Report from Mendip Farmers Point to Point Races at
Ston Easton on Sunday 21st March 2004.
We know that the
Mendip Farmers meeting always attracts a large crowd so we left our B & B
at Cossington in good time after a lovely breakfast and arrived on the course
and as usual we were almost the first.
I say almost as there was a 'reserved' sign in the number one position,
a large 4 x 4 in position number two and we were number three. We regretted taking this position as the
first two had reserved their places and were going to have a lunch party. When the invited guest arrived we found to
our dismay that they were not at all interested in the racing but just supped
wine, ate food and shouted to one another at a level three octaves above that
of the announcer. They seldom watched a
race, did not have race cards and acted like real 'hooray henrys'. Fortunately
they left after race five and a much more deserving point to pointer drove
forward into the two vacant positions left by the wine drinkers. Why do people need to park on the fence if
they are not watching the racing? The
atmosphere at this meeting is always a good one and the organisation, as usual,
second to none. Although there were
twenty bookmakers, there were always crowds ready to wager. The tote was doing a great job as well and
some good payouts were about to be had.
The course was in
good fettle and would race good with soft patches but a nice covering made it
very raceable. A pre race announcement
thanking those who had sponsored, donated and volunteered their help in
building this arena was a very appreciative deed. A lot of work by the dedicated supporters of out sport. A seven race meeting is on the cards and I
am sure it will be as good as ever.
The 'Farmers' race
saw five go to post and the clear favourite was M J O'Connor's best turned
out SPRINGFORD with Dominic
Alers-Hankey up and he went off at the odds of three to one ON. I had a wager but I managed to get on early
and got a better price than that. James
Snowden on R Knapper's BUTLEIGH ROSE and Jonathan Barnes on the syndicated
EARLY MORNING CALL were the second favourites and the other two were the clear
outsiders of the five. Well Dominic
never gave me any frights as he rode his usual well timed race and came home an
easy winner by fifteen lengths from Jonathan
and five lengths further back was Jamie. Money for the tin and guess what! Ruth had the Tote forecast up!
The next two races
were over the two and half mile course as they were Open Maiden races for the
younger horses. Division one saw twelve
go to post. I went for another one of
the 'no recent form NH or P to P' (from now on these will be referred to
as 'nrf' runners!) in the best turned out T Collins's TRUST FUND from
the Alner's stable and ridden by their young jockey Daryl Jacob. There were three or four others of the 'nrf'
form in the race but I think I picked the best looking one! The first to lead was J Myerscough
Walker's ROYAL CZARINA (J Snowden) closely followed D Williams's LITTLE WORD (T
Vaughan) and then came TRUST FUND! Over
the ditch and off they go into the country.
Down the far side, through the 'chicane' and back up the home straight
again and it was still ROYAL CZARINA leading with A Read's SAFFRON HILL (Fred
Hutsby) and TRUST FUND following and close up also was LITTLE WORD. Closely grouped as they passed the judge and
over the ditch again with a new leader coming out of the group in SAFFRON HILL
who was now taking them along with ROYAL CZARINA sticking close to him. The remainder about three lengths back. Going down the far side J Kelly's GUNVILLE
(P Gundry) began to get closer but ran out which left TRUST FUND in third. Down through the chicane and making the run
for home the race really began to get ultra competitive. Nick Williams brought D Dare's SMART
CAVALIER into the fray and my TRUST FUND got up and SAFFRON HILL and ROYAL
CZARINA were still there and fighting it out.
A good race to the line and 'one for the judge' was announced! The agonising wait was brought to an end
when it was announced that SMART CAVALIER (Fav) had won by a length from TRUST
FUND with SAFFRON HILL (Ruth's choice!) back in third. Three lengths covered the three! Nowt for bag or tin!! Must do better but I
did enjoy that race and surely some good information for the future.
The second
division brought thirteen more maidens to the line. Paul Nicholls was seen walking the course with Chloe Roddick a
little earlier so he must be here to see his BODDIDLEY run, another 'nrf' and being well supported at the investment
arena. I invested in Polly to bring me
in a little on the best turned out R Francome's CLARE'S MEMORY as she
was reported as being well fancied (the mare!) previously but fell on her first
outing this season. Roger Penny's
RUNNING EARTH (N Williams) was also a 'nrf' and being supported in to seven to
two. A good laugh here for Ruth and I
and no doubt many others as we heard many pronouncements of this name -
BODDIDLEY but nevertheless it went off
the even money favourite and was very cleverly ridden by Chloe. Ruth's choice F Shaw's SLIEMA (Nathan
Wilmington) gave Chloe a very good race for the line but Nathan had to give it
to Chloe by a small margin. Later
SLIEMA was adjudged to have got inside a marker and was disqualified and
Richard Woollacott on N Gooder's HERSWELL CASTLE and M Green on LETS ROCK were
promoted second and third. (No fine was imposed!) Panic now in the tent as I could not find out the new
distances. It appears that when the
first three cross the line no one notes the distance between third and fourth
in case there is a disqualification so the distance of six lengths between
second and third is my judgement - not official!
The Restricted had
seven in the line up and the betting was a little closer in this one and it
should be. Several of these have won
their maidens this season and looked very good in doing so. I am attempting to increase the volume in
the tin with a small wager on Dominic Allers-Hankey on M O'Connor's
WESTERN FRONTIER but I will keep it to a minimum as the opposition is
heavy. Polly riding J Keighley's
PREACHER BOY is going off favourite but Alex Charles-Jones on C Newman's
RUNNING HOT is fancied as is K Price's WHO'S EDDIE (Mickey Harris) and Ashley
Farrant on L Claydon's tongue strapped BALDARA. Unfortunately RUNNING HOT was withdrawn at the start but not
under starters orders so those that have invested will get their money
back. As the 'poor' bookies have not
had time to adjust their boards there will be a reduction on the prices. The amount is set in a table they carry and
is based on the price of the withdrawn runner at the 'off'. So it will be announced when 'weighed in'
flag is raised that the reduction will be - say 15 pence in the pound or
something like that! The bigger the
price of the withdrawn horse the less is deducted. It is deemed to be fair but those who get the winner invariably
think otherwise. They're off and
WESTERN FRONTIER and WHO'S EDDIE lead the field to the first and WINNERS
ENCLOSURE (M Miller) brings up the rear.
All over the ditch and out into the country all closely grouped. Down the far side and WHO'S EDDIE had the
call just from WESTERN FRONTIER and Mrs Fear's SULA QUEEN (David Turner). Round the bottom and up into the home straight
to the ditch. SULA QUEEN took a dive
and gave the rider very little chance here but the Swarbrick's TIMBER TOP,
PREACHER BOY and BALDARA are not taking a lot more interest. Down the back straight and still closely
grouped but WHO'S EDDIE has the call still.
Coming into the home straight it was PREACHER BOY but being challenged
by several others. WINNERS ENCLOSURE
who has been patiently ridden is now brought into the race proper along with
BALDARA and WHO'S EDDIE is still there - a very good race to the line and Polly
had to give it to Michael Miller by a head with WHO'S EDDIE getting seven
lengths back in third.
There were ten to
line up for the mixed open and we were going to see if P Maltby's RED NATIVE (N
Williams) could live up to last season's form when he achieved Maiden to Open
with four wins. He will go off even
money favourite but Simon Claisse's SIR DANTE (F Hutsby) is also well fancied
and a little money for J Sprake's JACKSON HILL (J Snowden) is being
punted. Off they go! Mrs Nash's BANKIT (Alex Charles Jones) takes
them along for the first circuit and Polly on the syndicated PHAR FROM CHANCE
is close up for a while as is RED NATIVE.
Up the home straight it is still BANKIT, then CHEROKEE RUN (C Tizzard),
RED NATIVE, PHAR FROM CHANCE and SIR DANTE.
With a circuit now to run this group takes them out into the
country. Down the back straight its
PHAR FROM CHANCE by three from RED NATIVE and BANKIT and these have drawn away
from Nick Mitchell on J Whitley's COLUMBIAN GREEN in fourth place. On the final turn it is PHAR FROM CHANCE
with RED NATIVE trying hard to get on terms - this he does and the two go for
the line with Polly pulling out all the stops and gets home by six lengths from
Nick Williams with Nick Mitchell a further five lengths back in third. A really good race won by the expert. Nothing to be collected and the starting
price of six or seven to one was easily available. No good if you don't back it!!
Now the novices
have a go and this race here at Ston Easton is always a good pointer to our
up coming riders. I am hoping that young Mr Fry can prevail
with the five to four against H Geddes's NORSKI LAD. Twelve set off with our choice the favourite. Coming around the bottom turn and leading
the way up the home straight for the first time it is Vicky Heal that is
bringing her MR BEN GUNN along nicely followed by SUPREME STORM, NORSKI LAD and
Chris Whittaker on RUSTIC REVELRY. As
they progressed along the back straight the field were beginning to get well
strung out but still led by MR BEN GUNN by a narrow margin over SUPREME STORM
and RUSTIC REVELRY with NORSKI LAD on their heels. Around the bend, up the home straight, over the ditch and out
into the country for the final time - MR BEN GUNN leads closely followed by best
turned out Richard Pyman on his OPAL LOU, NORSKI LAD and the Bishop's LEON
GARCIA and they have drawn well clear.
The pace increases as they race towards the final bend. Two to jump! One to jump and to the line
- it was LEON GARCIA who did it best
and won by five lengths from NORSKI LAD with Vicky Heal on MR BEN GUNN five
lengths back in third. A really good
race and they all deserve medals as far as I am concerned. We won nothing but thoroughly enjoyed the
spectacle.
Finally it's the
open maiden with twelve runners. P
Willis's KNIGHTON STAR (Alex Charles Jones) is to go off favourite and a clear
favourite at that! I have chosen C
Moate's MILNSTORM (Polly Gundry) to replenish the tin. This horse has already finished third this
season and a couple of thirds last year so it is now time to get rid of this
maiden tag and bring me in a little.
Another one with past form is D Coombes's TRIGGER AGAIN but the fact
that he was pulled up on his latest outing is a little off putting. Emma Tory
will have to see if he is back to his 2002 form. The best turned out L Price's TURN IT ON is a 'nrf' runner
and Mickey Harris will be trying this one out. Off they go! A good race! MILNSTORM built up my expectations for the
complete race by leading most of the way and then let me down on the final run
to the line. Emma Tory rode a real good
race and the smile whilst weighing in told me that she was more than delighted
to pull this one off by winning by three lengths from Polly on my MILNSTORM
with the favourite being a further half length back in third.
Thank you Mendip
Farmers for a lovely day's racing which we thoroughly enjoyed. The tin and bag suffered a little towards
the end but left a bit for next week in both containers. It will be Avon Vale at Larkhill and the
East Cornwall at Great Trethew next week but we will not be able to make
Larkhill so if there is anyone who wishes to email me or phone me (numbers on
my home page) with the results from there I will willingly put them up on the
web site so that other supporters will be able to share them. BE THERE!
Fred and Ruth