Report from the Royal Artillery Hunt Point to
Point meeting held at Larkhill Racecourse on Saturday 29th January
2005.
One circuit of
this course must be about two and half miles and I really did appreciate this walk,
the countryside and the weather on this Saturday morning and found the course,
jumps in particular, in good condition but the dip at the far end was showing
signs of being once raced and would be cut up a good deal after today's 117
runners race down into it, cornering as they do so and then to climb up to
fence thirteen.
Announcements were
soon being made to inform all that races would be at half hourly intervals as
opposed to 35 minutes as programmed to enable nine races to be completed in
sensible daylight. There will be three
divisions of Open Maiden Races for 5, 6, 7 and 8 years old horses. This will get a few out of the maiden class
early in the season but I thought at eight years of age there might not be much
hope for some of them. There will also
be two divisions of Intermediate Races, a Men's and Ladies Open, a 'Farmers'
race and to start the day, a two and half mile race for The King's Troop Royal
Artillery Club Members Race.
Twelve went to
post in this race and all were from The King's Troop RHA and with names like
HELSTON, CRANTOCK, CHURCHILL and COMET I am sure that any wagering would be
done on sentiment rather than looks and form.
I was informed that the names begin with the letter which the Commanding
Officer's name begins with when the horse joins the troop. Four or five carried 'over weight' but
nevertheless they all looked good in the paddock and ran very well. Last years winner was made favourite at very
short odds (even-money) and ran very well to lead or at least stay in the first
three for most of the race. BRUMMEL,
HOPTON and CRANTOCK also ran well but CLEOPATRA exerted her authority from the
second last fence and went on to win by eight lengths from BRUMMEL and HOPTON
was a couple of lengths back in third.
The next race,
the Hunt Members, Subscribers and
Farmers Race saw only four go to post
with best turned out RHYTHM KING (G Maundrell) going off a very clear
favourite at odds of four to one ON. Polly (Gundry) on FLORA MACDONALD was
second favourite with BENSON (N Child) and CARRINGTON HOUSE (J O'Rouke) the
outsiders of the field. A very steady pace was set and RHYTHM KING was running
well within himself and coming out of the dip he was leading the field by some
dozen or more lengths. Without being
really pushed the favourite came home to win by four lengths from Polly on
FLORA MACDONALD who got the better of CARRINGTON HOUSE over the last who was
two lengths back in third. As yet
nothing much has left the tin or bag and unfortunately nothing much has been
put in either.
The first division
of Open maiden races followed with thirteen going to post. The clear favourite is established in Peter
Bonner's five year old FIGHTING CHANCE with Daryl Jacob up from Sally Alner's
stable. My interest is one I said to
keep an eye on from the Wheddon Cross area and I saw one of the supporters with
considerable investment material in a tightly clenched fist. I invested accordingly on Mr G Edwards's
ACKHURST (D Edwards) but prudently chose to do it 'each way' as FIGHTING CHANCE
certainly looked the part. They travelled at quite a good clip and CLASSI
MAUREEN (J Diment) took them along and it was not until the second open ditch
that the favourite was seen to become prominent and my concern was also making
a move up the field. At fence thirteen
it was still CLASSI MAUREEN who maintained the lead from LOST IN THE SNOW,
FIGHTING CHANCE and FORCE TWELVE (N Wilmington) with ACKHURST also travelling
well. The first of these to fade was
CLASSI MAUREEN who dropped off the pace very quickly and it was then that
ACKHURST took up the challenge to FIGHTING CHANCE. Three from home FIGHTING CHANCE had a small lead from ACKHURST.
Two from home ACKHURST hit it rather hard but maintained his running and went
on to give his best but FIGHTING CHANCE was too good and is too good and is no
doubt heading for better things. He won
by ten lengths from ACKHURST with FORCE TWELVE another twelve lengths back in
third place. A good course for ACKHURST
will be Buckfastleigh - keep your eyes peeled - I can see him now racing along
the bottom straight, taking the lead and up the hill and onto the line - he
will win!
The second
division saw fifteen go to post and young Jacob was up on the favourite again
in this one - TRADE OFF from Sally Alner's yard was soon on the boards as the
odds on one to win this division.
SAFFRON HILL (F Hutsby) and RISING ACCOUNT (N Williams) drew some
attention but TRADE OFF was going to be the one to beat. I am taking a little each way interest in
Helen Stoneman's LADY WURZEL with Polly (Gundry) up. Not a lot of form behind this one but Ollie Bush knows how to get
them fit and the mares dam knew how to win so its worth a small gamble I
think. Off they went at a reasonable
pace with different runners initially having a go at leading but on coming to
the rising ground approaching fence thirteen it was SAFFRON HILL who led the field by about three lengths
followed by RISING ACCOUNT with TRADE
OFF making up ground. Over the final
ditch and MY LITTLE LADY (A Bush) began to close up on the leaders as
well. The leading trio were beginning
to get away from the remaining few and it was then that RISING ACCOUNT took a
crashing fall. ( Nick Williams was on the deck for some time before being
carried off by ambulance but I hear from the stables that he is back home now
having eaten up well this morning (Sunday) but will be out for a couple of
weeks.) TRADE OFF got well away from
SAFFRON HILL and crossed the line twelve lengths to the good with MY LITTLE
LADY one and half lengths away in third.
Not very far away in fourth was LADY WURZEL, so I didn't collect but
very nearly. At the moment the tin is
suffering with too many 'very nearlys' and is looking in a poor state. Must do
better. The bag is holding on, but only
just.
The third and final
division of open maidens saw another fifteen go to post and again the favourite
obliged but this time it was not one from Sally Alner's yard but one that had
travelled down from the North from the stable of Fred Hutsby - LORD TRIX. Big prices were available about all the
others but it did seem that the Sally
Alner/D Jacobs partnership with MISSYL was going to go off carrying some of the
investments but with no form and unraced in points I would not be going to the
tin this time. Off they go! CHEEKY LAD
(J Newbold) and TALLISON (N Wilmington) took the field down into the country
and was shortly to be joined by LORD TRIX.
At the second open ditch it was CHEEKY LAD with a six length lead over
LORD TRIX with WILL SHAKESPEARE (J Barnes) well up too with MISSYL getting a
little closer as well. Climbing out of
the dip and up to fence 13 the order hadn't changed but the lead of CHEEKY LAD
had increased to ten lengths with TALK THE TALK ( A Berry) taking closer order. At the final open ditch it was LORD TRIX who
went on as CHEEKY LAD appeared very tired as did the others except BIG BRENDAN
(D Edwards) who now came to take it up - his challenge did not last too long
and LORD TRIX came again and went on and left the places to be sorted out
amongst tiring horses. BARON STEANE (S
Morris) eventually got up to be second
followed by TOM CASS (P York) who came from the rear.
The winner of the
Ladies Open Race would be eligible for the £5000 Hunter Chase Final at Hereford
in May so competition would be as keen as ever between the 14 runners who went
to post. I found it very difficult as no doubt many others did, to settle on a
likely winner. Ruth chose well, I
didn't choose at all but I did invest on behalf of a friend of mine and shouted
his choice home, but not quite in the right place. It was a very good race with good pointers on show. PURE FUN (J Houldey) was the first to get
rid of his pilot quickly followed by WAHIBA SANDS (L Bridges) doing similar at
fence five. I expect Miss Bridges will
think about giving her gift back to Mr Johnson if he doesn't buck up soon! A good gallop was being set with WILD KNIGHT
(T Cave), FAIR WIND (Rilly Goschen) and LITTLE BROWN BEAR (J Williams) up in
the van. All over the second open ditch - LITTLE BROWN BEAR making it from WILD
KNIGHT. SIR NORMAN (A Moller) made a
move and joined the leaders. Passing
the start position for the final time, RED BROOK LAD decided to make a forward
move and took a clear third position.
Over the final open ditch it was WILD KNIGHT from LITTLE BROWN BEAR with
RED BROOK LAD closing ominous. To the final fence WHAT A MOVER (P Gundry)
joined the leaders, now LITTLE BROWN BEAR and RED BROOK LAD and there was a
good race on to the line. RED BROOK LAD
held on by one and half lengths with LITTLE BROWN BEAR second just one length
ahead of WHAT A MOVER. A very good race indeed. Ruth chose very very sensibly and I lost nothing but my friend
who wanted WHAT A MOVER to win did lose out.
Sixteen will
contest the Men's Open race and again there is a two to one on favourite from
Sally Alner's yard to be ridden by one - Daryl Jacobs. This half brother to Swincombe has yet to
finish in any other position than first. Seven wins to his name and only a
seven year old. His opposition here
will be the one I have chosen to win, SPRINGFORD, with Dominic Alers-Hankey
onboard. The best price I could get was only two to one so a little investment
will suffice. Mrs Judy Wilson's
COOLEFIND (S Morris) was also taking some of the punters attention as he did
well last season but the remainder were not fancied very much at all. The race was well and truly conducted from
the front with COOLEFIND making most of the running with FREE GIFT keeping him
in his sights and AGUA ARDENT (R Cope) from Caroline Bailey's stable also running
well and SPRINGFORD waiting back in the field a little. FREE GIFT went ahead of COOLEFIND coming
towards the home turn and towards the last but COOLEFIND made a last ditch
effort to get back at him but just could not reel in this favourite who went on
to win yet another one for the Alner/Jacob partnership by four lengths with my
choice, SPRINGFORD twelve lengths back in third place. A good time of six
minutes one second was recorded and this will surely mean that FREE GIFT will
be quite a good one to following in hunter chases this season. Probably Wincanton 10th February
- you saw it here first!!
There were two
divisions of the Intermediate with 15 runners in division one and 13 runners in
division two. A clear favourite again
in division one in another one from Caroline Bailey's yard - KILLARD POINT (R
Cope). This promising pointer has won already this season and that was on a
demanding course at Tweseldown, so is being highly respected in the investing
arena. It was difficult to pick an each
way wager out of the remainder so I refrained this time. From the off, MINAT BOY (G Barfoot Saunt), PREACHER BOY (T Cave) GOLDEN RIVET
(M Miller) and KILLARD POINT took the field around to the half way point, down
into the dip and up the rising ground to fence 13. KILLARD POINT began to get the better of the leading bunch until
the final open ditch when he took a crashing fall leaving PREACHER BOY in
front. Tabitha kept up the pace and
GOLDEN RIVET (second) could no way reel her in and she went on to win by
fifteen lengths with MAYBE A DOUBLE getting up to beat MINAT BOY and to come in
twenty lengths back in third.
The division two
of the Intermediate saw an excellent finish between two good lady jockeys in
Rilly Goschen on the Dixon's WEST PACES and Rachel Green on the jointly owned
CLASSIFY. This would have been a spare
ride for Rachel as Nick Williams was down to ride but is off after his earlier
fall. On more than one occasion Rachel
had to use all her professionalism as CLASSIFY did not appear to be giving her
his full attention but nevertheless it was a good race to the line for these
two in a time faster than the ladies open race and the result went to Rilly on
WEST PACES by a neck with CLASSIFY in second and COURT ADJOURN eight lengths
back in third.
It was quite dim
when racing finished so we would stay locally for another night then drive home
comfortably tomorrow Sunday. Very good
racing, good weather and as always a well organised day provided by the Army.
Next week we are
at home at Wadebridge for the North Cornwall meeting and then onto Chipley Park
for the Tiverton meeting. The course at
The Royal Cornwall Showground is in excellent condition with a good covering of
grass as it has not been grazed this year and will provide good racing which
will come from its 120 entries. Ruth and I intend to fill both the tin and the
bag but then we always do intend to do such but have yet to achieve it. We will! BE THERE!!
Fred and Ruth