Report from The Four Burrow Hunt Point to Point at
Trebudannon St Columb Major on Easter Monday 12th April 2004.
The weather
forecasters seem to have got it a little wrong this weekend and today is yet
another glorious day here in Newquay and as we are only ten minutes away from
the course it will be the same there.
We were not
surprised and the view on arrival at Trebudannon was one of great delight. The Clerk of the Course, Mr Weldhen, has
presented us with a spectacle which was a delight to behold. His helpers, which has included Lucy who has
been promoted this year and is now credited with being a dab hand at painting
and selling race cards; had the posts all brilliantly painted up, the paddock
lawn mowered as at Ascot, and Royal Ascot at that, the lines from the grass harrows
were straight and every detail perfect.
A nice covering of grass on a well laid out course which would race
'good to firm' and a good race card of seven races with 54 runners was in store
for us. The crowds turned up in their
hundreds and the colourful and well presented race cards became as scarce as
hens teeth very soon after the off of the first race. After two years of bad luck with the weather, this year was
surely going to make up for the past.
They're off but oh
dear we cannot hear the commentary so the need to decamp nearer a working
speaker is necessary. The Farmers' race
again saw keen competition between local owners with Ross Oliver's LETS FLY
(Mandy Hand) going off favourite and I was caught out a little on this one
because when I took down the prices on the boards I saw that it was two to one
ON and that was too skinny for me but I learned that later I could have got
even money, so I dipped out again!
Reuben Chapman's INDIAN RAIDER (A Glassonbury) was quietly fancied by
some and rightly so as it was this one that chased Mandy home to finish an
eight length second with the third, Lucy Gardner on M Stocker's BALDHU JAY ARR who
was responsible for setting the early pace, a distance back in third. A quick time for three miles - five minutes fifty-three!!
The Confined saw
five go to post and a clear favourite was soon established in Mike Weir's
TENINAROW who will be ridden by Richard Darke as Vanessa (Shaw) is not yet
fully repaired, but I did see now walking a little easier so progress is being
made with her injuries. Close investing
in H Wakeham's CAREFREE LOVE (Sarah Gaisford) and Sally Messer-Bennetts's IT'S
NOT SIMPLE (T Trickey) was also taking place to establish a second favourite and
the other two runners were the clear outsiders. I chose to invest in IT'S NOT SIMPLE as surely this is the going
that this horse will appreciate and although not having won for a while, has
been in the frame regularly. It was
Tamsyn who took IT'S NOT SIMPLE into the lead up to the first open ditch but
the hard pulling COMBE QUEST (T Dennis) took over and led the field by a length
past the cheering crowd for the first time. Up to the ditch for the second time, the field had changed very
little. On passing the crowd my
investment had taken the lead again and TENINAROW had relieved COMBE QUEST of
the second spot. Heart in mouth as the
final in this straight was taken by my concern as she got in a bit close and
the pilot did extremely well to remain in the driving seat, but did so and went
off in the lead out into the country for the final time. TENINAROW began his challenge going down the
back and took the lead and increased the pace somewhat. IT'S NOT SIMPLE did not appreciate the view
from second place and took over number one position again. The race was really on now between these two
and it was nail biting amid loud cheering from a huge crowd, all the way to the
line. From my viewing position I
thought I had lost my investment right on the line but the judge stated it was
IT'S NOT SIMPLE who had got the good of TENINAROW by half a length and MOORLAND
ROSE (P Mitchell) three lengths away third.
A very good win both for connections and the tin. Off lid, push it down and squeeze lid back
on. An operation I have not done too
often lately!!
Then followed two divisions
of Open Maiden races for younger horses over a distance of two and half miles
and sixteen fences. Eight in division one and seven in division two; both good
races with very tight finishes. The
first initiated a double for Derek McKenna who rode the favourite in the Frost's
LONGSTONE LADY home to win by half a length from Tim Dennis on A Walter's best
turned out HOORAY HENRY with Ian
Hambly back in third on K Redwood's NORTHERN THATCH. I didn't invest in this
one because I left it a little late and the crowds at the bookies' boards were
huge and I couldn't get to the front in time.
Never mind - double up next time!
In division two I
got to the front and managed to get a decent price about Mike Weir's RYDERS
HILL (R Darke) who was on a racecourse for the first time ever, but if anyone
can get a horse ready for a race it would be Mike who tunes them up on Dartmoor
and this one looks the part. Interest
was also being show in the Corcoran's SEX KITTEN (R McCarthy) and the Channon's
WHATS UP MAID (M Munrowd) but I thought it would be Mrs Welch's LITTLE APPLE
BAY (S Gaisford) that would go off favourite.
With two complete circuits to go it was the favourite who led the field
and my concern was settling in the rear.
I could hear the commentator reporting on the leaders but I kept my
glasses on my concern and gradually throughout the entire race this mare crept
forward slowly but surely, from worst to first - where it mattered. Over the
line to win by half a length from WHATS UP MAID and two lengths back was LITTLE
APPLE BAY. A good result for the tin
but the bag is not doing too well - yet!
The mixed open is
slightly disappointing with only five runners and this course today is surely
worthy of more but we will be seeing KESTICK again which is worth turning up
for on its own. The other combatants will
be Will Biddick on Mrs Alford's JUST BERT, Lucy Gardner on Aunty Roma's HASTEN
BAK, Sarah Gaisford on John Welden's DARK CHALLENGER and Saul Kidson on E Cann's
CALLEVA STAR. It was a steady pace and
KESTICK followed them all round playing a waiting game until nearing the final
ditch when gradually overtaking the field it was time to join JUST BERT and
HASTEN BAK up front. With two fences to
go and the race really on it was unfortunate that JUST BERT came unstuck on
landing from the second last leaving Lucy and Tabitha to fight it out. KESTICK switched to top gear and went for
the line which he got to three lengths to the good of HASTEN BAK with DARK
CHALLENGER four lengths back in third.
What a great little performer this one is!
In this next race
the spectators were presented with a sight not often performed in point to
pointing. From the Frost's stable and
ridden by their jockey, Derek McKenna, came a horse who won her maiden race at
Great Trethew. The Jordan's LADY
MISPRINT was now here after her Restricted and will go off favourite. Well! After it she went and set off along
with PORTO at such a pace the field was strung out before three fences were
jumped. For a while she tussled with best turned out PORTO (R Darke) who
likes to front run but soon it became evident that a faster pace was necessary
and alone she went to the front and away from the field like I have never seen
before over three miles. Each fence
taken in her stride and on and on and to cross the line a very good distance to
the good of the second horse who is no slouch, V Nicholls's VIRGOS BAMBINO
(Alex Charles Jones) and close up third was the Cox's INDIANA JOHN (T Dennis). A double for Derek! Quite a spectacle and nothing for tin or bag
- but memories! There was an incident in the paddock prior
to the off which necessitated Les Jefford getting stood down with an injury and
Liam Heard was to take his ride on ALLER COOMBE (2ND Fav) but
eventually the horse was withdrawn.
Finally the Maiden
for the older horses with ten runners. A
very clear favourite was soon on the boards in the Frost's WINNIE THE POOH
(Sarah Gaisford) and all the others were greater than four to one. We did invest in this favourite but wished
we hadn't. Whilst running extremely
well this one could not match the improvement in L Bond's CHARMINSKY (Sue
Young) who ran into a third position at the last Four Burrow meeting here and
now took the spoils by coming home one length to the good of Winnie with ATP
Racing Partnership's TRUICEAR (R McCarthy) four lengths back in third.
We have thoroughly
enjoyed our afternoon out in beautiful weather, with good friends and in a
great atmosphere. The tin has improved
considerably but the bag hasn't but I'll loan her a little for next week for
the Dartmoor meeting at Flete Park and will expect pay back in time for the
Tedworth at Barbury Castle on Sunday in case, just in case, I need it!
BE THERE!!
Fred and Ruth