Report from The South Tetcott Hunt Point to Point
at Jays Farm Lifton on Monday 31st May 2004.
I managed to get
my course walk completed before the rain came and was satisfied that the course
would race as 'good' going. The
watering has had the required effect, the grass has grown to a good height,
perhaps even too high along the bottom straight, but overall the hard work put
into preparing this setup has paid off and I just hope the rain and good grass
cover does not make any part of it slippery.
The very comprehensive plan of the course on the back cover of the race
card enabled me to point out details to my young followers and they were
looking forward to an exciting day. The bag starts the day off in good
condition where as the tin sadly needs replenishing. The two younger ones we have with us are already lining up to
collect autographs from jockeys but their books are bound to be a soggy mess
unless well looked after as the rain continues to dampen the scene.
The first race for
Confined Hunts sees six good contestants go to post with Alex Charles Jones on
Mrs Nicholls's VIRGOS BAMBINO going off as favourite but the others are not too
far away in popularity. My choice, the
Lawrence's SQUADDIE (A Farrant) is available at 11 to 4 and the Prouse's SHOBROOKE
MILL (D Edwards) is also shortening in price.
The 'whispers' about G Kivell's best turned out PROCEDURE (C Heard) are spreading but these
are probably only based on the good running of another Cummings trained horse
recently. E Cann's CALLEVA STAR is the
outsider of the field with A Tizzard's MILLY HENRY who has not picked up past
form, also available at a big price.
Off they go! The favourite led
the field for the first circuit with PROCEDURE in close attendance and
SHOBROOKE MILL watching from about three lengths back. My concern
was also prepared to watch at this stage. Colin was reminding PROCEDURE
early in the second circuit and his jumping was beginning to become a little
suspect. Straightening up on the back
straight for the final time it was SHOBROOKE MILL who took up the leading
position as VIRGOS BAMBINO began to drop off the pace. SQUADDIE was moving into second place. These two pulled away from the remainder. PROCEDURE was pulled up. The race was now on between SQUADDIE and
SHOBROOKE MILL for the honours. They
took it all the way to the line providing a very exciting finish which SQUADDIE
took by half a length from SHOBROOKE MILL
and twenty lengths back in third was VIRGOS BAMBINO. The youngsters lost on their locally
arranged tote (they got 50p for a win and 25p for a second place with the
dividend taken out of the bag!) and the bag didn't do too well either but the
tin really profited.
Unfortunately the
Men's Open race saw only two starters and as the best turned out The Finewood
Friend's FINEWOOD was pulled up by Richard Woollacott after making a mistake or
two, the honours went to Ashley Farrant riding Mrs Malde's POLAR CHAMP. I remember a previous race with two runners
with POLAR CHAMP involved and he went off the odds on favourite only to be
beaten, so no investment was taken on this outcome but 'the bag tote' had to
pay out!! One steward who was not
overworked during this race was the one with the task of looking for
non-tryers!
The Ladies Open
Race sported a few more runners and four went to post with the favourite soon
established in Mary McCarthy's SANDY DUFF who Mary would hope to increase her
tally of winners and keep an eye on a national novice title. Others fancied were Roma Cook's best
turned out HASTEN BAK (Lucy
Gardner) and Ross Oliver's LET'S FLY (Mandy Hand). The syndicated DELAWARE (Ollie Jackson) was available at a big
price. A sensible pace was set from the
off and the fastest time of the day was achieved in this race. HASTEN BAK was a little slow to start but
soon got up with the remainder. LET'S
FLY led for most of the first circuit, followed by DELAWARE with the favourite
taking in the scenery from the rear. On
passing the judge and heading out into the country on their final circuit it
was still Mandy dictating the pace with DELAWARE in second and HASTEN BAK and
SANDY DUFF bringing up the rear. All
over the ditch and onto the back straight when it was noticed, much to my
relief, SANDY DUFF was taking closer order and moved up into second place. DELAWARE was soon dropping off the
pace. Three out and Mandy still had the
call but SANDY DUFF was going well.
Slowly Mary took up the quickening pace and got the better of Mandy and
brought SANDY DUFF home to win by fifteen lengths from LET'S FLY and Lucy was
ten lengths back on HASTEN BAK. More
for the tin but oh! dear the bag has to pay out to both young investors!
The Coodes
Solicitors Restricted Race saw a good field of ten go to post. I waited until I could get an each way
investment on Reuben Chapman's INDIAN RAIDER (A Glassonbury) and then plonked a
little on him to be at least placed.
The favourite will be R White's JOYFUL JADE (A Farrant) with best
turned out J Papworth's IVANS DREAM (L Jefford) and CUT DOWN THE SOUND
(Lucy Gardner) both taking a little of the investors money. Will Biddick on Rodney Gay's GAYBLE set off
at a fair pace to lead the field around the far bend and up into the home
straight for the first time. At the
plain fence, number six, ABSEAL (Alex Charles-Jones) fell and brought down the
Frost's WINNIE THE POOH (M McCarthy). Over the first open ditch it was still
GABLE taking the field along and jumping well followed by Lee Rowe on LAMERTON
QUEST and then my concern, INDIAN RAIDER, going well. With a complete circuit to go it was still GABLE but INDIAN
RAIDER coming up on the inside and IVANS DREAM travelling well in third. The others were not too far away but CUT
DOWN THE SOUND was pulled up in the rear.
Back to the start area for the final time and Reuben was seen to give a
little jump (again!) as INDIAN RAIDER took up the lead with The Glasses Farm
Partnership's EMALI (W White) moving well and closing up. GABLE was now dropping back having run his
race. On the leaders went. With two left to jump the race was now on for
home but there appeared to be only two in it as EMALI took up the running
followed by INDIAN RAIDER. EMALI jumped
and travelled well and pulled ahead and led INDIAN RAIDER over the last and
went on to win by 12 lengths from the only other finisher, INDIAN RAIDER. A little for the tin but the winner was
available at a big price and some were very lucky to get him at 14 to one. I am still at a loss as to where Reuben
(owner/trainer of Indian Raider) lost his cap as the speed he passed me en
route to the paddock, silver locks flowing out straight (just small locks!) was
such that no cap could remain in place but I didn't see anyone pick it up. Was it worth a lot I ask myself?
Next onto the
Intermediate race where seven went to post.
The favourite here was D Underhill's grey STATE MEDLAR (R Woollacott)
who has been pretty consistant this term and should manage to pull this one
off. Closest to this thirteen year old
in the investing arena is Lucinda Tylor's MENANTOL (Anna de Lisle Well) and the
Ashley Farrant ridden/trained, Laura Claydon owned, BALDARA but all the others
are also taking some interesting amounts of investment. Off they go and the two greys in the race,
STATE MEDLAR and Mrs Turner's SILVER MAN (Mandy Hand) lead the field over the
first three fences and so it was down to the first open ditch and back to the
start area. All seven still in with a
chance. The greys still at it with
MENANTOL in close third position. Out
into the country on the final circuit and Richard is having to work hard on his
STATE MEDLAR to keep him going but does it and leads the field down into fence
thirteen with Will Biddick now bringing the family's DEAR AS SAFFRON up into second place and he is a length clear
of MENANTOL in third. We lost DEAR AS
SAFFRON at the next fence which left Richard clear. We also lost EARLY MORNING CALL (J Barnes). Down the back straight for the final
time. Richard keeping STATE MEDLAR
going with Anna doing the same on MENANTOL.
BALDARA is now closing a little.
On swinging the turn and approaching the run through it was still STATE
MEDLAR by a length from MENANTOL who was five clear of BALDARA and then INDIANA
JOHN (L Heard). A good jump at the last
saw off a challenge from MENANTOL and it was four lengths at the line that
STATE MEDLAR was clear of MENANTOL and then six lengths back was INDIANA JOHN
in third. A little more for the tin but
I have given up on the home made tote programme as it appears to be a little
one sided. If their selections win or are placed second the youngsters
collect, if they lose nothing happens and it has cost them nothing. The bag must be nearly empty.
The Open Maiden
Race Division ONE is so named as there is no division two. Eight go to post and again Ashley will be
riding the favourite, the jointly owned TERINO and I will also be investing in
this one at the skimpy price of eleven to ten but I am assured by many that
that is better than a twenty to one loser.
The unlucky little mare Ken and John Heard's JOSANJAMIC is also very
popular and will probably give my choice most to do. Mike Weir has a runner in here without any form but his horses
have always to be respected and with Richard Darke up this must be an each way
investment at eight to one. The field
was fairly well bunched along the bottom straight and into the run
through. On seeing the crowd for the
first time Charlie Rush's RUSH JOB flipped Will Biddick off but not deterred
Will caught his steed, remounted and completed the race. On passing the judge for the first time it
was Andrew Glassonbury on the Frost's ABBEY'S GIRL leading with TERINO in
second place with JOSANJAMIC up his inside and travelling at a very moderate
pace. Coming up to the judge for the
second time it was still ABBEY'S GIRL in front now being chased by CAN YOU TALK
(Lee Rowe) then TERINO and JOSANJAMIC.
WADDON HILL who took a little while to settle has done that just now but
is now towards the rear of the field.
RUSH JOB is about a fence behind.
Out into the country for the final time it is ABBEY'S GIRL who took fence
thirteen first but we lost JOSANJAMIC there; TERINO now moving up stylishly;
CAN YOU TALK is third with a long gap back to WADDON HILL. Along the back for the final time and Lee
Rowe was lucky here as CAN YOU TALK slipped badly and he just managed to stay
in the plate. TERINO moved up a gear
and took the lead from ABBEY'S GIRL with WADDON HILL staying on. Through the run through and homeward comes
TERINO coming away like a good'un and on to win by a distance from - would you
believe it! - WADDON HILL - and a length back was CAN YOU TALK. It was a slow time but I managed to fill the
tin with first and second and will go home very happy.
The last race, the
'farmers' race is a walk over and Mary (McCarthy) on the Heywood's SMOKEY JOE
carried out the necessary trot back from the final fence to register another
win so her tally today has increased by two and Ashley has registered another
three which has taken his season's total to over the fifty mark. What an achievement!
Well we really are
near the end now but never mind, next week at Bratton Down, the Tiverton
Staghounds will no doubt do us proud. I
have a tin full of money so I will be there, I will loan a little to the bag to
replace lost 'tote' funds and endeavour to top up again. All of you must - BE THERE!!
Ruth and Fred