Report from Seavington Point to Point meeting held
on Sunday 24th April 2005 at Little Windsor.
We arrived at
Flete Park yesterday nice and early only to find it had been cancelled due to a
deluge of water from above making the course unraceable. Bruce the Clerk of the Course was busy
packing up his bits and pieces and would then, no doubt, head for the nearest
open golf club, as weather doesn't seem to affect those who choose that 'sport'.
We were too late
to make Woodford for the Berkeley meeting so we would take our time, do a
little antique shopping in Honiton en route, go down to Sidmouth for afternoon tea and then to our bed and
breakfast stop prior to this meeting at Little Windsor.
Our B & B stop
is really well worth a mention as it was super! For this route we would normally stay at Gatcombe Farm but as
they were full up ( very popular because that place was also given five stars
by us!) we were given another telephone number and so booked up at Borcombe
Farm with Mrs Reed, mother of the family down at Gatcombe Farm. Just off the main road down a farm lane and
into our en-suite accommodation. The
wood burner was lit and the cosiness hit you as you opened the door; the setup
was complete. Really en suite with
lovely shower room, a kitchen with full facilities and one BIG room complete with double and single beds, three
piece suite, wardrobe, dressing table AND still room for a quick (or slow!)
waltz in the centre with the video/TV unit providing the music. An excellent night's sleep followed by a
real good breakfast. A real peace and
quietness spot with very friendly people to look after you whether it be for
B&B or a week (or two!) self catering.
We were early at
the meeting but we love the pony racing and the day would start with two races
at one o'clock so it was necessary to be right on time. Six go to post for the younger riders and
the ring is buzzing with excitement as all these jockeys are keen to get
going. Most will be led down to the
start but I must say they all look very smartly turned out with best turned
out prize, donated by Wychanger Barton Saddlery, Burrlescombe, being awarded to ALADDIN (Jack Bailey) who
was led up by Pip. A good appreciation
was shown as these keen participants raced their chargers home and it was Mrs Evans's
grey DESERT ORCHID with Jack up that crossed the line ten lengths clear of Lucy
Taylor on her ASHCOMBE PRINCIPAL BOY with the Rose's USHER in third place with
Jade Rose doing the driving.
Bigger ponies and
riders in Race Two and before the start I had a chance to have a chat with an
excited Stephanie Searle. Stephanie was
having her first ride on her pony which is jointly owned with her Grandma. The
unusual situation here is that her pony is a little older than she is
but I am assured that MARTINI behaves much younger than his seventeen years and
will do his very best. MARTINI didn't
win but came home, plus Stephanie, safe and sound. The winner was HORSEHILL MISS SAIGON a smart looking thoroughbred
ably ridden by William Felton with CHIDDOCK FREEDOM (George Hiscott) in second
place and SALT PETER (also 17 yrs old)
in third place with Rebecca Partridge up. The best turned out who looked immaculate was the Bain
family STARLIGHT EXPRESS who was ridden by Melissa but led up and prepared by
Millicent and came in fourth. The winning jockey looks quite an
accomplished rider but he is definitely going to have to practice his 'Frankie
Dittori dismount'. It is rather
unfortunate that the 'nanny state' and the 'sue him' attitude will prevent many
hunts from conducting these races as the rules are such that not all
professionals are prepared to put their profession/occupation on the line. A pity!
I walked the
course earlier and found it mostly soft and a heavy-ish patch on the far
corner. With rising ground from the
start up around that corner and along to the finishing line it will take a bit
of getting and I will not be surprised if a lot don't get home. Thirteen to post for the short (two and half
miles) maiden race for 5, 6 and 7 years old.
Close punting on APATURA JOE (Polly Gundry), GUNVILLE (M Miller) and I'M
LOVIN IT (N Williams) with it difficult to establish a favourite, although it
was possible very early on to get the first mentioned at eight to one but the
shrewd investors got on at the big price and brought it down considerably. Off they go and I'M LOVIN IT was eventually
elected favourite. The first casualty and I am not sure where it happened but
AWARD ME AN OSCAR (G Weatherley) passed the winning post without a very
important ingredient - a jockey! Twelve
went out into the country and down the hill.
GUNVILLE led them up the hill, round the wet corner and over the open
ditch which he didn't do too well but got away with it. HAPPY FLYER was
definitely not liking the going and was soon pulled up by Tigger Barnes. GALA BLUE was also pulled up by Jamie
Snowden.
Down the hill they went for the final time
and now only seven left in it with GUNVILLE and SENOR CID (Mrs J Reed) leading the field followed closely by I'M
LOVIN IT and APUTURA JOE and Rachel Green on SOMEDO SOMEDON'T then a gap and
Richard Woollacott on SUNLEY'S QUEST
and Les Jefford on MCSOLO brought up the rear. IMLOVINIT was cruising and just about to take the field on when
he decided Nick Williams was too heavy and got rid of him and left SOMEDO
SOMEDON'T in a handy lead. Polly got
APATURA JOE going after Rachel and looked at one stage as if she might get
there but SOMEDO SOMEDON'T stuck to his work and came home a four length winner
from APATURA JOE with SENOR CID quite a way back in third. These were the only
finishers -tired horses for sure!
Neither bag or tin invested in that race so they are untouched at the
moment.
Race two was the
'farmers' race and three went to post.
Whilst the odd-on favourite, ROMANY MOVE (Mrs Godfrey) ran a good race
he was out on his own most of the time and got around at a steady pace and
completed the course in seven minutes twenty four seconds. The other two, HOTFOOT HARRY (D Drake) and best
turned out blinkered CAPTAIN RANDOM (Mrs J Reed) had a race between
themselves for second place. It looked
like CAPTAIN RANDOM could take this honour until nearing the end the going got
the better of him and HOTFOOT HARRY challenged and got up and came home a distance
behind ROMANY MOVE and CAPTAIN RANDOM was eight lengths back in third.
Next came an eight
runner open maiden race. Only two
finished and the winner came home a distance clear again of the only other
finisher. It was the in form
jockey/stable combination of Richard Woollacott / Emily Thompson who brought
the best turned out odds on favourite COOKIES BANK home to win with
HAYLING STAR with Mark Sweetland up being driven out and forced over the last,
a very very tired horse. A stewards
enquiry followed and in this race two jockeys were fined for 'improper riding
and continuing on exhausted
horses'. Guy Weatherley for his riding
of PICCINI who fell over the last fence, (Trainer Ollie Jackson) fined £200.00
and M Sweetland (trainer and jockey) who came second on HAYLING STAR was fined
£150.00. Ruth looked very pleased that
Richard had won!
The men's open had
a disappointing field of only three runners but it was still very difficult to
fathom out who would take the honours here.
Guy Weatherley on BALLYSICYOS is
up against Michael Miller on MISTER SWALLOW and the investment area gives these
two as being very equal. The latter
will go off slightly favourite. The
third runner is the Doggerells' grey, CAUNDLE CHASE with Willie White up who,
according to the boards, is not fancied
to get a look in on his first run this season.
A better pace for this one and it was a good race to the end by the two
main protagonists, but BALLYSICYOS proved to be a little bit better on his
jumping on the day and whereas MISTER SWALLOW made a blunder or two, he did not
and came home a three lengths winner BUT I would imagine if they met again the
order could be reversed. CAUNDLE CHASE
was pulled up so again only two finished.
A few more for the
ladies race, six will go to post. With
a clear odds on favourite in Rachel Green riding TALES OF BOUNTY who has been a
little unfortunate of late. The best
turned out PROBY LADY with Di
Harding up is also fancied a little and TONYS TIME will be ridden by Charlotte
Tizzard to win but the message is TALES OF BOUNTY will win this. I am afraid the price is such that both tin
and bag together could not scrape up enough to make this a viable
proposition. I might spare a little on
betting without the favourite, perhaps a shilling on Polly Gundry who will be
trying on SAILORS FOLLY whose form has been modest this year but was good in
2004 - could be coming back again? Lucy
Gardner on ONMYWAYHOME and PROBY LADY both had a go at taking the field along
but Polly was holding my choice up and would no doubt come on later. Then in the same breath as CAPTAIN CLOONEY
was pulled up the dulcet tone of the announcer stated that SAILORS FOLLY made a
bit of a mess of that one. Doesn't
help! Climbing the hill for the final
time it was TALES OF BOUNTY who took up the lead with ONMYWAYHOME holding on to
second place and these two were followed by TONYS TIME who was now making a
determined effort. Over the final
ditch, up to the bend and onto fence 18 and 19. It was clear now that my money had been handed over to the
gentlemen with big satchels but the finish is going to be a fighting one. The fight was won by the favourite TALES OF
BOUNTY with TONYS TIME six lengths back in second place and ONMYWAYHOME another
two and half lengths back in third.
They don't pay out on the fourth in a race with only six runners. None for tin!
Six contestants in
the novice riders race with a clear odds on in the shape of best turned out EARLS TOY (G Fry) who has outstanding form
for this young rider and will no doubt come home clear. Unfortunately the odds on price is too much
for me so a watching race it will be.
The bag owner is too busy smiling to worry too much about the outcome of
the novice race as the name of one - Mrs Sampson - was announced as the winner
with ticket number - I don't know! -and she has just collected a litre and half
bottle of Famous Grouse. Well done
Ruth! We will need it for next weekend
at Trebudannon when those thirsty ones from out of county descend on us, plus
the boiled fruit cake of course. It was
Mr Maxwell on GLADTOKNOWYOU who followed EARLS TOY home and there were only
three lengths in it on the line and Miss S Berry on ALLER MOOR was only two
lengths back in third place. A good
race and a sensible time!
Finally came the
restricted race when again only two finished and fortunately for the backers of
the favourite, the first one home was the most fancied, BILTON'S NAP (Daryl
Jacob) and ran on well to hold off Nick Williams on best turned out EL NOMBRE who was three lengths back in
second. MARDEREIL(N Wilmington) was my
fancy as he set off at a good pace at Cothelstone and won for me but although
he tried this tactic it was not to be in these conditions. MIGHTY MACK (R Woolacott) almost won a race
at Kilworthy but was brought down by O'ECH so Ruth thought he might have a
chance. WARREN HILL (D Turner) has good
form this season but will he have difficulty here. I invested in BILTON'S NAP before but he fell on that occasion
but no trouble here today, he came home good and proper in the same time as the
men's open which was the fastest of the day.
The journey home
was marred with torrential rain but we made it and got the results out as
quickly as we could and then started to prepare for next week. We will be at Trebudannon, (Treb - u - dan - non) and we will be at the
course early so in the event of doubtful weather please feel free to give us a
ring on the mobile. 07771 741 430 and
we will keep you up to date as best we can.
Just BE THERE!!
Fred and Ruth