Report from United Services Point to Point at Larkhill Racecourse on Saturday 8th February 2003.
We had a lovely meal again on Friday night at the now famous pub, The Raven, (TV Series Tuesday nights) and breakfasted well with Caroline at Blount's Court Farm where again we were made very welcome. Early arrival at Larkhill ensured I had time to walk this long course completely and I could say - without mishap - but not completely. I bet I was attacked about eight times by Jack Russell terriers of different shapes, sizes and colours. Now I love JRs, I had a small pack of them once and enjoyed their company immensely but its their custodians that get on my wick. The dog lunges at me as JRs are prone to do and this is followed by the silken tones of its so called handler - "He wont bite!" - now I ask you have you EVER come across a JR that doesn't bite - then as he swings off my left leg (always!) with molars sunk into quivering flesh, more silken tones and the ones that really really get up my back - "He's only playing!" - some game this I think to myself and as JR is encouraged to be airborne as I swing my leg (left one, always!) towards the sky hoping that the speed of the action will encourage a quick release of now bleeding flesh, my reply to the rather stern question of "WHY did you do that!" is 'That's my little game and I was only playing!' I managed the last half mile of the course, which otherwise was in 'good' condition, with a slight limp which became more pronounced as I homed in on Ruth so as to obtain maximum sympathy. No sympathy but a lovely cup of coffee and off to watch the opening ceremony of The Queens Building by the Duke of Westminster. Many more dignitaries are present on this occasion so I had better not gatecrash the party but took my place alongside many others and enjoyed the speech and the slicing of an otherwise good length of red ribbon.
There were a total of 93 runners on this seven race card and these were held up for a little while during the afternoon for injuries to be attended, but the whole thing went off with customary efficiency as expected and received from a meeting organised by the Army. Not least was the arrival of The Royal Artillery pack of hounds (Lt Col N Foster RA MFH) riding up the course with 50 or more mounted followers who joined the events by parading in the paddock. A truly wonderful sight to behold.
Noticeably the first race was NOT started with the customary mantra (for those who may need bringing up to date with The Oxford Concise Dictionary, a mantra is best described as a Hindu or Buddhist devotional incantation) or shout, "they're under starters orders - they're off!" but you had better get used to it as this one will be discouraged in future and possibly the one as used today will replace it, namely 'They're racing'. Why you may ask? well its because commentators take their time in getting it out and by the time a modern TV set gets the chance to shout it at you the five furlong race is over. What that has to do with a three mile 'chase I don't know but it will be happening I am assured. (My friend in the know from The Jockey Club).
The best turned out in The NAAFI United Services Club Members Race was H Geddes NORSKI LAD who now has his tongue tied and wears blinkers in an effort to make sure he does not disgrace himself as he did on his last attempt to win here at prohibitive odds when PUZZLEMAN beat him in a two horse race. Lt Colonel Ollie Ellwood made sure he did not! He came home to win a distance to the good of Major Marriott's MR SMUDGE (Capt A Michael) who dead heated for second place with Major & Mrs C Lambert's ALLTIME DANCER. Unfortunately PUZZLEMAN unseated Simon Wheeler when going very well and in a clear lead with NORSKI LAD so we will never know if the previous attempt between these two was the true NORSKI LAD or not. I think not! I had been too busy applying medication to my wounds to invest in this race so no movement towards the investment centre was necessary.
Seventeen to post in The Singer & Friedlander Restricted Division One. Countess Goess-Saura's THE KINGS FLING (Alex Charles-Jones) looked a picture in the paddock and duly picked up the best turned out award but others looked good as well and it was difficult to make a decision on whom to invest. The boards are showing that the best turned out is the favourite at three to one but by the time I decided that this one would carry my investment it was down to two to one so back to the tin, out with a red one and on the nose of THE KINGS FLING it goes. I also had a little each way investment on the Roberts's CELEBRATION MARCH because prior to be attacked on my walking of the course I met Mrs Roberts who would be riding their charger and we had a good chat and although she didn't suggest her horse would win or even be placed she was very nice to talk to and I felt it would be looking fate in the face if I didn't show some appreciation to CELEBRATION MARCH. I never found out where this horse eventually came but I did see Mrs Roberts up in the van as they tackled the home straight for the first time, so now it's a chance for Mrs Roberts to email me and let me know how near I was to becoming a millionaire. In the distance now and beginning to run up hill towards fence thirteen it was P Maltby's LORD OF THE MIST (C Williams) trained by Richard Barber and available at six to one, who was leading the field followed very closely by my investment carrier - going well with S Crew's MICK MACKIE (J Jenkins) in third and also going well! Honestly Mrs Roberts, I did look for you at this stage but my mind was a little set on the carrier of my main investment. One of the great assets of Larkhill is you get super viewing when it matters and coming up the far side one can view no less than four fences including an open ditch and this race was extremely exciting here. LORD OF THE MIST pulled up and it was later declared that he choked but as they rounded the final turn with one to jump it was MICK MACKIE and THE KINGS FLING fighting it out with A Mason's LOVE AT DAWN (this one should win soon!) coming on to take third place with M Tuckey's ANTARTIC PRINCE (M Handley) back in fourth. A helluva race to the line with Mr Jenkins on MICK MACKIE getting the judges decision over Mr Alex Charles-Jones on THE KINGS FLING carrying my money, by a NECK. A small distance to decide whether one should be poor or rich. The tin has suffered a great blow, it will be back to a rattle instead of rustle already!
I didn't invest in the next race but if I stuck with Alex Charles-Jones as Ruth had done I could have collected as out of the 19 runners in this, the fastest of the two divisions, he brought home J Burbridge's MRS BE to win by six lengths from Mrs Clift's MR BANKER (K Clift) with P Dailey's FINDER KEEPS (J Jenkins) back in third and Mrs McCullough's GAMI filling in fourth spot. This race produced unseated riders, fallers, run-outs BUT only one winner out of a galaxy of MR and MRS - MRS BE in a time of 6 minutes 15 seconds Well done Ruth!
Next came 13 runners for The EDS Coronation Gold Cup Mixed Open race in which we will see Mrs Sanderson's JABIRU (R Woollacott) take on some decent competition after a walk-over at Chipley Park last week. Also running in this race is C St V Fox's RED BROOK LAD who carried some of my money during the week and fell early in the race dumping Rachel Green, so I will not be investing on that one today even though Nick Mitchell has the ride. The boards opened up with JABIRU four to five ON favourite with the best turned out Mrs Vickery's syndicate horse POLAR FLIGHT (L Jefford) and RED BROOK LAD at five to one but you could bet without that favourite and here it was six to four RED BROOK LAD and POLAR FLIGHT. Just before the off JABIRU was at even money with RBL into three to one. I watched the riding of RBL closely and the same hold up measures were taken this time exactly the same as when Rachel won on him here on January 18th, he closed up at the same spot, challenged at the same spot and went away from field at about the same spot. Although not too fluent at the last he went on to win by 10 lengths from JABIRU with Mrs Barlett's FAIR WIND (M Miller) in third place. Oh! how I wished, like many others, that JABIRU had run in an open race last weekend and we would have been better placed to judge BUT we don't pay the bills so we have no right to choose 'where' or 'when'! Ruth supported RBL and picked up accordingly.
Out of the fourteen that went to post in The Automotive Technik Ltd Intermediate Race I only counted four in to the finishing line. Mr Geddes must be short of silver at home because he has just won a little lot with NORSKI LAD and now he is after some more with the best turned out EASE THE PRESSURE (C Williams). If you have witnessed the sight of the RN Perpetual Challenge Cup and The Earl Haig Cup then you will appreciate how much silver is involved. They are wonderful cups. This horse opened up even money favourite with five to one bar (bar this one!) Ruth has picked up a little and for that I am so pleased because the tin is in a truly pathetic state and a loan at 0% interest (which seems to be all the rage these days!) maybe on the cards. I have chosen P Bevins LE CURE (J Barnes) to carry the wealth that is possible to draw from a near empty tin and Ruth had also made this her investment carrier. Incidentally I might as well mention at this stage that Ruth having won the previous two races her bag is looking considerably better than my tin. LE CURE put up a good show and created a fair pace for a while but with six left to jump this eight year old made me resort to her mothers name - GRANNY PRAY ON - I was doing the 'pray on' bit whilst Ruth's face was definitely showing the 'granny' bit! EASE THE PRESSURE who was never very far away continued his race and increased his lead to go on and win well by some twenty lengths from Mrs Gasson's AD LIB with Mrs Gadd's MR FITZ eight lengths back in third place. Ah! another loser and the tin is empty. I have given back all I took from here last time and about to give back some of Ruth's as well I feel. Please may I borrow from 'the bag' - I will buy you a dinner tonight somewhere! (plastic!!) After being reminded that my offer ought to be on a CD as it is played so often I managed to squeeze out a little green coloured one from the bottom of the bag whose sides I noticed carried a fair amount of mildew! Never been down this deep before!
Two divisions of maiden races to follow sponsored by BAE Systems for 5, 6, and 7 years old. The first division saw Mr J Jenkins complete a double for the day when he brought home the jointly owned STAVORDALE LAD whose price at opening was a very steady four to one. Another jointly owned horse in WHAT A MOVER (G Barfoot Saunt) and the best turned out Tabitha Cave's TINDER-BOX, to be ridden by her, were made favourites at five to two but open punting was available on several others. I chose Lady Cobham's DUNCLIFFE (M Miller) to carry my borrowed finance and took up a not too unusual stance with both hands palms together, in front of my nose and mumblings, which I dare not print, being uttered, saw the field of nine set off to race for the Earl Cavan Cup. Over fence five my charge was disputing the lead with Mrs Bish's BARON BLITZKRIEG (Emma Tory) and whilst the shape of my hands maintained their position, the mumblings altered slightly to a more printable content. TINDER BOX made a mistake but recovered well and with WHAT A MOVER and Countess Goess-Saurau's EVA SO CHARMING (A Charles Jones) pressed on to the next. At the second open ditch the field was spread across the course but it was definitely my concern who was in the van and possibly landed first. Hands remain in prayer position and mumblings continue but an air of great expectancy about it all now. On they go - up hill towards fence thirteen with BARON BLITZKRIEG and DUNCLIFFE disputing the lead. Slight increase in pressure between palms of hands and mumblings have now resorted to the non printable type. Then comes the sad news that BARON BLITZKRIEG has fallen and left DUNCLIFFE in the lead. Four from home DUNCLIFFE over first closely followed by Richard Barber's DRAGON'S DREAM (C Williams). The final open ditch and whoops! DRAGON'S DREAM is a faller but no rejoicing, mumbles turned to shouts, hands disappear in a very descriptive manner as - would you believe it -DUNCLIFFE also fell. The commentator declared they had fallen independently of each other but that was little consolation to me. I remember my own words that they must complete the course having jumped every fence and I turn to Ruth and voiced how sorry I was. What are you sorry for - you still owe me even though your horse fell! James Jenkins brought STAVORDALE LAD home to win in a good race by three lengths from Alex Charles-Jones on EVA SO CHARMING and Geoff Barfoot Saunt on WHAT A MOVER a distance back in third. Take note, James Jenkins is a jockey with a huge amount of talent and is going places. He works for Paul Nicholls and has rides for Richard Barber so he is practicing in the right quarter.
The final race of the day was the quicker of the two division and didn't carry any wealth from me as I didn't have any and I couldn't find Ruth anywhere. There was a bit of squabbling by the punters (not me!) about who should be favourite between J White's MAGNEMITE and M Coughlan and P Day's MIMAN JAMES (C Williams) and all the others were a much bigger price. Fifteen to run and only three to finish. Michael Miller rode an excellent race on their MISTER SWALLOW to win by fifteen lengths and was available at five to one even though he had run a creditable race to come second to SPRIRIT PRINCE at Black Forest Lodge last month - I noticed this but no Ruth and no money left me in a very poor position to do anything about it. MAGNEMITE and KJJIMMY fought out the finish but it was MAGNEMITE who had been prominent for most of the race who came in second just half a length to the good of KJJIMMY.
An excellent days racing and consider I have been privileged to have enjoyed it in such good company (that should get me a loan for tomorrow!) and witnessed very well organised racing on a super track. Off now to Black Forest Lodge - see you there. Fred & Ruth