Report
from The Tedworth Hunt Point to Point Steeplechases at Fuller's Barbury
Racecourse on Sunday 4th May 2003.
The setting differs greatly, that is between Flete Park and Barbury Castle, the former is set in beautiful countryside and the latter out on the Marlborough Downs where one can see for miles and take in a different beauty, all of its own. The sun is shining brightly and not a cloud in sight as we make our first cup of coffee and I set off to walk the course. I found a good covering of grass which will take the sting out of what is really good to firm going and the fences I have previously mentioned - they are all new this season. There is a lovely atmosphere amongst many picnic parties as there is always when the sun is overhead and I am sure we will have some good racing. The tin has travelled well but any addition will be more than welcome. The bag is not too badly off either.
The Front Page (www.frontpagepubs.com) Member', Subscribers' and Farmers' Hunt race saw only two go to post with Godfrey Maundrell riding H McCall's CHAUCERS MILLER the clear favourite at four to one ON with the best turned out Red Lion Racing Club's GREG'S PROFILES with Donna Bashton up available at ten to three or thereabouts. There were also many other betting prices available like - 33-1 dead heat, 7-1 void race, prices for each to finish alone, and the forecast in the right order. Well they both finished, the favourite first and a distance back was the other contender in the slowest time of the day but it did give Godfrey Maundrell another winner and I think he is now about to reach a career 100 so everyone will have reason to cheer when that happens.
Ten go to post in The Graham Goodwin Restricted race and a slightly uneasy favourite emerges in Mr Manners's BORDER LIGHT (Alex Charles Jones) but Lucinda Sweeting's FORTLANDER (Tabitha Cave) was close behind in the investing stakes with Emma Tory's ENOCH and Terry Brady's MACARONI BEACH also taking some money after running well in their last races. I search around for information as regards the favourite and found enough to convince me that BORDER LIGHT should be carrying my money. The form figures might not look impressive but I was assured that the races that he had been competing in were better class than those of the other pointers I know in the field. Slowly open tin, remove contents, only leaving enough to prevent me having to borrow from Ruth's bag in the remote chance of BORDER LIGHT failing to bring home the goods. Off they go! As they passed me for the first time the field was led by MACARONI BEACH with ASK IN TIME close up and the field followed in a tight bunch with BORDER LIGHT held up in rear. At the first of the open ditches the field was still led by MACARONI BEACH with CHIEF SUSPECT and MASTER GRASS closely following and the remainder in touch. On their way out on the final circuit the field was still being led by MACARONI BEACH with CHIEF SUSPECT , ENOCH, NICE APPROACH AND HAMISH MORE following in that order. BORDER LIGHT was stealthily closing and was in sixth place now and appeared to be cruising. I normally associate that adjective with my annual holidays and how I come to be using it where horses are concerned I do not know but this horse was travelling as though he would be helping Fred's tin somewhat! At fence eleven CHIEF SUSPECT took over from MACARONI BEACH by half a length and ENOCH was still travelling well for Emma Tory with my concern gradually closing on the leaders. At the final open ditch it was CHIEF SUSPECT still in the lead followed by a whole group of horses in second place. BORDER LIGHT made his move now and Alex Charles-Jones took him up to contest the lead and continued going well upsides CHIEF SUPSPECT. At the last fence it was BORDER LIGHT leading being challenged by CHIEF SUSPECT but my concern held on and went to the line to win by two and half lengths from CHIEF SUSPECT with ENOCH eight lengths back in third and the fourth horse was MASTER GRASS. Thank you ACJ, that will do nicely and what is more, the bag will also be opened to take in a little contribution. It was a good run by the winner but CHIEF SUSPECT was most impressive and who was down to ride him originally, non other than ACJ!
The Gerrard Open Ladies' Race brings eight good contestants, both jockey and horse, to the starting line - WHOOPS! One has been withdrawn so seven will go to post. The withdrawn one is Chloe Roddick on Paul Nicholls's MISTER BENJAMIN - fined £1000 or so pounds for this demeanour, well perhaps not that much! I am not sure how much but quite a lot of money and enough to make my tin look sick! I doubt whether it was a case of trainer and owner not knowing the rules though! The best turned out Mrs Cook and Miss Southcombe's ARDROSS GEM (W Southcombe) looked really well and was available at seven to two in the ring but Mr Manners has another runner in this race and as ACJ cannot ride in the ladies the choosing of Charlotte Tizzard is more than a sensible one. This horse SYLPHIDE is made favourite at five to four. That is not a bad price! Polly on PRESTIGE LORD is also taking some money but Di Harding on her UNLIMITED FREE and Miss Browne on Dominic Harvey's MR MAGNETIC are available at much bigger prices. Into tin - out with handful - onto the favourite it goes. It is lovely weather but that is not the reason a dampness creeps over my brow and the wipe away effect often accomplished with the swish of a hand is not possible as both hands are also more than clammy! Off they go! Happily they all go round the circuit for the first time and Miss Ingram on her PRINCE OF SAINTS was taking a turn in leading with Polly on PRESTIGE LORD following closely. UNLIMITED FREE began to make up a little ground and Amanda Bush on E Smith's GRANVILLE GRILL was closing up a little - this wonderful horse is still pointing competitively at the ripe young age of 18 years. He won his 20th race in March - run 52, won 17 and still appears to be loving it! At the final ditch it was PRINCE OF SAINTS being ridden by his owner Miss Ingram who led the field followed by UNLIMITED FREE and it was then that SYLPHIDE's pilot decided it was time to make a move and this she did and although UNLIMITED FREE contested the lead it was my money carrier who went on to win by five lengths from Di Harding and PRINCE OF SAINTS who came in third. Wonderful and guess what? Ruth won as well - so one of us will have to keep watch whilst tin and bag are opened and deposits are placed securely within.
The Sayers Butterworth Tedworth Gold Cup Men's Open Race saw ten competitive pointers line up and this was going to be a real tricky one to assess. Taking into account that the going suited all contestants this should be between Mrs Woodhouse's BADGER BEER with Nick Mitchell up and the York's HATCH GATE (Phillip York). At my time of visiting the investment centre they shared favouritism at five to two. The best turned out Mrs Bishop's GLADIATORIAL was second favourite with the remainder of the field not expected to participate in the run for the line. I go for HATCH GATE and trust Phillip to bring this one home in front. I attempted to get a message to Philip York and tell him not to worry too much about the tin over flowing because there is still room in the bag for excess luggage and I know Ruth will let me use it if need be! Off they go! BADGER BEER led them out into the country for the first time and over fence four he was followed by Mr Cox's TABLE FOR FIVE (J Jenkins) then came HATCH GATE and ROUTE TWO (Alex Charles-Jones) and the field spread over about ten lengths. With a circuit left to run it was BADGER BEER followed by HATCH GATE with GLADIATORIAL about four lengths back in third. This order continued down the back straight until Philip York, looking for his third winner of the weekend took HATCH GATE into the lead and then GLADIATORIAL got up to pass BADGER BEER and into the home straight they came. It was here that Tom Bishop decided he would like to win the spoils in this race and he gave chase to HATCH GATE. I shouted and screamed and shouted again but obviously not enough as a driving finish by Tom (GLADIATORIAL) after taking it up at the last fence went on to win by four lengths from my concern (HATCH GATE) and BADGER BEER was eight lengths back in third place. P Bevins's LE CURE (J Barnes) came in fourth. The winner is a much improved pointer and good luck to those connections. Around this course in five minutes fifty nine seconds and jumping well will probably mean a Hunter Chase is in the offing.
Countryside Alliance Members' race saw nine go to post and as I never collected in the last race I will go a little easy on this one. Because SYLPHIDE has just won, Mr King's SHEILA MCKENZIE (B King) who has recently come second to her is made odds on favourite to win this one; nearest to her in the arena is Ali Tory's WILLIE MAKEIT (Jeremy Bunsell) with the remainder available at much bigger prices. Off they go! Out into the country and down to the open ditch the field was led by WILLIE MAKEIT followed by the Radbourne's SOLO GENT with J de Giles's RAKA KING (Freddy de Giles) a length away in third. With one circuit to race this order is maintained with LEGAL STORM (T Underwood) back in fourth and the field now stretched out. Into the back straight, out of the back straight and onto the final bend it looked as though WILLIE MAKEIT was going to do just that, but Freddy de Giles had a different idea and he kept his charge just upside the prominent leader. Unfortunately the favourite decided to go through the wing of fence 16 so was completely out of contention. The race for the line was a good one and all honours to Freddy de Giles as he rode out to a two and a half length win over Jeremy Bunsell on WILLIE MAKEIT with LEGAL STORM twelve lengths back in third place. SOLO GENT was fourth.
The final race was The Friends of the Tedworth Hunt maiden race and six would go to post. This is a qualifier for the Grants Cherry Brandy S E Champion Novices Hunter Chase which will be held on Wednesday 21st May at Folkestone Racecourse. Apart from The Chase Club's ATLANTIC DRIFT (J Young) most of the form is made up of letters as opposed to figures so both Ruth and I will resort to our normally good system and it is quite a simple one - we will choose Alex Charles-Jones to put a little more in the tin and bag. He will be riding G Giddings's HANDY HILL whose form reads Novice Pointer; unseated rider three out when certain winner of a bad maiden - run two won nothing! I ask you with form like that it would be better if the horse rode and the jockey ran! I have to amend things because Ruth has a daughter called Claire and she has been led astray by maternal instinct to thinking that R Francome's best turned out CLARE'S MEMORY to be ridden by Polly Gundry will fill her bag and this one will now go off joint favourite with ATLANTIC DRIFT. Mrs Roe's RUN FOR HANNAH looked as though he might catch Hannah, whoever Hannah is, as he certainly set off at a good pace and was soon way out in front. He maintained this front running tactic until fence eleven when he was joined by HANDY HILL. Running down the back straight for the final time ATLANTIC DRIFT eased past RUN FOR HANNAH and it was at this time I heard that CLARE'S MEMORY had been pulled up (left leg now receiving second kick from bag owner!) Final open ditch saw HANDY HILL a length to the good of ATLANTIC DRIFT with RUN FOR HANNAH hanging on back in third place. That is how it was to the line with Alex bringing in his charge (and my money!) to take winning spot two and half lengths to the good of ATLANTIC DRIFT with gallant RUN FOR HANNAH a further eight lengths back in third place. On these occasions I do not celebrate too much as the bag holder is not now in a jovial mood and diplomacy is to the fore, but on my way to see the whites of the eyes of the investment holder, I have a damn good chuckle!
A great day and some cash for dinner tonight. We will travel back to Bookhayes Farm for a B & B stay with Mrs Bell for the second night, have dinner locally and Ruth can have her Shiraz as the tin is looking 'well fed'. Tomorrow we are off to celebrate fifty years of Point to Pointing at Cotley Farm Nr Chard.
Well done to all members of the Tedworth Hunt Supporters' Club for providing such a wonderful day's racing. Stamina must have been at a premium after what we understand was an extremely late finishing pre racing get together party last night. Some people made auction purchases which they had had not intended buying and found in the light of day that they weren't sure what they would do with them. If it was the purchase of covering a mare one is a little limited with its use!! Please could you push your stamina a little extra next time and have five one-bottle prizes in the whisky draw as opposed to one prize of five bottles then a few more could try the recipe for a 'whisky mac'. Some one asked 'Who would want five bottles of whisky' and the reply was quick to come back - 'The ladies of the Tedworth Hunt Supporters' - now why would they say that? Bless you all - it was a lovely day.
My mother taught me:
RECEIVING:
"You are going to get it when you get home!"
Ruth & Fred
