Report from North Cornwall Foxhounds Point to Point
Meeting at The Royal Cornwall Showground Wadebridge on 31st January
2004.
We had no difficulty in getting to the showground but we found it very difficult to stand up on arrival. I walked the course and after turning to come up the home straight I immediately felt sorry for both horses and jockeys for what was about to meet them today. This very strong wind howling, yes howling down the homeward journey for them would not be very pleasant. Going would be classified as 'good' with 'good to soft' in places. I make no apologies for this being possibly a short report but for a lot of the time I couldn't see the horses, I certainly couldn't hear the commentator, I couldn't stand in my normal viewing spot and my race card melted and wouldn't show the copious notes I normally take as the pen/pencil decided it was too rough and windy and wet to write legibly.
Off we went with the first rac, with the two main protagonist being Charlie Rush's KESTICK (T Cave) and Roma Cook's HASTEN BAK (Lucy Gardner). Sally Messer-Bennett's IT'SNOTSIMPLE (Tamsin Trickey) certainly looked the part in the paddock as well as the Ansells's MISTER CONE (I Hambly). D Heath's GOT A LOT ON (M Shears) did a lot of the leading or at least it looked like him but around the top bend for the final time it was IT'SNOTSIMPLE being hard pressed by HASTEN BAK with KESTICK ten lengths behind, closing in a very professional manner. Down the hill for the final time, considerable wind from behind probably creating speed records for this part of the course. With three fences to go there were three practically in a line but IT'S NOT SIMPLE was the first one to fade and left the other two to fight it out to the line. Gradually KESTICK pulled away and crossed the line two lengths to the good of HASTEN BAK with IT'SNOTSIMPLE another two lengths further back. This looks to be a promising season for these three and better conditions will suit them all. Welcome to another young rider who was taking part in this sport for the first time - young Mr Tickle, may you have great success in your pointing endeavours. I know very little about the breeding of Charlie Rush's other entrant in this race but Will Biddick was doing alright until a fence got in the way and he had to walk home, but the chestnut gelding was no doubt upset about the naming ceremony for him which left him to explain why he as gelding should be called TYPICAL WOMEN.
Only five to post for the Men's Open but class was more than evident. The very odds on favourite was Mrs Malde's POLAR CHAMP (A Farrant) who has great form over the years and should be too good for the remainder of the field. I fancied P Thomas's SOL MUSIC (L Jefford) without the favourite and Ruth fancied Dai Brace's DAWN'S COGNAC (J Pritchard) to go well after the favourite, but we were not to be successful on both accounts, It was POLAR CHAMP who came home a distance to the good of NEARLY GOLD (G Maundrell) with J Berwick's BRUTHUINNE (D McKenna) a further six lengths back in third. The Irish lilt of the commentator was almost completely lost in driving rain and wind but under the circumstances they all did a remarkable job on the day. A little has gone into the tin so far but very little into the bag as of present.
Next came a very well contested Ladies Open with six good runners to post. Ollie Jackson on Mrs Deal's BALLYSICYOS was made favourite after running quite well at Barbury Castle recently but I fancied the Dufosee's BEADNELL BAY ('Rilly Goschen) to bring a little bit of cheer in poor conditions. Well BALLYSICYOS did her thing here and went off in a front running effort and continued to hold first place for quite some time. When it came time to put in a challenge it was CENTOS (Charlotte Stucley) and PARTE PRIMA (L Hawkins) who provided it and slowly got to BALLYSICYOS, and commencing the run up the hill and into the wind and rain it could have gone to any of the three, but eventually a very exciting race ended with the Faulks's CENTO being the strongest and leading on the line by half a length with PARTE PRIMA in second and BALLYSICYOS another half length back in third. This was the fastest time of the day and was a good race under the conditions. All three will certainly be worth watching this season. Nothing for either tin or bag!!!
The Restricted race was well supported and saw eleven runners go to post. The conditions were terrible and again the commentator had a problem but was able just to distinguish the leaders for most of the time. I couldn't as the windscreen wipers newly fitted to my spectacles would not work in the rain - not really - Ruth and I had taken refuge behind the ambulance for shelter. The winner was the Fry's SIMPLY SAM ridden by young Mr Fry who is doing a very good job these days and also has an entry at Chipley Park tomorrow - SCARLET GLORY - you saw it here first! Ashley Farrant brought Mrs Robarts's JUST SALLY into second place after a very good run and my choice the Faulks BEACHTIME (L Jefford) was in third place but I did invest 'each way' so I was about to pick up something. A little for the tin and a damp smile is now beginning to exist.
Another very good contest was expected in the Confined Hunts race with Colin Blank's BENGAL BULLET (J Pritchard) being matched against the Heard's BILL ME UP (C Heard) with the Lawrence's SQUADDIE (L Heard), J Rees's AFRICAN DAWN (L Jefford) and Mrs Doyne-Ditmas's ARTIC GROUND making up the field. BENGAL BULLET was made odds on favourite in the investing arena with AFRICAN DAWN second favourite at a very nice price and BILL ME UP was not fancied so much. Well that was not quite how it turned out! BENGAL BULLET did not like this set up one tiny little bit and did not show his usual form whereas BILL ME UP thoroughly enjoyed himself and came home in first place by twenty lengths ahead of BENGAL BULLET and ten lengths further back was Liam Heard on SQUADDIE who never gave up. A rematch would be interesting!!
Another of Dai Brace's runners from Wales was available in the Intermediate Race at eight to one in the arena but by the time I got there it was three to one so a lot of money had been put on this one and was really the one to bring home the cash. I think BRACEYS GIRL (J Pritchard) eventually went off second favourite to Mrs Llewellyn's BURLEY DON CARLOS (Charlotte Stucley) who was an odds on choice. The Happy Team Partnership's HAPPY TEAM (L Jefford), M Stocker's BALDHU JAY ARR (L Gardner) and Mrs Brake's COMMANDER CULLY (M Sweetland) made up the field of five. The weather was easing somewhat for which all will be thankful. As our Irish commentator said - 'The sun is out!' and that was a surprise to everyone. HAPPY TEAM led the field for most of the first circuit but COMMANDER CULLY called it a day early as he didn't fancy this lot. With one complete circuit to go it was HAPPY TEAM closely matched with BURLY DON CARLOS who took them away up to the open ditch with BRACEYS GIRL quite happy in third place and then BALDHU JAY ARR. A good race down the hill with my interest appearing to be just swinging along. Around the bottom bend and Julian Pritchard chose this moment to bring BRACEYS GIRL up to the van. It looked as though it might be a tight finish but my money carrier found the necessary energy to cross the line six lengths in front of BURLEY DON CARLOS with HAPPY TEAM just half a length back in third. Never mind the wind take it all back to the tin and some for the bag!
Two divisions of Maiden races followed in much better condition and the course has held up extremely well considering the weather. Our luck continued for these two races and we managed to put a nice little lot in the tin and bag. The first division went to the Messer-Bennetts's SEA SNIPE (Tabitha Cave) who came home by twelve lengths from Mrs Welch's GUNNER'S MISTAKE (C Heard) with W Britton's JEMANNETTE (T Dennis) back in third.
In the final race it was hard to make a favourite with Mr Retter's BISHOPS BLADE (Sarah Gaisford) and P Silcocks GO POSITIVE (L Heard) vying for this position. We both chose BISHOPS BLADE and were very pleased we did. Sarah rode this one to perfection and came home in a good style by three lengths and I am sure, was not pushed out. Second was Mrs Lawrence's O'ECH (C Heard) and back in third place was GO POSITIVE.
Shame about the weather but it is January/February month and we have been very lucky so far. Tomorrow off to Chipley Park with tin looking handsomely full and one zip of the brown bag padlocked, with the second one running free and ready to be opened at a moments notice.
Thank you all for your phone calls/emails enquiring after Ruth and the car(s) accident but she is none the worse and now holds the Black Forest Lodge skipping championship for covering twenty yards (in mud) in record time with only one shoe on. May she never be challenged!!
Chipley Park tomorrow - BE THERE!
Fred and Ruth