Report
from The South Tetcott Hunt P to P at Jays Farm Lifton on Monday 26th
May 2003.
A few showers were about as we sped up the A30 to Lifton, quite early, to get away from the traffic which is hanging around Newquay en route to The Run to the Sun. I think they will be fresh out of sun but no doubt they will enjoy themselves. Ruth and I will as we are going Point to Pointing at Jays.
The first thing on arrival was the evidence of a lush covering of grass. I refrained from walking the course as the blighted toe has not yet achieved full weight status so I pinched the information from very intelligent course walkers who came and reported on completion of their journey. Good with Good to Soft patches but should provide an excellent racing surface. Well done Jays, you have really excelled this year in providing good jumps, good surfaces and a lovely lot of entries.
Eight to the line for the confined hunts race. The form horse and favourite in the ring is Roma Cook's best turned out COUNTY BASH (Lucy Gardner) but this consistent mare has been out of the number one position over the last four races so maybe she has had enough for the season. J Phillips's SEA URCHIN (M Hand), the blinkered LYDFORD CASTLE (L Heard) and J Shears STRONG STUFF (M Shears) are all vying for second favourite but I will go for COUNTY BASH and raid the tin accordingly. It didn't matter what happened in front of this race as Lucy was quite prepared to settle in waiting position and although when the money is on one tends to worry about waiting positions, in this race there was no worry whatsoever. Going out into the country for the final time, Lucy moved up and was second now to SEA URCHIN and looking good. Along the back straight at fence number fourteen, COUNTY BASH moved up to take the lead. LYDFORD CASTLE was back in third place. There was a little concern at one fence but Lucy sat tight and maintained racing speed very well. At the foot of the final hill the lead increased to three lengths and home came Lucy to a four length win from SEA URCHIN with LYDFORD CASTLE close up to a half length third. This is a good start.
I didn't collect from the first race as I informed the layer that I would put it all on the next race. Alex Charles-Jones onboard J Burbridge's MRS BE is the odds on favourite and I cannot see her being beaten. The second favourite is Mrs Batchelor's DAMIENS PRIDE (Liam Heard) and the remaining four runners are much bigger prices although J Snowden's CHASING DAISY has taken a little of the investors money. DAMIENS PRIDE set a good pace and maintained it until the end. Colin Heard on the best turned out M Gallagher and A Hill's PRIMERO complete with visor and tongue strap kept chasing his son, Liam on DAMIENS PRIDE but was not able to get the better of him. With a circuit to run it was DAMIENS PRIDE, PRIMERO and MRS BE. CHASING DAISY had another go at challenging DAMIENS PRIDE but the final half circuit would see the contest being between the favourite and second favourite. Second last saw DAMIENS PRIDE a little to the good of MRS BE but the little mare never gave in and the race to the line was her reward as she won by half a length from DAMIENS PRIDE with CHASING DAISY a further twenty lengths back in third place. Now I will collect my winnings! Ruth also had to collect as the first two finished in the order she predicted and the bag will be replenished after being practically emptied at Mounsey Hill.
On to the Ladies Open and six will race for the Rogers's Perpetual Cup and mementoes. Roma could make it a double if Lucy brings home her HASTEN BAK and although sometimes a little quirky at the start, the form is sound. The visored PHOENIX PHLYLER from the David Pipe's stables and to be ridden by Charlotte Stucley, the owner is the big threat. Miss Kelley's best turned out SEA SPIRIT (Tabitha Cave) is surely back to winning form after four consecutive second places. Then Mrs Woodhouse's BADGER BEER (Rilly Goschen) is surely up to win this with his consistant performance this year. This was a lovely race and the ladies were racing at their best. The result saw Charlotte Stucley bring her charge home three lengths to the good of Lucy Gardner with Sarah Gaisford in third place and Rilly Goschen in fourth. First PHOENIX PHLYER, second HASTEN BAK and third Paul Tylor's GURU RIN POCHE. (Sarah Gaisford).
Two horses took the money in the Restricted Race and at times they were both six to four against but eventually the Three to One Club's CHANGE (C Heard) was sent off favourite with J Bowen's CUT DOWN THE SOUND (S Gaisford) second favourite. Mandy Hand on the Turner's SILVERMAN, complete with cheek pieces got a flyer at the start and the lead she gained she did not intend to give away. The Swarbrick's TIMBER TOP got up to follow SILVERMAN and these two pulled away from the remainder as the pace set by Mandy was a real good one. Di Harding's PROBY LADY began now to run up to the pace and joined the leaders. I was busy watching what was happening up front so I did not follow what was happening to the favourite and second favourite but they pulled up I believe. Down the back straight for the final time and TIMBER TOP began to feel the pace a little too hot. Charlie Rush's PANTO PIXIE (Tabitha Cave) was staying on well and was now in third place. So through the run through, up the hill over the second last and yes would you believe it Mandy had SILVERMAN still in the choice position. She jumped the last two well and went on to win by two lengths from Di Harding on PROBY LADY and then the diminutive PANTO PIXIE. I think that must be one of Mandy's few races when she never saw the rear end of either jockey or horse but then who would want to! Excellent -and those that picked up the sixteen to one after opening at seven to one were well rewarded. The tin did not benefit nor did the bag! What a pity our granddaughter Jade wasn't with us today, because she is a Silverman fanatic and she would surely have helped Grandma's bag!
The Intermediate saw seven go to post and immediately Ken and John Heard's BILL ME UP (C Heard) was made odds on favourite and I did not go to the investing arena but was prepared to sit back and watch. Lucy Gardner had her BAK ON BOARD which has good form this season and Henry Wakeham's CAREFREE LOVE with Richard Darke up also has a couple of wins to his credit but the last two 'pulled up' lowers the form a bit.. The best turned out I Farley's MORRIS PIPER (Richard Woollacott) is being whispered about and may cause a surprise. I don't think the punters who took the odds on had anything to worry about throughout the race and dominated the pace. Others attempted to challenge but none came off and on the winning line it was BILL ME UP with CAREFREE LOVE two lengths back in second place and ten lengths back in third was BAK ON BOARD.
Two divisions of Open Maiden races followed and they both went to Mark Shears with Alex Charles Jones in second place on both occasions. David Heath's RICH RETURN was just that. With form of six 'pulled up' to his credit he came home at a huge price with some collecting at 50 to 1 but others quite happy with 33 to 1 in division one with the jointly owned ROSEHILL DOORBELL four lengths back in second place and young Will Biddick giving Rodney Gay's GAYBLE a great ride to get third place. How this little horse reminded me of the late GAYSUN and I am sure we will be seeing much more of him as he is only five now. There was a withdrawal in this race which entitled the bookmakers to deduct 30 pence in the pound from winnings which would not worry those that had the winner but it sure knocked hell out of the each way betting.
Not such a big price for Mark in the final race but nevertheless a winner in Lucy Gardner's LIBERTY LIVELIHOOD at about four or five to one. Ten lengths back in second place was Alex on VELVET JONES, a family horse I believe and then in third place was Ollie Jackson on the Jones's DARCY JONES.
That concluded a super afternoon and although a bit chilly, generally fine weather. The tin is not too bad BUT the bag is as flat as a pancake and the whisky draw also evaded Ruth. Some planning is now taking place and I would like to be at Larkhill for Wednesday evening, Newton Abbot for Thursday, Stratford for Friday, Bratton Down for Saturday and Bonvilston (Glamorgan) for Sunday - BE THERE!
My Mother taught me:
CONTORTIONISM
"Will you just look at that dirt on the back of your neck!"
Ruth and Fred
