Report from The Army P to P at Larkhill Racecourse on Sunday 11 January 2004.
The weather forecast did not deter us one little bit from attending our first point to point for the season at Larkhill. We travelled up on Saturday to stay handily to the course; just about 45 minutes away, and had a good journey. Again we found excellent B and B, good hospitality abounded and breakfast was enough to provide us with stamina galore to face the forecasted storm!! If you are ever in the area (around Sturminster Newton) and want real value for money just contact Gil on yewfarmhouse@aol.com or 01258 820412 and you will not be let down.
Not quite the first to arrive but in time to make acquaintances with fellow supporters. All , with a 'few exceptions', have endured the break away from their favourite sport and have come back fresh and eager to enjoy what promises to be another good season. The 'few exceptions' have now to endure painful niggles but they will not be enough to stop them hassling up to the bookie to earn a few shillings, even if they will be spent on pain killers.
The 'tin' is now lined with bubble wrap so that the nosey few will not hear whether its coins or notes being deposited (or withdrawn!) and the 'bag' has been renewed completely. No longer a shiny black bag but a bigger, more pockets, more zips - brown one, which frequently falls on my ears from behind my seat as we journey along. If Ruth manages to fill at least one pocket of this monster this year both of us will be delighted.
There are good entries for this meeting and as we expect and always get from the Army, it is well organised and the first race goes off on time. Six run in the club race and last year's winner is running - owner ridden Simon Wheeler's PUZZLEMAN and so is the odds-on shot Mr Geddes's NORSKI LAD that he beat, and so is another good pointer in Lt Col M Lilley's STRONG TEA who will be ridden by Dom Alers-Hankey. It is again NORSKI LAD who this year will be partnered by James Snowden in the absence of the now retired Ollie Ellwood that goes off just the favourite with STRONG TEA second favourite. Alex Michael, who gave CAHORS such a good ride last season to cross the line up with EASE THE PRESSURE, is partnering Jeanette Carr-Evans's MOLLYCARR'S GAMBUL this year. I have only now got used to reporting on MOLLYCARR'S BREAKFAST when along comes another MOLLYCARR!! Eighteen fences and good going on this course and at present the weather is lovely. Past the spectators with a big cheer they go with a complete circuit to race and some still a bit novicee at their fences but all go off to approach fences six and seven with PUZZLEMAN out in front followed by MOLLYCARR'S GAMBUL, STRONG TEA, NORSKI LAD, Lucy Horner on her FOLLY ROAD, Charles Lambert on his ALLTIME DANCER. Before they went out of view behind the bushes (fence eight) Lucy had decided to let FOLLY ROAD go on without a pilot but was soon up on her feet. At the ditch, down that side of the course it became obvious that Ruth and I had settled for the same horse to win and the shout that went out was one of desperation as STRONG TEA did not like the way this ditch was built and practically uprooted all of it as he ploughed his way through it. We both thought that our money had gone at this stage. Alex Michael was out in front by a couple of lengths as they came back into my view but others were closing up. With about seven furlongs to go, the leading three were now bunching up, NORSKI LAD, PUZZLEMAN and MOLLYCARR'S GAMBUL, STRONG TEA was a few lengths back with ALLTIME DANCER tailed off. The commentator (who was brilliant!) at this stage has decided that STRONG TEA had the 'stuffing taken out of 'im on that open ditch earlier', was twelve lengths back in fourth place. With four furlongs to go it was NORSKI LAD who went for home away from PUZZLEMAN and MOLLYCARR'S GAMBUL. The view of STRONG TEA making up ground brought shouts of encouragement from both of us and a most impressive display was being shown by Dominic bringing his charge to firstly, challenge then draw alongside and then to forge ahead. He went on to win by twelve lengths with last years combatants PUZZLEMAN and NORSKI LAD, dead heating for second place with MOLLYCARR'S GAMBUL back in fourth. A very good race and won by a very good horse. Off to collect a little for tin and bag. This is a good start!
Next came The Beer Sellers Ladies' Open Race with sixteen on their way to post. The winner is eligible for the £5000 three mile Gerrard P to P Championship Hunter Chase Final at Huntingdon on Tuesday 11th May 2004. I studied this one very carefully and came to the conclusion that I would leave it alone as I could not separate the consistent Axe Valley Racing's RIMPTON BOY (R Green) and J Burbridge's MRS BE (P Gundry). There were other good horses in this race but these two stood out on past form. MRS BE did not lose a race in 2003 and RIMPTON BOY won three ladies in the same year. Martin Keighley's BOSUNS MATE (Belinda Keighley) has a useful history and will be remembered for beating IRBEE last year whilst CALDAMUS (Rilly Goschen) is also full of consistent performances. I will let my tin stay shut! The first one to show a distaste for this game was Susannah Reynoldson's GIGI BEACH. Either a saddle slip or just run out I am not sure, but did not take part. Susie Samworth on W Odell's MOORLANDS AGAIN also appeared to run out and by the time the field reached the second open ditch it was a little depleted and well strung out. Down into the dip and out of sight for a few moments and then the climb with a mile to go. The leading group of four on reappearing were bunching up with CALDAMUS slightly prominent, BOSUNS MATE, GARATHSON and SIR D'ORTON the others. At four from home RIMPTON BOY had closed up and went ahead with his main challenger on the book, MRS BE not yet closing up and still back in fifth place. RIMPTON BOY was ahead in splendid isolation when MRS BE got given the orders to do something about it. Rachel was now being chased hard by Polly and gradually making the distance between them considerably less. Half a furlong to go the gap was down to two lengths, the gap closing until on the line it was difficult to call the result. It came out as first RIMPTON BOY just by a head from MRS BE with BOSUNS MATE some eight lengths back in third. This was the fastest time of the day and the course had been completed in six minutes three seconds. I considered I was right not to wager on that battle and Ruth, who had spent a little on CALDAMUS was mumbling something about one of her zips being stuck. For sure it was to take a little OUT and nothing to go IN!
Fifteen will go to post for The Land Rover Men's Open race and some classy ones here as well. On the boards C Fox's RED BROOK LAD (N Mitchell) is quickly made favourite but as things settle, although he remains favourite, Mrs Alner's OSCAR WILDE (D Drake), Robert Waley-Cohen's KATARINO (Sam Waley-Cohen) and Mrs Merriam's ALWAYS ON THE LINE (Alex Mirriam) began to interest some investors. I settled for KATARINO (won something called the Champion Hurdle I believe!) but kept the invested amount to my minimum as I cannot really believe that I am deserting RED BROOK LAD as he did me handsomely here last season but I now have gone for another. Fickle punting public!! Neil Harris is here to ride G Lever's DON ROYAL and A Sendell's ABERFOYLE PARK (T Dreaper) is sure to be turned out fit by Sally Alner.
Off they go and RBL took up his normal racing position for this course -last but one at the first fence. D Vann's ARLEQUIN DE SOU (C Heard) took up to leading the field as he passed the crowd with a circuit to go. ALWAYS ON THE LINE followed but RBL was in the rear with a very unhappy looking OSCAR WILDE. At fence five Mrs King's CHISM decided Will King was too heavy and got rid of him. Mrs Kathy Blackman's BARGIN BOY decided he would like his jockey to ride side saddle for a bit and made sure he did but Jamie Snowden preferred the more orthodox position and managed to get his leg over and back to race riding again without having to get off. The first four going down the back and over fence number nine were ARLEQUIN DE SOU followed by ALWAYS ON THE LINE, Eric Smith's CHAUCERS MILLER (D Turner) and KATARINO. RBL had passed a few by now and was going well but was still twelve lengths off the galloping leader. With a mile to go and a long climb ALWAYS ON THE LINE took up first position and KATARINO moved up into second with ARLEQUIN DE SOU dropping back. RBL making up ground. Over the thirteenth and ARLEQUIN DE SOU is a faller and in doing so he quickly decides that some others should fall as well and ABERFOYLE PARK and KATARINO obliged. At the final open ditch (16) RED BROOK LAD had joined ALWAYS ON THE LINE with ABERFOYLE PARK back in third and the remainder were well strung out. Now Nick asked RBL for a greater effort as AOTL was getting the better of the tussle. RBL didn't have a lot to offer and the race to the line, thrilling as it may have been, was always going to be in favour of AOTL. This was a good ride by Alex Merriam and a well deserved success in a very good time of six minutes five second and the winning distance being four lengths. OSCAR WILDE did finish but he didn't look any happier when it was all over than he did when it hadn't happened. I believe the bag would have reaped dividends if he ran better but I am almost afraid to ask.
Two divisions of Open maidens followed with G Keirle's UP THE PUB (T Dreaper) trained by Sally Alner being the favourite in the first division BUT the lady also trained Mr Chadney's FREE GIFT (Darryl Jacob). There were whispers about which one was the better -I chose the favourite to increase my little lot in the tin but was wrong, oh! so wrong. The outsider of the two about which you could have got very large odds at some time, romped home a very clear cut winner by twenty or more lengths in a time of six minutes nine seconds. The favourite dead heated in second place with Polly Gundry on J Keighley's PREACHER BOY (was badly hampered by a faller in the race!). The gallop observers have obviously been away on holiday as it would have been very obvious to any watcher that FREE GIFT must have been so superior to UP THE PUB whilst working. I'll have a word with Denzil who normally keeps me in the picture but knowing him he's still waiting for the train at Camborne and we know it doesn't stop there!!!!
The second division saw ten go to post with runners from the top pointing stables taking part. I saw Dai Brace hovering around the investment area so I took this as being a good tip. I no sooner placed my little wager when I saw Richard Barber, Sally Alner, Phillip Hobbs and Terry Biddlecombe in the same area so I was not really surprised when after the first false start, (thereby making all runners under orders and no way of taking my money out of Mr Jarman's satchel) my investment carrier from Wales and ridden by Miss Wilson decided he knew his way round this course and took off on his journey -yes! you have probably guessed by now, it was anticlockwise he was travelling and not until he approached the second open ditch did the rider manage to dismount. Now I have to get interested in all the others as best I can with no chance of winning anything! Off they go eventually without my concern and also DART VIEW LASS (Alec Charles Jones) who didn't want to race. I was pleased somewhat as it gave me a chance to see a good piece of riding by Rilly Goschen on the Dufosee trained SPIERS PEACE owned by Mr & Mrs Awdry. This combination won this division by ten lengths from ROSEACRE (P Gundry) with Dom Alers-Hankey on Janet Menzies's KINGS COMMAND back in third.
Two divisions now of Restricted race, eight in division one and seven in division two. The favourite Mr White's MAGNEMITE made a few early mistakes and was pulled up before completing. The best horse of the day came to light in division one. I didn't collect but I will do so the next time I am in the company of this seven year old bay gelding. Mrs Suenson Taylor's KERSTINO TWO ridden on this occasion by Dominic Alers-Hankey and trained by Caroline Keevil was a really special sight. This was jumping fences at its very best. Won by twenty five lengths in a time of six minutes eleven seconds and looked as bright over the finishing line as he did at the starting post. Watch for this one! Nicholas Heath on FRANKLY FEAR came in second and Polly Gundry on Richard Kelvin Hughes LITTLE NATIVE was back in third.
In the final division three horses were plying for favouritism. The Kenney-Herbert's faithful grey CHOC (Ed Kenney-Herbert), Mr Salter's GAMI (Rilly Goschen) and Alex Puddy's NOT YET DECENT. The latter eventually went off clear favourite. Rilly was a little spoilt in her last race as the ride she got from GAMI was not a bit like KERSTINO TWO. GAMI attempted to pull her arms out at some time and then jumped very poorly throughout until being pulled up at the tenth. CHOC was going well throughout. Approaching four out there were only five left in it and CHOC was leading with NOT YET DECENT in second, LOVE AT DAWN still in contention and CHIEF SUSPECT had a chance. At the final bend a bookie behind me was shouting "I'll give you five to one against CHOC!" very few, including me, failed to take him on -we should have done, as he won by one and half lengths with LOVE AT DAWN in second place and CHIEF SUSPECT ten lengths away in third.
There were a couple of cloud bursts during the afternoon's proceedings but they did not deter and overall it was an excellent days racing. Brilliant organisation as always and the commentator was excellent. The tin and bag are 'steady', this is a new word we will use this year as it sounds better than 'We both lost a little' - but we don't smoke!!
Two horses that came out of that with honours for me were KERSTINO TWO and PREACHER BOY. You saw it here! Next week PPORC at Barbury Castle -BE THERE!
Fred and Ruth