Report from Dulverton West Point to Point meeting
held at Bratton Down on Saturday 21st May
Bratton Down
weather arrived just after I completed walking the course which I found in very
good condition and the use of the aggravator here had down a good job and the
course would race as 'good' maybe some firm patches but within the next hour
those conditions could be altered somewhat.
First it rained, then it rained some more, then came the thunder and
lightning, then came some hails, then some more rain and to top it all there
was some low lying cloud hanging around and would no doubt drop in on us for
good measure.
There was only two
cars in the car park for spectators when we arrived and we were astounded once
again to see that we were going to be parked alongside the course and not be
allowed to face it. So although the
third person to arrive we were parked so that it was impossible to see any of
the race from our vehicle. This is just
SO ridiculous. The Hunt members face the course. The P to P committee face the course. The
horse boxes face the course. The
'bookies' face the course. The invalid
car pass holders face the course. Sponsors face the course. Even the box selling
race cards faces the course. Why oh!
why do the general public have to face away from it and not be allowed to view
the racing from their vehicles. This
parking method achieves nothing whatsoever other than to cause aggravation to
paying customers. I questioned the
unfortunate car park attendant (a volunteer!) who could give us no possible
reason other than that was the way he was told to park us. This gentleman was now getting a real ear
wigging from other spectators as they arrived and found out, although they came
early to get a good parking place, they would be parked any number of cars away
from the course and at right angles to it.
Some ignored the yellow jacketed man and parked on the ropes but even
they were still viewing at right angles to the race track. The excuse that it was for getting out in a real emergency - the
dropping of a rope and a dash to the exit could be executed along the side of
the track is the emergency route - as has been necessary in the past. On completion of racing we left the field in
exactly the same way as if we had parked facing the action we had paid our
money to come and see. The weather
necessitated some time under cover in our vehicle but, although racing
continued, we could not see it due to the way we were parked. It is rumoured that a friend of the P to P
committee is a chiropractor and that business was low at the moment; well on
Monday morning she will surely be very busy as there will be many neck muscles
torn and possibly misplaced due to attempts to position one's head at 90
degrees to the body for long periods and to standing on the rear of pickups
with ones body at a stupid angle attempting to get just an ordinary view of the
track. Will someone please tell me why
this is done? I have enquired from
several helpers on the track but no one has yet come up with an answer other than
the one to encourage business for the chiropractor. I also drew upon the professionalism of the Assistant Secretary
from another Point to Point committee who was in the second car to arrive and
asked her view but like me, she could find no sensible reason.
The parade of
hounds before the first race was a welcome sight and their gallop down the
course was applauded and many a loud holloa was heard and here's hoping it will
not be long before we will be hearing this sound and plenty of music again. Good luck to Lucy Barlow who I believe is
joining the Dulverton West as Joint Master next season. May she have many happy hunting hours.
We kicked off with
a four runner farmers race in pouring rain and threatening fog. The best turned out HAPPY TEAM (O Jackson) took the field along
at a very steady pace from the odds on favourite blinkered BESSIE BUNTER (R
Bliss) followed by CALLITWATULIKE (W White) and finally MASTER KEVIN (H
Thomas). On entering the home straight
for the second time MASTER KEVIN dislodged his jockey on the flat and this left
just the three to continue. The order
didn't change until going downhill for the final time and to fence fourteen
when all three were in the air together.
The sort out on landing left BESSIE BUNTER with a narrow lead going
towards the final open ditch. The
blinkered mare got away from it best and lead for a while but CALLITWATULIKE
soon got upsides and these two raced together for a while but eventually BESSIE
BUNTER got her way and came up the long run-in in the lead and crossed the line
five lengths to the good of CALLITWATULIKE with HAPPY TEAM some fifteen lengths
back in third place. It was announced
after the weigh in that HAPPY TEAM had completed her last race and was now to
be retired after no doubt giving her owners The Happy Team Partnership of
Exmoor some years of P to P'ing fun.
The mixed open
race was to follow with nine good quality runners. CASPERS CASE (N Williams) went off favourite but only just from
Roma Cook's HASTEN BAK (L Gardner) with
BALLYSICYOS also being fancied by quite a few.
You don't see JABIRU (D Edwards) available at seven to one very often
but that was the case here. Off they go
or do they. The threatening fog has
come in and we not only have to hold our heads at a 90 degree angle to the
track but our eyes have to be out like
organ stops in an endeavour to witness anything at all. The commentator's guesswork was the best we
had for quite some time but when they did come into view it was CASPERS CASE
leading from ANOTHER COPPER (A Glassonbury) followed by SPORTING CHANCE (M
Munrowd), JABIRU and HASTEN BAK.
CASPERS CASE continued to lead to the first open ditch still followed by
ANOTHER COPPER and then a whole bunch of runners which I found difficult to
sort out due to the mist. My interest
was an investment I made on MISTER CLUB ROYAL (R Woollacott) at a very good
price each way but at the moment I cannot make out where he is. Towards the plain fence at the end of the
home straight there was very little change in the leading five horses and I
could see my concern travelling well in about sixth position. Down the hill and out into the country (and
the mist!) CASPERS CASE kept up the
pace and remained in the lead followed now by JABIRU in second and then MISTER
CLUB ROYAL, HASTEN BAK and ANOTHER COPPER.
SEA SNIPE (S Gaisford) was now making some progress from the rear but
the field was beginning to string out on their way to the final open
ditch. HASTEN BAK kept challenging
CASPERS CASE up the far side but couldn't match the pace of the leader for
long. Third place was being argued
between my concern, MISTER CLUB ROYAL and JABIRU and I liked what I saw about
my horse. Over the final plain fence and
to face the long uphill run-in it was still CASPERS CASE followed by HASTEN BAK
and then JABIRU. SEA SNIPE had been
making good progress throughout the journey up the far straight and was now in
a threatening position as was MISTER CLUB ROYAL. CASPERS CASE maintained his advantage and crossed the line six
lengths to the good of the very fast finishing SEA SNIPE with my concern,
MISTER CLUB ROYAL six lengths back in third. HASTEN BAK was in fourth
position. The time of six minutes
seventeen seconds was by far the fastest of the day and if there is time left
in the season, surely SEA SNIPE and MISTER CLUB ROYAL will win a race.
I am now beginning
to suffer a little with a race card soaking wet, a pencil and a biro that
refuses to write on wet papier mache and a waterproof hat that keeps my head
dry but continues to let water run down my neck and an umbrella that decides of
it own account to reverse its opening shape so that it catches water rather
than keep it off me and then without due warning, reverses its shape and
cascades gallons of the precipitation
all over me. It is also cold and
my gloves are wet through but apart from the fact my neck has now set at a 90
degree angle to the remainder of my body - all is well! I am finding it difficult to open the tin so
not many investments are taking part at the moment.
Three divisions of
maiden races were to follow. In the
first there were eleven runners and there was a refusal and a faller very
quickly after the start and the remainder were soon stretched out apart from
ARCTIC SHOT (M Miller), ARDROE HILL (D Alers-Hankey) and CHARLIEBOB (R Hawker)
who passed the judge with a circuit to go grouped together and leading the
field. The favourite HEATHFIELD FLYER
(L Jefford) was travelling well in fourth place. At the final open ditch it was CHARLIEBOB followed by HEATHFIELD
FLYER who had drawn four lengths clear of CATTLE CLASS (P Mason) and the result
was surely going to concern these three.
Up the run in the battle was maintained between these three with A ROMP
TOO FAR (W Biddick) running on in fourth place. CHARLIE BOB kept up the good work and crossed the line three
lengths to the good of the favourite HEATHFIELD FLYER with CATTLE CLASS four
lengths back in third.
Division two saw
nine runners go to post with a clear favourite established in NATIONAL DEBT (R
Woollacott) but unfortunately this one unseated at fence five and left the
second favourite GRANDE BRETAGNE (C Prouse) to lead the field for a while until
it was taken up by a big priced outsider PIPERSLAND (L Jefford) and this one came home to win by ten lengths
from a spirited run by CASTLE CAZZA (P Gundry) who held off GRANDE BRETAGNE by
three quarters of a length. These were the only three finishers. A loose horse was a nuisance throughout this
race and unfortunately didn't do any of the leading horses any favours.
The third division
again saw nine runners go to post and the more alert followers of this type of
racing soon noticed that M Trickey had a runner in this one with Dom
Alers-Hankey up and with NRF (No recent form!). They would also have noticed that the Chairman of this hunt's P
to P committee is one M Trickey and who better to have a winner here! Well some got hold of this (not me!) and the
twenty to one obtained by a few on M Trickey's ELEGANT ESKIMO did not last long but still went off at a
decent price, about seven to one. The
favourite was GENERAL SHORT (R Woollacott) closely followed in the betting by
MOLLYCARRS VISION (P Gundry) and ELSHAN (J Snowden). MOLLYCARRS VISION and ELEGANT ESKIMO brought the field into the
home straight for the first time at a steady pace but meeting fence three
FANETTA (W White) fell and was out of it.
Out into the country they go with ELEGANT ESKIMO back in line after
running rather wide with MOLLYCARRS VISION
with ELSHAN (J Snowden) in third and disputing fourth are BLUEBELL HILL
(T Dennis) and GENERAL SHORT. All over
the open ditch. Round the turn and up
the back straight and little change in the order. Fence eleven is dolled off due to FANETTA having to be carried
away. The home straight and then down
the hill for the final time it was still Dominic and Polly fighting this one
out ahead of Jamie on ELSHAN with BLUEBELL HILL on his inside going sweetly for
Tim Dennis. Those four are really quite
close together with GENERAL SHORT following in fifth. Over the final open ditch - going well! ELEGANT ESKIMO was now going the better and it was GENERAL SHORT
who took closer order and closed up into second. Around the dolled off fence and into the long home straight it
was ELEGANT ESKIMO but making good strides now after a patient ride by Tim
Dennis, was BLUEBELL HILL chasing this leader but was unable to get to her and
the Chairman's bay mare came home an eight length winner with BLUEBELL HILL in
second place some twelve lengths to the good of GENERAL SHORT who was followed
by the long time leader MOLLYCARSS VISION and SULAWACEE (J Barnes).
Will Richard
Barber's best turned out EL
NOMBRE (N Williams) get the better of Sally Alner's BILTON'S NAP (D Jacobs);
that appears to be the question that needs answering according to the boards in
the investment arena. Twelve will run
in the intermediate race but for a while the choice of favourite flip flopped
between the two main protagonist, eventually BILTON'S NAP went off favourite
closely followed by EL NOMBRE with the remainder available at much bigger
prices. MARQUIS MAX (A Oliver) set the
pace and it was a good one from the off with RYDERS HILL (V Shaw) close in
second place then came CAREFREE LOVE (S Gaisford) and ONMYWAYHOME (L Gardner) and the remainder in a group with HANNAH BAY
(A Mills) the back marker. Down the
hill and towards the open ditch and the lead hasn't changed much except perhaps
that BURLEY DON CARLOS (D Alers-Hankey) has closed up to joint third place. I had an each way investment in this race on
the Fred Hutsby trained WONDERING STAR (R Sealey) and I was pleased to see him
travelling well and getting up nearer the leaders. Up the home straight and getting set to go out into the country
on their final lap it was BURLEY DON CARLOS now taking over the pace followed
by SOOTSIR (R Hawker). The early leader
MARQUIS MAX nearly unseated at fence 12 and was pulled up very soon
afterwards. Nothing looked amiss as he
walked back but obviously his jockey thought differently. The leading group of five cleared the downhill
fences and made their way to the final open ditch led by BILTON'S NAP who had
travelled rapidly to the fore and soon led by four or five lengths followed by
EL NOMBRE in second and RYDERS HILL still running well in third. Over the ditch, round the bend and up the
back straight. Still BILTON'S NAP with
BURLEY DON CARLOS now up in second place, EL NOMBRE in third. Over the last the positions did not change
and to the line after the long run up saw BILTON'S NAP get away from the
remainder and come home twenty five lengths to the good of BURLEY DON CARLOS
who just managed to hold on by three quarters of a length from EL NOMBRE who in
turn just held off a very good run from RYDERS HILL. I had nothing to collect, the tin is suffering but the bag,
despite the weather, is holding its own!
Nine to post for
the novice's race and again SAINT ROMBLE (K Hobbs) is popular in the arena with
best turned out MYSTIC WARRIOR
(I Channin) challenging for favouritism. GLADTOKNOWYOU (D Maxwell) is also well
fancied by some. These three horses
have been consistant this season and will ensure a good race. Off they go after an initial false start led
by Vanessa Shaw on TENINAROW from CHISM (W King), STARPATH (G Tumelty) and
GLADTOKNOWYOU; LIFE ESTATES brings up the rear. IMPREVU (C Heywood) unfortunately unseated at the first and was
out of it. At the second plain fence it
was LIFE ESTATES that had travelled from worst to first and took the field
along. Along the home straight taking
the three fences and round the turn to go out in the country it was TENINAROW
by a whisper from LIFE ESTATES followed by SAINT ROMBLE and STARPATH. All over fence 15, all over the ditch with
LIFE ESTATES still having the call from TENINAROW and SAINT ROMBLE. Before reaching the home straight ALLER MOOR
(S Berry) unseated and was out of it.
Out into the country on the final lap the field was led by STARPATH and
SAINT ROMBLE with TENINAROW close up in third.
Meeting the rising ground and running on to the final ditch there was
nothing in it between STARPATH, SAINT ROMBLE and MYSTIC WARRIOR followed by
TENINAROW. MYSTIC WARRIOR began to
increase the pressure and led into the home straight from SAINT ROMBLE and
STARPATH. The long run to the line was
made even more demanding as the attention of a loose horse provided some
concern but it was MYSTIC WARRIOR who went over first by five lengths from
SAINT ROMBLE with STARPATH some twelve lengths back in third place and the long
time leader, TENINAROW was fourth. This
was a good race by these novices and bodes well for the future. It didn't do the tin any good and the rain
has got in as well, what more evidence do I need to keep the lid on!! But still the bag improves!
Only five for the
confined hunts' race and the best turned out STEPASIDEBOY (G Weatherley)
went off as favourite closely followed by Mrs Prouse's SHOBROOKE MILL ridden by
Caroline. SIMBER HILL (K Hobbs) soon
pulled his way to the front after the off
and took the field along for some time but SHOBROOKE MILL was almost
upsides and these two soon had a clear lead from the remainder. STEPASIDE BOY, CHAPNERS CROSS (J Congdon)
and DEROSA (W White) followed in that order.
Over the ditch as two distinct groups.
By fence eleven Caroline had her horse in the lead from Katy with the other
groups slowly getting closer. Fence 13
and the field has joined up now and but is still led by SHOBROOKE MILL followed
now by STEPASIDEBOY and CHAPNERS CROSS.
SHOBROOKE MILL continued to lead as the field began to get strung out
and Caroline went over the line five lengths to the good of STEPASIDEBOY with
DEROSA getting up to third, six lengths
back. Apart from the open race, this
was the fastest time of the day and a well deserved win for the Prouses. Ruth is still smiling.
Finally came the
restricted race and I have drained the tin of water and thought the best way to
get rid of the soggy paper is to plonk it all on a winner in this last
event. Well nearly all of it! There are thirteen runners so it is not
going to be easy! Whilst the favourite
FREEDOM BAY (E Tory) has form and O'ECH (D Alers-Hankey) has been knocking on
the door and ANNIE DIPPER (G Tumelty) won her maiden well at Cotley I am using
Guy Weatherley on GETOUTWHENYOUCAN to replenish the tin with dry (or wet!)
paper. It turned out to be a brilliant
choice and didn't I chose well! The visored CATNAP ( M Miller) led the field
for a considerable time but along the home straight for the second time it was
my choice that took it up along with ANNIE DIPPER and these two took the field
out into the country on the final lap of the day. I never had another doubt about my choice (fib!) but viewers
standing near me might have a different opinion. Up the back straight it was all FREEDOM BAY and GETOUTWHENYOUCAN
with ANNIE DIPPER back in third and not making any impression on these
two. At the penultimate it was still my
choice but FREEDOM BAY put in a good jump and got within a length. Around the final bend and a good race up the
finishing straight saw my selection with a little vocal support cross the line
just a length and a quarter ahead of FREEDOM BAY who was fifteen lengths ahead of O'ECH in third and ANNIE DIPPER
in fourth. I do not mind standing in
the rain - TO COLLECT!
Nine races in
sometimes appalling viewing conditions but it is the first bad weather we have
had to endure this season so that is not too bad. I mentioned to one of the fence stewards that it will be
necessary for some serious treading in before the next meeting but his reply must
be a joke - quote Its ok, we'll just get a five furrow plough and the job
will be done in no time unquote - On this course they will move out to new
ground off the bends, possibly move out
the fences and it will be just great for the next meeting on the fourth of June
when the Exmoor Foxhounds will entertain us!
BE THERE!
I will post a copy
of this to their Secretary ( and to Tivvy Staghounds!) in the hope they allow us to park FACING the
entertainment and not at right angles to it!
Fred and Ruth