Report from Devon and Somerset Staghounds Point to
Point meeting held at Holnicote on Saturday 7th May 2005.
The valley in which this meeting is held looked superb and although a little keen the weather was lovely. I walked the course and anticipated the complaints that were sure to follow from others. Not a lot had been done since the previous meeting and this course was in a rough state and the going would be firm. There was some rain last night but not enough to alter this ground and I am afraid some horses might not be getting out of their boxes as it will be too firm for them but after all it is May month and silage is being cut and there will be a few who will revel on it (certainly not IN it!)
Two pony races started the day off and the
youngsters really enjoyed themselves.
Emma Reason came flying home on her MAGIC SPOT to win the younger group
race and Pippa Wonnacott did the same on her WOLFRAN to take the honours in the
older group. The ponies were really
well turned out and thanks must go out to all who supported this addition to
the meeting. It is really worth while
and appreciated. One Mum had brought
her son down to ride his pony all the way from Stow in the Wold but didn't mind
doing so because he had done all the work to prepare for the BIG event.
On to race one for The Staghunters' Cup. Seven go to post with a clear favourite
established in SIR WILLIAM (R Woollacott) with FRIAR WADDON (M Miller) second favourite and the others
much better prices but probably less value as they have less chance of
winning. I fancied SIR WILLIAM and
opened up the tin for a little investment.
A good pace was set by KHAYAL (R Green) and HAPPY TEAM (O Jackson) with
FRIAR WADDON in third but not a lot in it as they go out into the country for
the final circuit. HAPPY TEAM was the
first to weaken a little with CANADA (R Ross) best turned out POLKA (D Edwards) and FRIAR WADDON
maintaining the pace but any of six from the seven that started could win this
one. TARTAR ROSE (C Stucley) was the
odd one out. SIR WILLIAM joined KHAYAL
to lead this field but still the others were in with a chance. FRIAR WADDON
took it up at the end of the back straight with SIR WILLIAM in pursuit followed
by KHAYAL and POLKA. Up to the final
open ditch. Stretching the field out
now as FRIAR WADDON increased the pace but at the penultimate he came to grief
leaving SIR WILLIAM and POLKA to fight it out to the line with CANADA not out
of it. The three of them raced over the
last with POLKA holding a slight lead which he managed to maintain to the line
and finished a length to the good of SIR WILLIAM and a further length back was
CANADA. Nowt for tin or bag but
nevertheless a good race in a good time.
The intermediate sees five race for the Sir Robert
Waley-Cohen KBE Perpetual Challenge Cup.
BARTON SAINT (S West) was made a very clear favourite at a price I could
not afford so there will be no investing in this race, although the handbag
found a competitive price. Second
favourite was WONDERING STAR (R Sealey) who did what second favourites should
do and came home second to BARTON SAINT but the winning distance of twelve
lengths was not quite what was expected.
Third horse home was MRS PEGGOTY (M Sweetland) who was a further fifteen
lengths back. Not a very exciting race
but I don't expect connections of BARTON SAINT thought so as this was the first
win this season for this set up. Well
done!
I am going to invest in best turned out
POLLY COME BACK (R Woollacott) in the maiden race for mares only and managed to
get a decent price before it closed in. This one has not a lot of form, in fact
none at all except she was expected to do well the last time she ran. The E Thompson stables are buzzing at the
moment so I expect, as do many other, a better performance today. Polly Gundry could be a threat on CORALINGA
and STOPONTHEBANDIT (M Miller) is also fancied by a lot as this one has been in
the frame consistently of late, but I am sticking with the other POLLY. The outcome was decided early in the final
circuit as the field was soon stretched out and POLLY COME BACK took them along
at a steady pace but then got away from them all and came home TWENTY lengths
to the good of CORALINGA who was a distance ahead of NORTON ALBERTINA (D
Alers-Hankey). That is very good for
the tin, but not for the handbag, and has made a valuable contribution to what
was not altogether a very healthy situation.
I am again going for an investment that is not in
keeping with the majority of punters and picking the second favourite, PORLOCK
HILL (D Edwards) to win the confined race in which there are only four
runners. The favourite, although not a
very strong one is ASTRONAUT (G Weatherley) who has won an open but I am
sticking with PORLOCK HILL as after form of two seconds and a race that I will
forget, he is now due a win. Off they
go and on settling down it was a good pace that was set; it was my fancy that
led the field past the judge for the first time, the second time and the most
important of all, PORLOCK HILL was still there when it really mattered, just
half a length to the good of ASTRONAUT with KIRISNIPPA (D Luff) ten lengths
back in third place. A well judged run
by Darren Edwards in the fastest time of the day put a little more in the tin
for which I am very thankful
The restricted saw five go to post with the
favourite taking my fancy this time and with Richard Woollacott on a high at
the moment I am sure he will bring home CASTLEHALE to pour a little more into
my tin. A big investment is necessary
this time so there is very little left in the tin as I make my way to the
investment arena. INAGH ROAD (M Miller)
is also taking good money and RIVER DANTE (S Kidson) is fancied by some as is
LOVE FOOL (G Weatherly) but very few fancy the best turned out POWER HIT
(C Higgs) . The field was soon reduced
to three runners with LOVE FOOL taking a heavy fall and was out of it. CASTLEHALE and RIVER DANTE pulled well away
from INAGH ROAD who had led for quite some time and made a race of it to the
line with CASTLEHALE getting the better of things and winning by two lengths
from RIVER DANTE with INAGH ROAD twenty-five lengths further back in
third. This is great; more for the tin
and I believe the bag is doing alright as well.
Now comes the mixed open race with five
runners. The very clear favourite is
ANOTHER COPPER (A Glassonbury) who has got good consistant form this
season. The only other one with form of
some creditability is WAHIBA SANDS (L Bridges) but the number one to denote a
win has avoided this horse like one would do the plague and I see no reason to
think that things will change today. I
will leave my money in the tin whilst this race is on! A decent pace was set and the time equalled
the confined which turned out to be the fastest of the day but then it should
be in an open race. The gap between the first two is noted as eight lengths on
crossing the line but I feel it could have been a lot more and the favourite
ANOTHER COPPER was the winner with WAHIBA SANDS in second and a distance back
in third was GIGI BEACH ( S Reynoldson).
Only two to run in the open maiden race for 5,6,7
and 8 years old division one and this is due to the safety factor being 3 - no
not really that is supposed to be a joke but it was unfortunate that the maiden
was split beforehand. It gave Lucy
Bridges some comfort after getting beat in the mixed open to come home first on
her SAFARI PARADISE albeit the only finisher in a time that is not often seen
in the point to point journals - seven minutes ten seconds. Whew!
To the tin for the last race and being that it is
nicely full I shall invest a little larger amount than normal. It is not easy to choose a winner. Favouritism flip flops between A LOT TO LIKE
(J Snowden), AWARD ME AN OSCAR (D Edwards) and SUP OF TEA (A Glassonbury). Darren Edwards is right on form today so my
money will ride with him. This horse
from Ollie Jackson's stable and owned by David Pipe has pulled up and unseated
twice in three runs this season so it is not a very glowing form account but
because they have persisted - so will I!
Off they go! AWARD ME AN OSCAR
straight into the lead initially but SUP OF TEA and then A LOT TO LIKE and
PAVILLION PRIDE who was following close up.
All safely over the ditch for the first time. Past the judge and then down the back straight and the order has
not changed. Second ditch still AWARD
ME AN OSCAR followed by A SUP OF TEA.
All safely over it. PAVILLION
PRIDE pulled up. Final ditch and AWARD
ME AN OSCAR who has led the field throughout is still there and I am about to
make way in the tin for a real top up!
Two plain fences left as they turn into the home straight! Final fence and the commentator's voice rose
and as I couldn't see from my position I thought the worse but not so - the
commentator was just about to announce that AWARD ME AN OSCAR was just about to
get that done - awarded an Oscar As far
as I was concerned he could willingly have an Oscar or even two. Yippeee!
Congratulations to Darren Edwards who helped me no
end in topping up the tin and also accrued four winners a fete which is not
achieved very often.
That was a very profitable day for me but
unfortunately for some others - not so!
One entrant will not be racing again and several have sore legs which is
a great shame but such is the sport I suppose.
The course is being treated with the vibrator harrow before the next
meeting which should put things to rights as it has done to firm courses in the
past.
Tomorrow we are off to the Axe Vale meeting at
Stafford Cross where I am hoping that my luck will continue and I believe the
bag has come out of this on the good side as well.
Axe Vale - BE THERE!
Fred and Ruth