Report from Devon and Somerset Staghounds Point to
Point meeting held at Holnicote on 1st May 2004.
The mist and
drizzle that we encountered on top of Exmoor had disappeared by the time we
arrived on the course at Holnicote. I
bet the committee were pleased about the recent rain as had it not come then
this course would have been firm, but as it was it would race 'good' and it was
in lovely condition. The fences will
need some 'brushing-up' before next year as some are quite soft but apart from
that all was well.
It took some time
to get the parking sorted out. First we
put our rear wheels on the cut grass line then it was all change and we parked
our front wheels on the line - then the tent episode. In the row of cars in the second line someone decided a nice
green colour tent was required to house their guests blocking the view of those
to the rear so tent was then seen moving up to the top where it landed and
provided its users with a better view than down the bottom, causing no
obstruction to anyone. Good
thinking!! Seven races on the card with
plenty of entries so off we go with race number one.
Seven runners for
The Staghunters' Cup with close wagering for favouritism between P Clarke's
FRIAR WADDON (M Miller) and R Westacott's SIR WILLIAM (R Woollacott) with the
latter eventually taking the honours. V
Greenway's best turned out POLKA
(D Edwards) was quite fancied by some but the remainder were available at big
prices. All going well over the first
of the three open ditches and the field led by R Skinner riding his FERN LEADER
passed the judge with two complete circuits to run. All travelling well along the back straight with SIR WILLIAM
bringing up the rear. Second open ditch
FERN LEADER made a mistake and lost the lead to POLKA but was soon to regain it and travelled on in company with Mr
Skinner's other runner - WINNING LEADER (Saul Kidson). With a circuit to run it was WINNING LEADER
with HAPPY TEAM (R Ross) in second taking them out into the country. The pace quickened as they raced through the
back straight with the two main protagonists taking much closer order now. To the final open ditch the field was led by
POLKA followed by SIR WILLIAM and closing also was FRIAR WADDON. We lost SIR WILLIAM at that ditch and POLKA and FRIAR WADDON
were now racing for the line. Over the
second last together, over the last practically together and up the run in and
it is called 'one for the judge!' It
was thankfully awarded to FRIAR WADDON by a head from POLKA and fifteen lengths
back in third was WINNING LEADER. A
little for the tin, just a little!
Ashley Farrant was
desperately looking for points at this meeting as he needs them to conquer the
national jockey's award and in this Intermediate he will go off favourite on
the odds on P Finn's I AM SAID I. The best
turned out Mr and Mrs Doggerell's CAUNDLE CHASE (Willie White) and
Staverton Owners Group's SOUL KING (R Bliss) were vying for second favourite
but there was no doubt who was going to win.
So he did without too much fuss!
By seven lengths from SOUL KING
with CAUNDLE CHASE in third place BUT Mr Willie White forgot to weigh in
and was chucked out and replaced by S Hawker's SOOTSIR. I trusted young Ian Chanin to get a place
without the favourite on BARTON ROSE after such a good run at a previous
meeting but unfortunately he unseated
so the tin suffered a deficit! You now
owe me Ian!
The PPORA Members'
Maiden race for mares only saw nine go to post with again the favourite
obliging, Mrs Barton's MISS FLINDERS (R Bliss) came home ten lengths to the
good of Sarah Robinson on the jointly owned MERRY MELODY and ten lengths back
in third was Darren Edwards on P Stevens's INNER STATE. No investment that time so no change to the
financial situation. Ruth is trying to
beat her previous record for backing fallers; three so far from three races!
Now on to the
Confined race with only four runners but four of quality. Ashley will be up on the blinkered A Malde's
POLAR CHAMP who was beaten in a match recently but otherwise carries very good
form and should be hard to beat. The
Pudd's COOL WAGER (Dom Allers Hankey),
the Delaware Parnership's DELAWARE (S Kidson) and the best turned out M
Tizzard's FATHER JIM (C Tizzard) are the other three runners. A good pace was set by POLAR CHAMP
throughout and, in fact, recorded the fastest time of the day except for the
Mixed Open race. He came home to win by
fifteen lengths without breaking sweat and FATHER JIM was second and a further
six lengths back was COOL WAGER. More
points for Ashley but nothing to alter the contents of the tin. Too skinny to wager on!
Nine will run in
the Restricted and I am going to choose Polly Gundry on the Rawlins's EMERALD
MIST to increase my financial situation as this horse has good form and won her
maiden well. The favourite at the off
is best turned out S Jones and I
Stephens's SO PEACEFUL (C Heard) with The Friends of Eddy Hall's LADY WIDD (D
Edwards) and J Cumings and T Dunsford's BESSIE BUNTER (M Miller) also expected
to do well. The horse that impressed me
in this race was the jointly owned HILL TRAIL ( J Barnes) who came into the
race with very very little form but led for a considerable part of the race and
although the favourite went on to win by five lengths after a very well
judged race by Colin, HILL TRAIL was second and six lengths further back in
third was BESSIE BUNTER. My concern was
never in the race and enjoyed the tail end Charlie position for most of
it. Tin now suffering! Bag not doing much better!
Another odds on
favourite for Ashley in the Mixed Open race in P Deal's BALLYSICYOS at two to
five on but it was possible to wager without the favourite so I chose to do
just that and my choice, The Mighty Friends's
DANCING FOSENBY (M Holdforth) ran a good race to come in second some
fifteen lengths behind BALLYSICYOS with TRAVELLING JACK a distance away
third. More points for the rider and a
little cash for me!
Whilst standing in
the investment area attempting to make a good decision on my next and final
investment for the day, I felt someone
stand on my boot. He happens to be of
the same surname as myself but that did not stop the pain from toes which are
now impaled by crushed metal from a steel toe cap racing up my leg and
eventually to my lips which uttered unmentionable noises. That was a tip for the next race I was
informed. With the brain now engaged in
dealing with pain from an injured foot it took some time to work things
out. Eventually it became obvious that
I was to invest in Willie White riding Gordon Chambers's ON HIS TOES. This I did with a considerable amount of the
tin's contents and it proved a wise decision.
Nine went to post in the open maiden and it was my choice who went off
favourite but only just as a NRF (no recent form) from David Pipe's stable and
ridden by Ashley AFTERMEYOURFIRST was fancied by some and took considerable
money at the bookies. The Mighty
Friends' OCTANE BOOSTER led the field for a while but then fell. Mrs Heal's THE GAMBLING LADY (R Woollacott)
had a go at being first, but later fell.
The best turned out R Black's PHANTOM WALKER (C Tizzard) who was
well off the pace and didn't like things at all, was pulled up! BUT my concern was going well. J Grant's SAFAWI (A Bush) ran a good race
and is only a five year old. From the
final ditch ON HIS TOES was not going to be beaten and pulled away from The
Dozen Dreamers ALBAMART WOOD (D Edwards) to win by twenty lengths and then
there were twenty-five lengths back to SAFAWI in third place. Pain all gone from now extra wide fitting
foot and boot whilst the sprint to the layer took place and collection was
completed. Tin now in first class
order, foot getting better!
A first class
day's racing and we will not be going home tonight and will spend a relaxing
day on Exmoor tomorrow. Dinner tonight
with friends at The White Horse in Exford, venison of course and then back to
our very comfortable B & B with Sue Ashburner at Newlands (www.newlandhouse-exmoor.co.uk). Monday we will be at High Bickington for the
Stevenstone meeting, plenty of entries so BE THERE!
Ruth and Fred