Report from the Western Hunt meeting held at Royal
Cornwall Showground at Wadebridge on Saturday 13th March 2004.
The recent heavy
rain in this area turned the showground course into 'good with soft patches'
and also stopped falling for the duration of the racing afternoon. Forty nine were declared and went to post in
seven races. As always we hope to win a
little and as this is one of our local courses we should do well here. The bag is more empty than the tin but I
picked up a little and replenished during the week on some hunter chases, so
things are not looking too bad at present.
I also saved a bit by doing a deal with my gas supplier and I now have
ten little canisters ready for the Primus stove at a very good price. Might last me for the rest of the season but
if the nerves get jangly and more coffee is needed then more may have to be
purchased. The 'sliding down the hill'
episode at Black Forest Lodge cost me a lot in gas canisters as many cups were
needed to calm the tender nerves of the both of us.
Three for the
confined and off they go! No bet on
this one as Ken and John Heard's best turned out BILL ME UP (C Heard) is the favourite and
his opposition is not quite up to his class.
Ben Trickey will ride Sally Messer-Bennetts's IT'SNOTSIMPLE and Mandy Hand will be out on her
KARADIN. On the second circuit
IT'SNOTSIMPLE did give BILL ME UP a challenge for a while but the favourite
showed his supremacy and gradually pulled away and went on to win by an easy ten
lengths. What a lovely pointer this is! Mandy kept KARADIN going and took over the
second position and came home by eleven lengths from IT'SNOTSIMPLE.
After ticking off
the runners in the next race, the Ladies open race, I made my way immediately
to the investing arena and grabbed the first price I could and wagered on Lucy
Gardner bringing home Paul Tylor's GURU RINPOCHE for me. The generous odds of four to one were
willingly accepted and then I stood back and watched the others being punted
on. The Newman's BRETECHE (Tania
Newman) was made favourite and although he likes this course I stuck to my
guns. My choice was eventually backed
down to five to two and made second favourite.
I was confident that I had made the right choice. Seven went to post and it was good to see
young Alice Mills the daughter of Janine (and Robin!) out on her
DEFENDTHEREALM. Sue Young will be
challenging on the family's LIRSLEFTOVER and David Pipe's TIGER TALK (O
Jackson) is taking some money. I never
had the slightest worry for the entire race.
Out on the first circuit passing the judge in first place. Jumping like a stag! BRETECHE tried, best turned out VIRTUOSO (S Corcoran) tried but on passing
the judge for the second time it was still Lucy and when she asked for more she
got it and went on to win well by eight lengths with BRETECHE in second and
DEFENDTHEREALM winning the fight with LIRSLEFTOVER for third place. Now the
tin is looking very good and would you believe it - the bag has won as
well!
Eleven to run in
the first division of the Open Maiden race and a few to mention here. One or two runners could have gone to
Cothelstone as that course is nearer to their stables but they have travelled
obviously for preference. In the eleven
who will go to post is Polly Gundry on the jointly owned FLASH POINT with no recent form except it's
trained by Grant Cann/O Bush and that can be enough to warrant attention.
Another with no recent form is P Finn's PRIORITISATION with Ashley Farrant up
and then the consistant Rachel Welch's GUNNER'S MISTAKE with Colin Heard
up. The remainder were quite big prices
except that Hugh Thomas's ABU DANCER with Liam Heard up is taking some late
money, but the favourite at the off is my choice and that is GUNNER'S MISTAKE
who stayed on well in his last race. It
was CORNISH HOPE (A Glassonbury) who led the field over the open ditch for the
first time followed by ABU DANCER and Derek McKenna on the Frost's ALLIED
IMPERIAL quickly followed by a group with FLASH POINT bringing up the
rear. PRIORITISATION made slow progress
through the field and took up the lead for the final circuit with FLASH POINT
taking closer order. CORNISH HOPE and
PORT VALENSKA had pulled up but on
rounding the top it was PRIORITISATION, FLASH POINT, WHATS UP MAID and GUNNER'S
MISTAKE leading the field. Passing me
going down the other side I was still in with a chance with my choice but
Ashley Farrant and Polly Gundry were alongside. With three from home it was Ashley Farrant who set sail and
gained a five lengths advantage over my choice but Polly, as ever, had not
given up and was closing on FLASH POINT.
Although GUNNER'S MISTAKE was not involved there was a super finish with
two top jockeys fighting it out and the spoils eventually going to Polly after
a brilliant ride, by one length on FLASH POINT. GUNNER'S MISTAKE was a ten length third. Only three finished. We both lost on that one!
In division two I
found it very difficult to choose between the punting fraternities two
favourites. Thirteen will go to post
and Polly this time will be on another from the Grant Cann / Ollie Bush stables
and ride Pam Pengelly's birthday present - THAT'S MY BOY who I remember running
a good race at Mounsey last season and was only just second. David Pipe has another one here for P Finn -
AUNTIE KATHLEEN who Ashley will ride, and has no recent form. Both from very good stallions. I will go for the five year old mare as she
only has to carry 11 stone two pounds where as the lovely looking grey six year
old gelding has to lump around a load of lead as well as Polly to make up 12
stone. The Ansell's OFF THE HOOK (Ian Hambley) is looking very well as is D
Congdon's JAUNTY JANNER (T Dennis).
Ruth did a quick search on the
internet where we keep our family history and I see I once had an aunty called
Kathleen so that's it - my money will
go on AUNTIE KATHLEEN. I didn't get the
four to one that some bragged about but settled for six to four. A slow pace to start with and P Moorhouse's
MR RORY led them over the ditch with AUNTIE KATHLEEN a close second, round the top corner, down the hill and over the
next one where it was young Joe Tickle on Chris Dalley's BUCKLEY'S CHANCE who
led the field and took them down the hill with MR RORY and AUNTIE KATHLEEN
disputing second. OFF THE HOOK was
there as was JAUNTY JANNER. At this
time THAT'S MY BOY was about midfield.
On rounding the top turn it was AUNTIE KATHLEEN who led the field
followed by OFF THE HOOK and THAT'S MY BOY who had moved up into third. Down the hill for the final time and I
suddenly received a short, sharp clout in the knee. It was obvious that my cheering for Ashley was not enjoyed by
Ruth who was attempting to deliver a higher note and get Polly to hear her
above my shouting. I didn't stop
shouting, I just moved away!!! Two
fences remaining and the two main protagonists giving their all. Yes! they jumped the final fence together
and it was great to witness yet once again these two good riders fight out the
finish. I picked up the money as Ashley
held on by half a length to beat Polly into second place with Ian on OFF THE
HOOK two lengths back in third place. A
great finish and the fourth horse home was BUCKLEY'S CHANCE so well done to the
Tickles. A little more for the tin -
sorry Ruth better luck next time!
The Men's Open was
a racing certainty if ever there was one.
B Kilpatrick's COLQUHOUN (A Farrant) ran a good race at the South Pool
meeting and was placed fourth behind very good quality stuff like POLAR FLIGHT,
MONTY'S LASS and RIGHT TO REPLY and I don't think there is that quality here
today. J Berwick's BRUTHUINNE (D
McKenna) is second favourite with C Brake's
best turned out GOTHA (M
Sweetland) and Sally Alford's JUST BERT (W Biddick) the other challengers. From where I was standing this favourite did
not put a foot wrong and Ashley Farrant notched up his second winner of the day
by a distance with GOTHA coming in two lengths to the good of BRUTHUINNE. I didn't fancy the two to one ON price
available as he did have to jump all the fences so I left him out from my
investment portfolio.
I decided on Ed
Retter's BISHOPS BLADE for my next big investment as Sarah (Gaisford) was only
a neck behind Cimmaroon in a time of 6m 19 in a restricted at the East Cornwall
meeting. This time was fastest of the day
then except for open races. I got a
very reasonable price as another of P Finn's horses I AM SAID I was even money
favourite and Ashley was looking to increase his wins to three. The best turned out, the McCarthy's
LINGERING FOG, Charlie Rush's PANTO PIXIE (Tabitha Cave) and The Ansell's MISTER
CONE (Ian Hambley) were also taking a little money but my investment was a
sound one under the circumstances. They
are off! Sarah made the pace a good one
and over the open ditch, round the top and down BISHOP'S BLADE led the way with
I AM SAID I following and LINGERING FOG a close third. Down around the bottom fence the lead
changed as did the name of the horse, it was now I SAID I AM leading but this
was shortly to be changed again to I AM I SAID leading but not to worry because
BISHOPS BLADE was going very well and in touch. Five lengths back was LINGERING
FOG and then a considerable distance away were the remaining runners. At the final open ditch it was my concern
leading and I SAID I AM (again!) in close second. MISTER CONE was pulled
up! With three quarters of a circuit
left the two main protagonists were stride for stride. Locked in combat! Second last they were locked together! Final fence they were still together and now the race for
home. It was a good one and after all
that - they dead heated. Well this is
where it pays off - I collect money but odds on backers lose! Good old tin!
The last race saw
three go to post and only two finished in this Intermediate and finish well the
winner did. It was G Robarts's JUST
SALLY ridden by none other than - you guessed it - Ashley Farrant who came home
a distance to the good of best turned out TOUCHING DOWN (W Biddick). The
odds on Ashley winning it were prohibitive so I ventured to do the forecast -
first and second in the correct order and I chose numbers 4 and 7 and that was
exactly how it finished so there was a little more for the tin. What a super day!
Tomorrow we are
off to Buckfastleigh where I hear there are a lot of entries and here's hoping
the rain stays away and we will have a good days racing. BE THERE!
Fred & Ruth