Report from the Western Hunt Point to Point at Royal Cornwall Showground Wadebridge on Saturday 15^th March 2003.

The sun was pouring through the kitchen window as I went through to get the daily papers so this encouraged me to hurry things along and get off to the showground really early.  The wind was cold and from the east when we arrived but it got a little warmer as the day progressed and a burnt up nose by the evening was proof of a really good day out.

I walked the course and found it in good condition and having recovered well from its previous use by North Cornwall Hunt.  The wings were being placed whilst I walked around and it was good to see them being placed correctly.  The Union flags were the correct way up and the sand was being harrowed by an expert  and all was set for a good days racing.  I apologised on behalf of Point to Pointers to a couple of early visitors who were new to the showground and before the stewards were in place had no idea where to park.  A member of employed staff was rather rude to them and of no help whatsoever.  I think I made it quite clear that we are a happy crowd and did not want to offend anyone and I parked them in a good viewing spot.  I trust they had a good day out  and I hope to meet them again at Trebudannon soon.

I had to dive into the tin even before racing began because I met a charming young lady and her equally charming young daughter who asked me for some sponsorship as she (mummy!) would be running the London Marathon in aid of FLEET (Front Line Emergency Equipment Trust).  I put a little from my tin in her tin and then signed the sponsorship form but I was a little embarrassed as all previous sponsors had donated considerably more.  Back to my already shaky looking tin for some more because I think Mrs Carol Dunster is doing a great job and raising money for a really worthwhile cause.  Anyway I'll soon get it back!

The events started off with a confined race where seven went to post. A course specialist in Roma Cook's COUNTY BASH took some of the board prices at five to two and Lucy Johnson's HERMINIUS was the same price but Lucinda Sweeting's (now this side of the Tamar I believe!) WAG THE BRUSH (Polly Gundry) was made four to seven ON favourite.  The Young family's SAINT JOSEPH (Sue Young)  was attractive at six to one and the other two W Doyne-Ditmus's ARTIC GROUND and John Weldhens DARK CHALLENGER (R Woolacott) were available at about eight or ten to one.  It took a little while to get used to the new dulcet tones of Bill Harper, the commentator, but once having done this and then found out it wasn't Bill - all was well and the first circuit saw changing leaders but all very closely grouped.  At the open ditch for the final time it was COUNTY BASH who led over it followed by WAG THE BRUSH - and the remainder tightly bunched up except for SAINT JOSEPH  who I think was beginning to feel the firm conditions not quite to his liking.  On reaching the rising ground at the far end COUNTY BASH had established a five length lead but WAG THE BRUSH had not given up and a challenge was on.  DARK CHALLENGER was still in with a chance.  The race to the line was very exciting and COUNTY BASH pulled out all the stops to beat WAG THE BRUSH by half a length with DARK CHALLENGER one length further back in third place.  That was, as I said exciting but it did not do anything for the tin.

 The ladies open race followed with six runners going to post.  I chose the Newman's BRETECHE to bring up 'the tin' level  but Elsie Newman had to bring this game mare up in front of five other decent horses before I could pick up anything,  A steady first circuit saw them all complete with not much between them all but BRETECHE was travelling well and took her turn in leading.  On going to the open ditch for the final time it was John Weldhen's HANDSOME HENRY (Sarah Gaisford) in the lead followed by BRETECHE , then LIRSLEFTOVER (Sue Young) and Lucy Gardner on Paul Tylor's GURU RINPOCHE.  Four from home BRETECHE went on to build up a lead of four or five lengths.  Those lovely words from the commentator (It doesn't matter now who he is!!) - BRETECHE is going to be hard to beat now' made the body jump a little higher and toward the line in first place comes your choice, and you jump even higher and shout even louder and then you realise what a fool you must look jumping up and down added by more frequent shouts and waving of a race card. At the moment you know you have won, you then attempt to tell everyone that you knew it would win easily and 'why didn't you back it?' as the celebratory air descends over you.  The official distance at the line was four lengths between first and second who was a fast finishing LIRSLEFTOVER closely followed - two lengths behind- in third place was HANDSOME HENRY and GURU RINPOSCHE  was back in fourth place.  The tin is unlocked and fully replenished with orange crincklies.  Lovely!  Ruth! I told you to back that one!  'Oh, you did!'

Any division of an open maiden normally reduces the amount that has successfully been taken from 'the layers' and deposited in the tin.  The first division of the open maiden will do just that for me  Nine go to post and this division soon has a favourite in D Johnson's GREAT JUBILEE (Les Jefford)   Off they go!  On reaching the open ditch for the first time it is the Young's LIRKIMALONG (Sue) over first followed by Lucy Gardner on her GOING SOLO then Andrew Glassonbury on Reuben Chapman's NATIVE CHRISTIE.  GREAT JUBILEE was tucked in behind and going well as was F Daniels's BRIT OF A BABE  (Sarah Gaisford).  Going down hill G Hardy's  best turned out  MISS MOLLY MIGGINS (R Darke) thought she would have a go in front but unfortunately it didn't last long and she came unstuck dropping Richard very heavily. On they go up to the open ditch for the final time where COUNTRY SPICE unfortunately unseated Polly.  Les Jefford decided at this time to give his mount the signal and GREAT JUBILEE increased speed and with it his lead  Going down the hill it was obvious only four would be in the final dash and at this time they were being lead by GREAT JUBILEE with LIRKIMALONG, NATIVE CHRISTIE and GOING SOLO all hanging in there.  Two out, it was GREAT JUBILEE being pushed by LIRKIMALONG but on the dash to the line, the favourite held off all opposition and won by four lengths from LIRKIMALONG with NATIVE CHRISTIE two lengths back in third.  There is talk in the hostelries around Mawgan Porth/St Columb area that NATIVE CHRISTIE might (might!) go for the Grand National now but probably a little run at Trebudannon (Four Burrow Hounds meeting) will be used as a tune up!!!  GOING SOLO was the fourth horse home.  Only a little lost on that one but there are two more maidens to go!

Incidentally a book has been opened in Newquay as to who gets the first winner out of the local owner/trainers - ACTING TOUGH, WONDERFUL WORLD or NATIVE CHRISTIE?

Division two brings eight to the line and a favourite is very soon established in the horse to be ridden by Les Jefford which is Mrs Robarts's JUST SALLY, trained incidentally by Ashley Farrant who I did see walking around on four legs - two of them crutches - but he will soon be better and back in his normal role.  One that took my eye was J Bowen's CUT DOWN THE SOUND (S Gaisford) and I managed to get an each way price for it so I invested quite a lot of the tin's contents.  The price later shortened up and was more like three to one at the off.  JUST SALLY, CUT DOWN THE SOUND, S Hanney's AMORI CHIEF (P Gundry) and the jointly owned CHIT CHAT (M Munrowd) all had a go up front and with one circuit to go any one could win.  Going down the hill for the final time it was Les on JUST SALLY leading the way with CHIT CHAT following close behind with MAORI CHIEF in third place.  With two to go my investment started to make a move. Over the final fence it was JUST SALLY on her way to the line but my concern was second just three lengths away and a further two lengths back was MAORI CHIEF.  CHIT CHAT came in fourth.  Picked up a little! Ruth picked up more!

Division three and eight to post.  I am on with a good deal of certainty - the McCarthy's LINGERING FOG - to be ridden by Mary (McCarthy).  Others that are fancied are Mr Faulks's BEACHTIME (P Gundry),  D Pipe's visored  SAJOMI RONA (T Eades), the best turned out D Heath's RICH RETURN (I Hambley) and Richard Darke on S Berwick's RUN WITH JOY. Some would say 'an open race' but I don't agree and bank on LINGERING FOG to make it all.  It all began really well and my concern was exactly where it should be - in front!  SAJOMI RONA was not far behind and the remainder were following on.  With one circuit to go Mary (McCarthy) was doing a lovely job and keeping SAJOMI RONA in second place followed by Polly on the Faulks's BEACHTIME , Les Jefford on Mrs Gliddon's YORKSHIRE TERRIER and then RUN WITH JOY.  Over the ditch where we lost one but it was not the one I was monetarily interested in at the moment - so on they went  BUT coming round the top bend and heading down for fence number seven Tim Eades sent his charge on and gained a few lengths over my interest but I thought Mary was giving a little rest to the money carrier but this was not the case or if it was it was an ill earned rest as SAJOMI RONA kept up the pace and came home eleven lengths to the good of BEACHTIME and just beaten into third place by half a length was LINGERING FOG.  RUN WITH JOY was fourth.  Sadness all round but I will get it back - WHEN says Ruth!  A really good ride Mary but a little better next time is requested.

The men's open was to be a good quality race with six going to post.  R Rawle's DOUBLET was soon made the odds on favourite closely followed by David Pipe's KINGSBRIDGE (T Eades) two to one, then came Sally Alford's JUST BERT (Will Biddick) four to one, with S Berwick's YOUNG GENERAL (R Darke), C Britton's DESTIN D'ESTRUVAL (T Dennis) and Sally Messer-Bennetts's IT'S NOTSIMPLE (Ben Trickey) available at anything from ten to one to twenty to one on the boards.  I'll refrain from doing anything about this race for two reasons - I haven't yet got over the shock of the last race and more to the point, I haven't a clue who will win this one. Maybe a little loyalty bet (if there is such a thing!) on Will Biddick who possibly gets on better with this schoolmaster (JUST BERT) than he does with the others (schoolmasters) he meets during his day.  DOUBLET fell last time out, KINGSBRIDGE has been in the frame but only just, JUST BERT has been second here but tipped Will out at Milbourne, YOUNG GENERAL won his last race easily as no one challenged him! (walked over) and IT'S NOTSIMPLE has pulled up twice and managed a seventh place at her last meeting.  No! leave this one alone.  Well I am glad I did!  It seems if after seven runs, one win, three pulled ups etc, you find the right type of bit for your charger it will bring it home in first place.  Oh! this mare likes this firmer going as well so I wonder why it was run on anything but this type of going on the last two occasions - ah well! the stewards were happy and accepted the explanation and they are our representatives so it was IT'S NOTSIMPLE that took the honours with DOUBLET second five lengths further back and DESTIN D'ESTRUVAL in third place. Will brought JUST BERT in third spot.

The David Ellis sponsored restricted race saw some very close laying on the boards by the bookies.  Of the six runners, three were closely matched.  Ross Oliver's ACTING TOUGH, Allan Walter's PARTE PRIMA (R Woollacott) and Charlie Rush's KESTICK (T Cave) were available at six or seven to four against but eventually and by the off it was PARTE PRIMA they made favourite.  I chose Mandy Hand to bring in ACTING TOUGH to the winning line first and not a lot of thought has gone into who will be second or third.  A tactical race with not a very fast pace to start with.  Tim Dennis took the Three to One club's CHANGE into the lead for a short while.  E Wonnacot's WICKED IMP also had a little tester of running with no one in front of him. With one clear circuit to go PARTE PRIMA took it up from WICKED IMP followed by CHANGE , KESTICK and Patrick Ansell's best turned out NEVERADULLMOMENT .  A blanket would cover the field as they crossed the ditch for the final time - around the top and down the other side the pace increased.  Meet the climbing ground and its PARTE PRIMA on the outside, KESTICK on the inside and ACTING TOUGH in the middle.  With two to go its between PARTE PRIMA and KESTICK  with ACTING TOUGH not out of it.   Well! it was close on the line but my concern was definitely third.  PARTE PRIMA got the result by half a length from KESTICK.  Good racing irrespective of who you backed - the tin did not share the same sentiments.  Dam it!

The last race is The Godolphin Arms Intermediate Race.  Five to run!  Why does one have to leave it to the LAST race to put anything of consequence in the tin?  I am out to dinner tonight if I win but it will be one of the one hundred and fifty seven burger bars in Newquay if I don't.  By the time you read this there will probably be one hundred and fifty eight burger bars in Newquay but for sure if the Faulks's TONY'S TIME with Miss Polly Gundry on his back doesn't clear all his fences and in the fastest time and cross the line 'in tack', namely WIN this race Ruth and I will be in the queue in one of them.  The investors circle told me that my choice is vying for favouritism with Andrew Congdon's WILD BAVARD (T Dennis)  with the Geering's BROWN CHIEFTAN (R Darke)  also fancied and the jointly owned TIMPANI (Richard Woollacott) is not out of the betting.  Visions of masses of little white bait, gently fried with slices of lemon (which I will throw away!) and a little iceberg lettuce on the side followed by Dover sole (complete and all to myself) followed by sticky date pudding with clotted cream followed by a selection of cheeses followed by - well, I could go on, but also there is the thought of that queue with over five hundred young farmers who are celebrating in Newquay this weekend to get two slices of a soggy bap filled with something called a burger and resembling something left behind which I stepped in when that JR's bit me a few weeks ago, coming into my already confused mind.  The tin is almost emptied and TONY'S TIME must win!

I was too excited to note many details of this race - I knew it would win!  Did you back it? I did!  A racing certainly!  All the expletives come out the moment it crosses the line in that hallowed position - FIRST.  Even more celebratory expletives were found the moment the announcer said, in a lovely toned voice - 'WEIGHED - IN' .  Well done Polly!  The arrangements for tonight at The Pickwick Inn, St Issey, in good company and to relive the races of note (namely the ones I won on!) will be a great pleasure.  The burger bars will have to wait but the season is not over yet.  Oh! incidentally, TIMPANI was second TWELVE lengths back and a further three lengths back was WILD BAVARD.  Their day will come but mine has arrived.  Come on Ruth, your little black number will do!

The young farmers from the Blackmore Vale were the noisiest here in Newquay.  (Only joking! they apparently all had a good time)

See you all tomorrow at BUCKFASTLEIGH, the card is a good one, the course is a good one and the weather will be good also.  Be there!

Fred and Ruth