Report from South Devon Hunt Point to Point held
at Black Forest Lodge, Kenton on Sunday 7th March 2004.
After a very good
breakfast we set off from Hayne House and made our way to arrive early at Black
Forest Lodge. Lovely weather and its
not far from Silverton so we were about first on the scene. I walked the course and found it in
extremely good condition. A lot of work
had been put into this course to make it perfect for the day. I saw the machine that did the vertical
draining and with the amount of water that had been put on it had produced a
very good racing surface. If we don't have a considerable amount of rain soon
there will be other courses looking to use a piece of equipment like this
one. Well done to all who must have
put in a terrific amount of work to achieve this.
We will start the
day with a three runner 'Farmers' race and although The Partridge Partnership's
KNOCK STAR went off favourite I don't think anyone was very sure about it. I went for the best turned out R Oliver's DIGITALIS (Sarah Gaisford) and
the other runner took some of the investors' money and went off second
favourite, that was J Berwick's BRUTHUINNE (D McKenna). Well it soon became obvious that I would not
be collecting as DIGITALIS was not his old self at all and it was BRUTHUINNE,
who has had a few runs this season and was showing off his fitness, good
jumping and his liking for this course.
He came home five lengths to the good of KNOCK STAR with my concern a
long way back and making third place. The time of six minutes seven seconds was
equalled but not bettered for the day other than by the shorter distance races
and the open race. Nothing for the tin
or bag and some serious checking on form must now take place.
The confined hunts
race saw four go to post with the in form and best turned out MORRIS PIPER (R Woolacott) being sent off
favourite. The price that was available
put me off and I went looking for a better value runner and settled for D
Williams's visored MIDNIGHT COUP (A Farrant) who has been consistently placed
but a little one paced all this season. Mary McCarthy is here to ride her SANDY
DUFF who is also in with a chance and the field is made up with S Batchelor's
DAMIENS PRIDE (T Dennis) who is now getting on a little and probably not as
agile now at 14 years of age. Initially
the favourite was prepared to watch the remainder from the rear but it wasn't
too long before it became obvious that the race was between MORRIS PIPER and
SANDY DUFF. With three fences left to
jump these two protagonists were alongside one another and going well. MORRIS PIPER gained a length lead but Mary
on SANDY DUFF did not give up that easily and made Richard Woolacott work to
maintain it. Over the second last, down
the hill and round the bend and Mary was still at it but over the last Richard
had a couple of lengths lead and took it to the winning line. My concern was twenty lengths back in
third. Not good but only a little had
been lost. Being a bit careful now!
Six will go to
post for the open maiden for younger horses over two miles four furlongs. The best turned out looked the part
for me so to the investment area I went and obtained a decent price on Jamie
Snowden up on J Myerscough-Waller's ROYAL CZARINA who has had three thirds to
his credit this season and I am hoping now he will add a 'first'. The Exmoor Partners TOON SOCIETY (N Harris)
was the slight odds-on favourite and I see that John Tuck's ANOTHER BIT (R
Goschen) is being backed down! down! down! and will probably go off at about
four to one but some punters latched on to the original ten to one. David Pipe's OURWEDDINGPRESENT (A Farrant)
is fancied by some and will probably join my selection and go off as joint
second favourite. This shorter distance
brings the start in front of the crowd and what a bonus it is to be able to see
the antics of some of the runners prior to the off. They're off! Yes! Yes!
Yes! No!! not this time. Its TOON
SOCIETY behaving a little like his first visit here and not wanting to
start. Here we go again - Yes! Yes! Yes!
No! not this time but the others are getting fidgety now. Third time NO! No! No! YES - they're ALL
away this time. Seventeen flights to be jumped. At the open ditch we said good-bye to OURWEDDINGPRESENT who was
out in front at the time. This left five.
A fast clip began to get set up by Rilly on ANOTHER BIT who was jumping
well. On taking the fence in front of
me ROYAL CZARINA went down on his nose, recovered and continued in third place
- right to the end! TOON SOCIETY showed
his ability once settled and followed ANOTHER BIT home by just half a length
after providing us with a very exciting last half lap along with the Perkins's
JEUNE PREMIER (Gary Perkins) but the winner - ANOTHER BIT did it well and made
A LOT of people very happy but not Freddy!
Like TOON SOCIETY, he will win but I need to know - WHEN? A fifteen
length third is not what I want. Ruth HAD faith in TOON SOCIETY but I think it
is fast dwindling and she thinks Joan should take him hunting for while!
The mixed open
with six runners followed and the best turned out R Westacott's SIR
WILLIAM (R Woollacott) looked really good in the paddock but not so good in my
eyes as Miss Overton's KINGSTON VENTURE (J Barnes) whose form reads that he
came second to POLAR CHAMP and he is no slouch, so a good deal from the tin
will be invested at the price of six to four against. That will do me nicely!
David Pipe's PERKY'S PRIDE (A Farrant) is slightly fancied but the remainder
are outsiders. KINGSTON VENTURE over the first safely which is always a worry! I thought SIR WILLIAM did not look too happy
as he passed. The field began to get
strung out after one complete circuit and it was PERKY'S PRIDE that was taking
them along some three lengths to the good of KINGSTON VENTURE. Ross Oliver's LETS FLY (Will Biddick) was
travelling well in third place and the remainder will have to hurry if they are
going to get into contention. SIR
WILLIAM was pulled up. Final ditch and
the leader got in a bit tight and made a bit of a horlicks at that one but not
KINGSTON VENTURE. On they go and the
two main protagonists were separated by about three lengths with my concern
still in second place and fifteen lengths clear of LETS FLY. With reminders being dished out by Tigger
Barnes I was beginning to feel that nausea creeping up from my boots which told
me I would be very lucky to win this one.
Will Biddick was keeping LETS FLY up to his work but, barring falls, he
will not be worrying the leaders.
Ashley getting serious on PERKY'S PRIDE and the dulcet tones (or are
they?) of the commentator confirms what I see, that my concern is ranging up
alongside the leader. Two out - a good
jump by PERKY'S PRIDE and gained a couple of lengths, down the hill with Ashley
intent on sewing this up now and three lengths to the good as they straighten
up for the Judge. Tigger thought differently and his horse had a little left
and the race to the line was won by KINGSTON VENTURE who got there by two
lengths from PERKY'S PRIDE and LETS FLY
a distance back in third. Very
exciting and very good racing AND very profitable. When no one is watching I'll put a little back in the tin, ah!
That's better!
'Tis funny what a
few pennies will do as you then begin to watch the next race with renewed
enthusiasm. An eight runner restricted
should provide a little more income and I begin to study the form - (whilst
keeping an eye, not too obviously, on the healthy tin!) With MRS PEGGOTY's consistant performance I
will choose her to increase my income.
Surely this has to be her day but I cannot remember whether she always
wears blinkers but she is today. Darren
(Edwards) will make her concentrate I'm sure!
There was close punting between B Taylor's OLLY MAY (R Woolacott), M
Cox's DURSEY ISLAND (M Miller) and my MRS PEGGOTY with the latter probably
going off favourite. The Elliott's
PORTO (R McCarthy) complete with tongue strap was the ten lengths leader at the
ditch for the first time with D Bryant's CORNISH HOPE (A Glassonbury) following
in second with Guy Weatherley on his SWEET KARI a close third. MRS PEGGOTY going well in the following pack
but the Samways's HORSEMANS GREEN (J Barnes) was becoming detached and was soon
pulled up. On went PORTO who has a
record of going well for a couple of miles so we will see if he can last out
the three miles today. CORNISH HOPE
pulled up. MRS PEGGOTY being pushed along on going out into the country for the
final time. PORTO still in front but E
Wonnacott's ELEGANT LIGHT (N Harris) was now taking closer order and reducing
PORTO's lead significantly. MRS PEGGOTY
being pulled up. (very sad now!) Over the ditch with the two main contenders
hard at it and just two lengths separated them. Across the top and they are together. SWEET KARI some twenty lengths back in third and B Taylor's OLLY
MAY(R Woollacott) even further back.
With four left to jump PORTO came down and the rest is history - ELEGANT
LIGHT came home to win by thirty lengths (very tired and made a few mistakes!
PORTO might have done it but it IS necessary to jump every fence!) from SWEET KARI and OLLY MAY five lengths
back in third. Ah well - Neil Harris's
followers were rewarded with a good winner at prices as high as twelve to
one. Good for them but at that price
there were very few!
The mares maiden
race saw eight go to the start with the punters finding it difficult to settle
for a favourite. I would suggest that K Evans's PHAR TO COMFY (T Vaughan) would
go off in that position. I also found it difficult but settled on Tabitha Cave
to bring home the Knox's FIVE MINUTES for me.
Not a lot of form but that commodity is extremely short in this race and
someone has noted that her first race this season was 'needed' when she
achieved six place. The 'needed' is me
now so maybe she can oblige and fill the tin up again. David Turner had a good ride on J Young's
FOREST FORTRESS as did Jamie Snowden on N Searle's BUTLEIGH ROSE but the rider
who really enjoyed this race was Will Biddick on Ros Oliver's MERLIN MEG who
had not previously completed. Coming
down the hill for the final time three horses were in a line and that is how
they took the third from home - MERLIN MEG, FOREST FORTRESS and BUTLEIGH
ROSE. About five minutes behind was
FIVE MINUTES so no reward for the tin on this occasion unless the leaders do
something very stupid. On it went with
the three driving for home but over the last it was FOREST FORTRESS who came
good with a two length win from MERLIN MEG who was three lengths in front of
BUTLEIGH ROSE. A good race which is
really what we all come to see.
The final maiden
for 'horses and those not possible of being a horse but not a mare' saw five go
to post and a clear odds-on favourite in John Shears's ADVICE TAKEN (J Barnes)
was soon established with J Frost's PAULS LEGACY (D McKenna) a clear second
favourite. This was run at a moderate
pace with no one really wanting to lead.
Three lengths covered the whole field as they all cleared the
ditch. By the time they came down the
hill for the final time there were only three left in it and they were racing
together and meaning business now.
Approaching the third last it was ADVICE TAKEN leading PAULS LEGACY with
GENERAL SHORT jumping close up. The
leader fell at this fence and interfered with GENERAL SHORT who also fell and
left PAULS LEGACY to go on and finish alone.
A great pity as this was about to be a really good finish again - such
is pointing. On glancing at the bag
later however, it was obviously much fuller!
We have really
enjoyed today with the tin supporting the bag a little, and on checking there
is enough for next weekend at Wadebridge and Buckfastleigh so make sure I see
you there. KESTICK will fill the tin up
I'm sure AND BILL ME UP will fill up the bag!
Not bad! BE THERE!
Ruth and Fred