Report from the Berkeley Hunt meeting held at Woodford on Saturday 24th April 2004

 

 We took the advantage of having Friday to ourselves and drove up towards Woodford in glorious weather, visited lots of Point to Point friends en route, enjoyed their hospitality no end (and promised to go back after the season has ended!) and then on to our B & B at Mrs Bells in Cossington.  Saturday morning early on to Woodford and managed to be in time to get a front row parking lot.  They are as scarce as hens' teeth as a large crowd always attend this meeting in lovely surroundings and a course which has been prepared immaculately and with a good covering of grass will provide good going.

 

What a lovely scene as the hounds were brought into the paddock to meet everyone, having travelled down part of the course from their kennels in the distance.  A great ovation for them as they galloped back with the hunt staff resplendent in their unique yellow coats with green collars returning to the race course to steward the racing for the afternoon.

 

The Restricted race kicked off the proceedings with thirteen going to post and it was very difficult to pick one out of this very capable lot.  As expected the argument for favouritism is between the top trainers J Keighley's PREACHERS BOY (Polly Gundry), Axe Valley Racing's LORD ANNER (Ashley Farrant) and Paul Nicholls's BODDIDLEY (Chloe Roddick) with LORD ANNER possibly the winner out of this trio for the top spot.  It was a close thing and I chose PREACHERS BOY to collect a little for the tin.  Off they go! Mrs Greenwood's WAYWARD SPREE was the first to call it a day and ducked out at the third leaving Ollie Jackson no chance.  The remainder, over the open ditch and then out of sight for fence number six and when coming back into view it was Mr Martin on his IT'S MISSY IMP   who was leading the field onto fence seven with the grey GREET YOU WELL (R Cope) right up close, as was Geoff Barfoot-Saunt on A Leigh's DAISY LEIGH.  Slightly detached at this stage was K Wood on his SHAFTS CHANCE but this one can stay so all is not lost yet.  The lead did not alter as they went back out into the country for the final circuit.  The fancied horses were going well and just following the leaders closely.  LORD ANNER was jumping well as the field jumped the open ditch and disappeared en route to fence fifteen.  Coming back into view the field was now led by GREET YOU WELL with LORD ANNER  in second spot then DAISY LEIGH, PREACHERS BOY and BODDIDLEY led the following group.  GREET YOU WELL fell at the next fence and created havoc behind him with possibly one or more brought down.  This left LORD ANNER clearly in front but now followed by Naddan Wilmington on The Havashot Partnership's MAY BE A DOUBLE and now keeping on well IT'S MISSY IMP.  At the penultimate it was LORD ANNER and IT'S MISSY IMP coming away from the field and racing now to the line it was the best turned out  LORD ANNER who led, and although slowing rapidly was too far to the good to allow IT'S MISSY IMP to get to him and she came in second two and half lengths back with RAYMOND JAMES (D Mansell) getting up to be third some ten lengths behind.  In close fourth was SHAFTS CHANCE who was given up by many but ran her race well.

 

The Hunt race saw five go to post with a very clear favourite in N Cook's WILLIAM LION HEART (Geoff Barfoot Saunt) at odds of four to one ON!  The second favourite was P Clifford's AVEC PLAISIR (Miss Clifford) and the other three were available at much bigger prices.   Julie Houldey's ZINGIBAR received a terrific cheer as he passed the crowd as onboard was young Charlie Daley having his first race ride.  I apologise Charlie if I have spelt your surname incorrectly but that is how it was on the board!  The favourite went on to win effortlessly by a distance but, apart from AVEC PLAISIR who fell, the other three had a good race and Charlie did extremely well to race into third only three lengths behind Julie Houldey on G Salter's THYNY GLEN.  I don't think Julie told him not to pass her but Charlie had more sense than to do so, although he finished going really well. 

 

The Intermediate saw eight quality runners go to post and to pick the winner again is not going to be easy.  We can only improve as yet nothing has been added to tin or bag!  I chose B Marshall's STENNIKOV to carry my investment and the price of two to one was not going to make me very rich but at least it would start me off.  Ruth has also made this selection - so it is all or nothing!  C Maiden and E Croft's BLACK OPTIMIST (K Baimbridge) and C Saunders's MY BEST BUDDY (R Cope) are being well fancied and the best turned out  A Hollingsworth's HIJACKED (Gary Hanmer) is also expected to do well.  The jointly owned THUNDER THIGHS who has had varied form this season could surprise.  Off they go with the pace being set by BLACK OPTIMIST by a couple of lengths clear of THUNDER THIGHS and MY BEST BUDDY.  Down the home straight for the first time it was just BLACK OPTIMIST from THUNDER THIGHS, STENNIKOV and MY BEST BUDDY.  All going well.  At the final ditch it was BLACK OPTIMIST and now MY BEST BUDDY challenging with THUNDER THIGHS still travelling well.  On coming back into view it was still BLACK OPTIMIST and MY BEST BUDDY  with our concern STENNIKOV, now into third place.   With three left to jump it was obvious BLACK OPTIMIST was being pulled up rather rapidly and was out of the race.  MY BEST BUDDY was now being challenged by J Crew's GLACIAL PEARL (P Mason) who had arrived on the scene. At the penultimate it was MY BEST BUDDY over first with GLACIAL PEARL second and THUNDER THIGHS in third and STENNIKOV making no headway.  At the last MY BEST BUDDY was out on his own by about five lengths with THUNDER THIGHS, GLACIAL PEARL and STENNIKOV battling it out for the minor places.  First MY BEST BUDDY, second THUNDER THIGHTS and third STENNIKOV.  A good finish but the winner held on well to his six length lead and then there was two lengths between second and third.  Nothing for tin or bag, we do need to do better!

 

Now for the Ladies Open race with five competing.  I am relying on the blinkered, tongue strapped NORSKI LAD to help the tin out and Rachel Green will be very popular with me if she brings Mr Geddes's useful pointer back in the number one slot.  I took even money but I think he will go off favourite at about four to five ON!  Polly is on the best turned out S Goess-Sauru's PHAR FROM CHANCE and Katie Baimbridge is on L Garrett's TITUS BRAMBLE who has also taken a fair amount of money.  The Newmans' BRETECHE and K Simpson's JUSTIN MAC (K Wood) make up the field.  A good pace was set by TITUS BRAMBLE and PHAR FROM CHANCE with my concern being held up at the rear.  I didn't read it that way as I didn't think NORSKI LAD was travelling at all well.  Coming back into view and racing towards fence seven it was still TITUS BRAMBLE that led the field with PHAR FROM CHANCE in second and the others in a tight group.  As they came to the tenth I was sure now that NORSKI LAD was not liking this one little bit.  He has raced on this going in the past but something is definitely amiss.  Out into the country for the final time,  TITUS BRAMBLE out clear over the ditch chased by PHAR FROM CHANCE and BRETECHE then JUSTIN MAC.   NORSKI LAD pulled up!  Coming back into view TITUS BRAMBLE out in front but Polly was now snapping at Katie's heels.  From here on in the race was between the two main protagonist, TITUS BRAMBLE not giving an inch and PHAR FROM CHANCE possibly gaining a little, a very small amount, over the remaining fences. To the line it went and by a short head PHAR FROM CHANCE got it from TITUS BRAMBLE with BRETECHE twenty, yes, twenty lengths back in third.  None for the tin but a little for the bag!

 

Eleven to post for the Men's Open with a clear four to one ON favourite in D Johnson's VIVID IMAGINATION with title-chasing Ashley Farrant in the plate.  This ex Irish promising young novice has won all his points (4) and should have no trouble in seeing off his opposition here.  Now that is where racing differs from most other sports in that nothing is very certain.  The favourite was travelling extremely well in the pack whilst the field was led by a good pace set by J Phillips's CAMDEN CARRIG (N Phillips), over the open ditch and out of sight to fence six.  Back into view it was still CAMDEN CARRIG leading the field followed by the Dixey's FOURS ARE WILD (J Trevor Jones) ,VIVID IMAGINATION and THEATRE LAND (Geoff Barfoot-Saunt) not far behind.  On passing the crowd and off out into the country for the final time it was CAMDEN CARRIG leading the field and setting a real good pace with VIVID IMAGINATION challenging for second place with S Claisse's SIR DANTE (Fred Hutsby) and well supported G Fisher and M Seabourne's WELL TED (Gary Hanmer) now into fourth place. THEATRELAND and L King's THE CAMPDONIAN (Ed Walker) all still travelling well.   We saw here that FOURS ARE WILD was being pulled up. Down to the final open ditch and gasps went up as we saw the favourite fall.  On went the remainder and we later found out that neither horse or jockey were injured.  Into view they came with four left to jump and it was CAMDEN CARRIG still leading with SIR DANTE, THE CAMPDONIAN and WELL TED the closest pursuers.  The leader kept up the pace relentlessly and continued to jump really well.  He took it to the line and after leading practically from flag fall came home a twenty length winner from THE CAMPDONIAN who just managed to get half a length to the good of WELL TED.  We did not invest that time so tin and bag accounts have not altered but it was a very good performance in the fastest time of the day by the winner.  He is noted as a front runner, well he certainly was today and no one could catch him.  Very impressive!

 

Finally came two divisions of Maiden races which are very difficult to make up your losses on unless you are very lucky or know something that is not public knowledge.  I didn't and never collected on either but the bag did better by collecting on division two.  In division one Stuart Morris gave R Fairbarns's LORD OF THE ROAD a peach of a ride and although others lead for a while, Stuart had his charge in touch and travelling well all the time.  When they appeared at the far end of the course for the final time it was Bridgewater Partnership's TIS ALLOVER that was still leading the field from  Mark Walters on P Ponting's WILLOUGHBY FLYER.  With three fences to jump it was LORD OF THE ROAD who came on the scene and joined TIS ALLOVER in the lead.  They jumped the second last together but by the final fence it was LORD OF THE ROAD  who was on his way to the line alone and got there by ten lengths from WILLOUGHBY FLYER and a length back in third was TIS ALLOVER.  A very promising winner.

 

Finally twelve to post for division two and again we saw some very exciting point to point riding.  The best turned out and clear favourite was A Hollingsworth's BLACKANBLUE with Gary Hanmer up and I felt this price was too skinny for me, so did not invest, and that did not deter me from enjoying some good riding, but the bag risked a little.   The one setting the pace was Mrs England's RODY (D Mansell) who has more letters than numbers in his form book but in this race he looked and went well.  He went ten lengths to the good of A Williams's THE CROPPY (G Barfoot-Saunt) down the home straight for the first time and stretched the field out considerably.  Passing the crowd it was still RODY  and THE CROPPY who were to take the field out on the final circuit. RED SPARK (E Walker) was following in third along with DANCING DASI but BLACKANBLUE was beginning to get closer.  At the open ditch for the final time it was still RODY and THE CROPPY out in front chased by RED SPARK, ROMABIT TOM (R Rogers) then the closing BLACKANBLUE.  Out of sight for a while and then back they came - RODY and THE CROPPY still leading with BLACKANBLUE improving into third place followed by RED SPARK.  Four from home the favourite joined RODY and the race was really on.  These two were clear with one fence to jump and there was very little in it with the two in the air together at the last.  To the line it went and the favourite took the race by half a length from RODY with THROWAPARTY getting up to be eight lengths back in third place.  An excellent race by RODY but just beaten on the day.  He'll no doubt be back!!

 

That concluded an excellent days racing at a meeting which was very well organised and well presented.  The tin suffered but the bag held up reasonably well.  As we left after finishing our picnic there were still many supporters enjoying the lovely weather and the atmosphere that accompanies point to pointing everywhere.  A lovely scene!

 

Tomorrow we are off to Stafford Cross to enjoy another meeting of The Axe Vale - plenty of entries so BE THERE!

 

Ruth and Fred