a quick meeting of conspirators and Ruth now has her own investment material and mine is looking much better having repaid all borrowings. On we go!
Can Miss Prouse beat Mr Farrant in the second division of the Restricted. I think so and wager accordingly but came unstuck as the Pipe's CELESTIAL GOLD came home a good seven lengths in front of MONTY'S LASS with Colin Heard on BILL ME UP back in third place. This money is definitely only loaned and I will remind all readers when I will be picking it up again plus bonuses. It will not be too long I am sure but in the mean time a little hole has appeared in the tin.
The Ladies race brings six good contestants to the line and saw Tabitha Cave on The Wakehill Partnership's GOOD THYNE GUY punted into favourite position with The Young's TRACK 'O' PROFIT to be ridden by Sue Young, second favourite and P Greenwood's JOLITAN to be ridden by Mrs Jackson (whew! what a worker) third favourite. I have always liked TRACK 'O' PROFIT and he has rewarded the tin in the past and I will take him to do it again and I grab the two to one about him. A fair pace was set as they crossed the line with two complete circuits to go and were led by my concern with all the remainder in close pursuit. The Southcombe's best turned out PRIESTHORN was there as was JOLITAN and GOOD THYNE GUY as they followed TRACK 'O' PROFIT along the bottom straight. With a circuit to go and excitement growing Sue Young had no intention of being passed by anyone and led the field off to the open ditch for the final time with JOLITAN, GOOD THYNE GUY and Paul Tylor's GURU RINPOCHE (L Gardner) in pursuit. JOLITAN was on the inside over the ditch and could have been a little to the good but not enough to bother me as TRACK 'O' PROFIT went off around the bend. Jumping well down the back straight, my earner was going well and gained in the air from JOLITAN but this GOOD THYNE GUY is persistent and could possibly be in front. On the climb up the final hill although GOOD THYNE GUY was on the inside he could find very little more and JOLITAN was holding on and could make second. The fitness of my charger told the story and Sue brought him home to win by a comfortable fifteen lengths but JOLITAN decided to head for the crowd after jumping the last and gave us all a scare as spectators, dogs (six JRs!!) and pushchairs all went flying. Mrs Jackson (Ollie) appeared not to be hurt and she had another one to get ready for the last so there is no time to bleed! Mr Heard a regular P to P supporter not known for being the tallest spectator, was now a lot smaller and was seen from an unusual angle. GOOD THYNE GUY second fifteen lengths back and PRIESTHORN went on to become third a further fifteen lengths. Yippee! this is easy - more for the tin and it has a very refreshed look about it now!
Finally The Farriers Confined Hunts race with ten going to post. David Pipe's DARAYDAN (A Farrant) will go off favourite with P Thomas's reliable SOL MUSIC (Les Jefford) second favourite and Roma Cook's best turned out, HASTEN BAK (Lucy Gardner) also close up in the investment arena. Miss Burrough's PARK END (M Sweetland) is also a horse with form and could be there when it matters. "Away they go!" and I have opted for Les Jefford on this known front runner, to pull off a double for me here today. Quite heavily opted for him as well but he has listened to my pleas in the past and I just hope it can continue for this last one! Disaster for some as HASTEN BAK is left at the start so is NWF! Ruth is not a pleased lady as some from the bag had been invested on this one to swell the contents, but that it certainly will not now be doing. On passing the judge for the first time it was my concern leading by some ten lengths from PARK END with DARAYDAN moving up into third. SOL MUSIC continues to lead throughout the second circuit but oh! how he frightens me by just fiddling his fences. One circuit to go and galloping along in front, my charger continues to fiddle his way round with DARAYDAN looking a threat but no one has yet headed my investment. Les is again riding at the buckle end as he takes the fences along the bottom straight but the threat from DARAYDAN is looking less as he is beginning to get ridden along by Ashley. Coming up the hill you might have noticed Les twist his head a little, this was not to look behind but to get better reception of my pleas in both ears. They were received loud and clear and on he went to win by four lengths with DARAYDAN unable to close the gap and BOMBA CHARGER was well held eight lengths back in third place. This is it!. This is the way to do it! Put it all in the tin for tomorrow, stand on tin lid, make sure it is closed (with great difficulty!!) and smile all the way to Dorchester. No! the place not the Hotel, for tomorrows meeting of South Dorset. A wonderful days racing, The highest quality but please Mr P Thomas and The G & P Partnership's (Mrs V Graham) SOL MUSIC - don't ever go to Milbourne St Andrew - why? read tomorrows report. Fred & Ruth