Report from the North Cornwall Hunt Point to Point
meeting at The Royal Cornwall Showground on Saturday 5th February
2005.
Although there
were heavy showers overnight, the morning met us with a cloudy sky but
otherwise lovely conditions for this meeting. Friends arriving from out of county said they had driven down in
pouring rain but at about Lifton the situation had changed and they were in
lovely weather. It was then pointed out
to them that at about that spot on the main road the sign greeting them on the
left hand side would have proudly announced KERNOW (Cornwall in the native
language!), so that alone was enough to make the weather change for the good.
Seventy five
runners would race around this track today and they would find the going good
with a stiff grass covering so plenty to look forward to.
The first race on
the card was 'the farmers' race and four go to post. The obvious favourite was Charlie Rush's KESTICK (Tabitha Cave)
and would be challenged by Mr Kennon's IT'S NOT SIMPLE, Mrs Hussey's HAYBURN
VAULTS (Joe Tickle) and the meetings Secretary, David Bryant and his Partner
Sarah Townrow,s ROBSON (Will Biddick).
The nice thing about this race is that competition is coming from three
local jockeys and they all want to beat 'visitor' Tabitha on Charlie's
angel! IT'S NOT SIMPLE has carried a
young Tamsin Messer-Bennetts to the winners enclosure on quite a few occasions
and it is now out to see if young Ella Kennon having her first ride can repeat
the story. Off they go and it was IT'S
NOT SIMPLE who took the field along over the first four fences, open ditch
around the top and down the other side of this somewhat tricky course. The pace was a sensible steady one. ROBSON joined Ella as she took the field
through the run through and along down to fence number eight with KESTICK
maintaining third and HAYBURN VAULTS bring up the tail end. By the time they got to fence number eight
ROBSON had taken a lead of about three lengths over ITS NOT SIMPLE followed by
KESTICK with HAYBURN VAULTS being somewhat detached. En route to the final open ditch it was still ROBSON taking the
three contenders along with IT'S NOT SIMPLE four lengths back and KESTICK still
playing a waiting game in third. Around
the top for the final time, down and then up the rising ground to fence 14 it
was again IT'S NOT SIMPLE leading the three and looking good. The young lady was riding this one very
well. ROBSON was not happy back in
second and Will had another go at Ella and with four fences to go they were
upsides one another and it was now that KESTICK started his run and closed the
leaders. ROBSON was unfortunate and
slipped at the fence but Will soon got up and gave chase where as by now
Tabitha had got at KESTICK but the response was not as good as she might have
expected, she joined IT'S NOT SIMPLE and they raced to the line, she came close
but she never got the better of Ella and the cheering, applauding crowd saw
IT'S NOT SIMPLE cross the line half a length to the good of KESTICK with ROBSON
an unfortunate distance away in third.
A good race to start the day but an even better one for the young lady
whose Point to Point career could not have started in a better fashion. Well done Ella Kennon and IT'S NOT SIMPLE
and no doubt Charlie, Tabitha and KESTICK will be back!
The men's open
drew seven runners and at the off it was Mrs Malde's POLAR CHAMP (Guy
Weatherly) who was going to carry my investment as I thought if this front
runner gets away from the others in normal fashion I don't think any of them
will catch him and Ollie has her team in great form. It was unfortunate that the even money favourite, Mr Maltby's
LORD OF THE MIST (H Fry) got left at the start but it made my face light up
just a little. Now to sit back and
watch the money roll in! That is just
what happened. A good gallop was set
and off went POLAR CHAMP and was soon ahead of the only runner who has been out
this season, FRIAR WADDON (C Heard) followed by GOTHA (M Sweetland) and the
remainder in a group. On went Guy
Weatherly, riding his mount the way that suits him, galloping on, increasing
the lead, jumping well. Richard
Woollacott began to get DALE CREEK going better and FRIAR WADDON was still in
with a chance. The second last - whoops! POLAR CHAMP forgot to jump and went
right through the fence; how he managed to keep going is a wonder but keep
going he did and up the hill and home to a distance win from DALE CREEK who was
three lengths to the good of FRIAR WADDON.
That will be a very nice amount to replenish a sad looking tin and -
guess what! I believe the bag will prosper as well. We are in the money today!
Lets see what we
can do with the ladies open race. Nine will run and I am on the clear favourite
Mary McCarthy's SANDY DUFF. Sandy has
won his last four races and there is no reason at all why this should not be
his fifth one. The nearest fancied
horse is Ross Oliver's LET'S FLY (M Hand) and some money for Polly on BALLY
BLUE who won the Intermediate at Silverton albeit by only half a length from
the good horse TOON SOCIETY. The others
all have form but for me its SANDY DUFF.
Off they go! Lucy Gardner on
GURU RINPOCHE sets the pace and it is a good one and as they pass the crowd for
the first time Lucy cracks on followed by LET'S FLY (M Hand) and out wide TONY'S TIME (C Stucley), then
TRADITIONAL (C Tizzard) and travelling nicely, SANDY DUFF. All over the ditch. Around the top bend and Lucy still leading
by three lengths and over fence seven.
SANDY DUFF now in third position and looking very keen. Around the bottom and up towards the crowd
again it is still GURU RINPOCHE and SANDY DUFF and the remainder keeping much
the same order. With a circuit to go
there is nothing in it between GURU RINPOCHE, SANDY DUFF and TONY'S TIME
followed by TRADITIONAL. Polly has made
good progress with BALLY BLUE now up in fifth position with LET'S FLY dropping
back a little. Over the open ditch and
towards the top of the course and its SANDY DUFF who has taken up the running
from TONY'S TIME. My interest is
travelling well but I fancy he is not paying full attention to Mary as he
covers the rising ground and goes on through the run through to start the
downhill descent. At this point Polly has asked BALLY BLUE for a better effort
and gets it and goes up and closes the two leaders. SANDY DUFF sets the pace but Mary definitely has steering
problems - oh dear! - travelling so well but unfortunately in the wrong
direction. Will the bookie accept my
excuse and refund my money. Steering
wheel jammed Sir! SANDY DUFF has run out.
TONY'S TIME in front, BALLY BLUE being pushed along in second
TRADITIONAL in third followed by GURU RINPOCHE. FATHER MANSFIELD is still there and should be picking off a few
of these as he makes his way up with his generous staying power. LET'S FLY not out of it now either. A good race was on between Polly on BALLY
BLUE and Charlotte Stucley on TONY'S TIME.
No love lost in this battle and they increased their lead to eight
lengths from the remainder. Up the hill
they came and Miss Gundry got a little more out of her charge and crossed the
line amidst many cheering followers just two lengths ahead of Charlotte on
TONY'S TIME. Mandy brought home LET'S
FLY five lengths later in third position.
They got around this course today in six minutes eleven seconds which
was due to the good pace set by GURU RINPOCHE and the unfortunate SANDY DUFF
and the excellent standard of riding by these ladies. Nothing for the tin but I know that investment is only loaned as
'Sandy' will be back to look after me - and Mary!
At Larkhill,
parked next to me was a member of 'The Deep Pockets Syndicate' when their horse
DEEP POCKETS won his maiden at a decent price and by seven lengths which
understandably made him a very happy man after this horse turned in a very poor
2004 season. He is here today to
contest the restricted race which is kindly sponsored by Felicity and Johnny
Hawkey of The Cornish Arms at Pendoggett and I see they have brought young Gemma along to witness the event. The favourite is David Pipe's MOONSHINE
SURPRISE (L Jefford) and with Ollie Jackson's stable in such good form this is
probably a worthy choice. I am just
touching this race with a small investment on BESSIE BUNTER (M Miller) who was
going well at Silverton when falling and I am assuming that the same fate does
not await her this time. Off they
go! Tightly bunched this field of
twelve runners, passing the judge for the first time, over the open ditch and
the field go to the next lead by BEACHTIME (C Tizzard) with DEEP POCKETS close
up as is WINNING LEADER, PANTO PIXIE and BESSIE BUNTER. The lead did not change a lot and they went
down the hill and started the final lap but anyone of them could pick this one
up. BEACHTIME took them to the final
open ditch with an advantage over FRONTENAC (R Greene) and DEEP POCKETS. ERICS WAY (J Barnes) pulled up here! That was not the only thing that happened
here - guess what - BESSIE BUNTER fell!
A very good race was taking place up front, this was between DEEP
POCKETS, FONTENAC and BEACHTIME. DEEP
POCKETS took them down the final hill.
With three fences to go BEACHTIME was relegated to fourth with MOONSHINE
SURPRISE closing and taking up third position. Home they race, DEEP POCKETS,
FRONTENAC and MOONSHINE SURPRISE, two fences to go, they race up over the last,
terrific racing, towards the line, all out all three of them. Over the line with first DEEP POCKETS by
half a length from FRONTENAC who was just half a length to the good of
MOONSHINE SURPRISE. What a great
Restricted Race in a good time of six minutes fifteen seconds and such a close
and well ridden finish. I lost but will
persevere one more time with BESSIE BUNTER and hoping that her form will be
'ff1' in future. The bag profited again and is getting quite full.
The Confined Hunts
Race is sponsored this year by The North Cornwall Hunt Supporters Club. Eight
go to post with the favourite being established as Mrs Prouse's MONTY'S LASS
with Neil Harris onboard with many in close contention for the post of second
favourite. The possible outsider of the
field was BRUTHUINNE (D McKenna) and it was also possible that this ten year
old did not like being referred to as 'one paced'. If he was 'one paced' then the one pace was that much better than
his rivals in this race. Over the first fence the leader was BRUTHUINNE and he
continued to lead until joined by Mrs P and Vanessa Shaw's GUDLAGE who was
giving Vanessa a good ride after being off a course for some time. These two were joined by CANADA (R Ross) who
was on and off the bit a little but up with the pace again now. Up to the final ditch and GUDLAGE jumped it
well in front and carried on to lead
until weakening and giving way to MONTY'S LASS. There on the inside was BRUTHUINNE all the
time keeping on at the pace. Going away
down the hill it was BRUTHUINNE that led from CANADA on his inside and MONTY'S
LASS making headway to join the leaders.
These three went on to make an excellent race of it. MONTY'S LASS was the first to weaken a little
and the other two went on to race it out.
A very exciting finish and it went to BRUTHUINNE by half a length from
CANADA with MONTY'S LASS another half length back in third but finished very
fast. A very commendable fourth went
to GUDLAGE who should come on for that race.
The Exeter Race
Course Championship Intermediate Race was another in which I was going to go to
the tin for as I intended to invest rather heavily on a horse I have always
thought had great potential but has been unfortunate in the past. The favourite at even money was SEA SNIPE (T
Cave) with my choice STONE VALLEY (D
Edwards) coming in as second favourite. Miss Bicknell's URBAN HUNTER (Dom Allers Hankey) who has helped look
after my tin on previous occasions was also taking the fancy of some investors
but 'Peter' was not for me this time. I
took the four to one on offer and sat back (that's a lie!) and let things
happen. ONMYWAYHOME (P Gundry) and
SILVERMAN (M Hand) were having a good tussle up front with URBAN HUNTER in
third but all with a chance. At the final open ditch it was SILVERMAN just from
URBAN HUNTER and ONMYWAYHOME with STONE VALLEY making steady headway. Down the hill they went with Darren getting
STONE VALLEY on the inside and taking up the lead with SEA SNIPE in hot pursuit
and URBAN HUNTER, ONMYWAYHOME and SILVERMAN still with a chance. Rounding the
corner prior to the home straight it was STONE VALLEY with about a length over
SEA SNIPE and these two were going for home followed by URBAN HUNTER and
ONMYWAYHOME. To the line they raced
with STONE VALLEY making it by two lengths from SEA SNIPE and a further length
back to URBAN HUNTER and then
ONMYWAYHOME was in fourth position. A
great race and the tin will REALLY appreciate this little top up. I know the tin is a good reason for me to be
enjoying it but truly this is very good racing.
Three divisions of
open maiden races were now run and all had exciting finishes. The first division part one, again helped
the tin out as I chose Rachel Green to bring home CALINASH for Richard Barber
and she fairly sluiced up the home straight after a lovely race around this
course to win by six lengths from JEMANNETTE (M Dennis) and COUNTRYSIDE COUNTS
(L Gardner) was just a length back in third.
Trainer Ian Hambly watched CALINASH win with surprise as he had no luck
with this horse last year and he went
to his present owner through the sales and it was also a surprise to see
Richard Barber run an eleven year old in a maiden. I then locked the tin as I trusted my luck no longer but did
enjoy the last two races. NDITLIR (L
Heard) has started the season well and has at last overcome bad luck and won
her maiden but only just, a neck, from JOLI CHRISTMAS with OFF THE HOOK (I
Hambly) five lengths back in third place. It was unfortunate in this race that
the favourite, David Pipe's STUDENT NIGHT (G Weatherly) did the same thing as
at Trebuddanon and ran out at great pace when leading. It must be the Cornish air! Whilst perusing the runners in the final
race I noticed that Neil Harris was down to ride the Scott's SO LONG so I found
my keys to the tin and withdrew a little and grabbed the price of seven to one
for a small each way bet. All thirteen
were in with a chance as they went down the hill for the first time. HARRY THE HORSE took a three lengths
advantage over COME TO THE BAR (T Dennis) who was to fall soon after, followed
by Polly on VICTORY BELL. Lucy Gardner kept the pace up relentlessly and others
were dropping back. They all had to
catch Lucy and the one trying hardest was Neil Harris on SO LONG. Down the hill for the final time Lucy had a fifteen
length advantage over SO LONG and MITCHELL ST EXPRESS (D Allers Hankey). This
was another race which had me shouting as they raced to the finish. HARRY THE HORSE (L Gardner) (what a name!) and SO LONG kept at it right to the line and
Lucy, deservedly, won by half a length from SO LONG with MITCHELL ST EXPRESS
six lengths back in third. I had my
investment reduced a little by coming in second but it was a good race and the
tin benefited a little more. I will
go home via the night bank and get the tin prepared for tomorrow.
That was a good
days racing and if the Tiverton Meeting has good weather tomorrow I am sure
they will equal it BUT never beat it.
See you all at Chipley. BE
THERE.
My mother always said 'You never get rewarded for the things you intended to do'
and to Clarkeee! -
Here is the report Richard, and I hope you enjoy it!
Fred & Ruth