Report from The Spooners and West Dartmoor Point to Point meeting held at Cherry Brook on Sunday 10^th April 2005.

 

A few spots of rain were dropping on us as we arrived at Cherrybrook but these were not to last and by the start time the clouds were clearing and we enjoyed marvellous weather for the entire meeting.  I thought the course was in good condition but very short of grass but then this is sheep country.  It would ride 'Good' but it was 'pudding -ee' meaning their hooves will go down into it a little but would not come out so easy! (this is another word which is frequently creeping into the Clerk of the Courses vocabulary but I wouldn't want a pudding that fits this description!!) so horses would be finishing tired and certainly this was not the track for anything less than 'Fit' with a capital 'F'.

 

The Grand National did not put anything into either tin or bag but the overall Aintree meeting did boost the tin to an appreciative level but the bag has only had 'withdrawals' so no doubt today Ruth will be putting that to rights.  She has the very valuable assistance of Granddaughter Jade so no runner with a curly tale, fancy name or purple/pink colours will win without Jade's shilling riding on it!

 

According to the investment arena there were only two runners in the first race but in fact four went to post.  I bet on Miss Gaisford landing her first winner of the current season and invested in VIRGOS BAMBINO to boost the tin a little.  I heard someone remark that this horse may find it difficult in staying the three miles around here but I remember at Trebudannon once when, without a jockey, this horse covered more than three miles before the race and still did a good job in the race proper with a jockey (A C-Jones) and led from flag fall to finish so this three miles will be conquered quite easily.  The opposition should come from Lucy Gardner on ONMYWAYHOME who has a little form this season but not as consistent as VIRGOS BAMBINO.  The other two runners who are not carrying much support are best turned out  FOWLER with Art Cole having his first ride in a point to point for a couple of years  and DUEL ISLAND (M Munrowd) neither of whom have been out for a while and will appreciate this run.  The pace was a slow one and the race turned out to be exactly as the boards predicted.  ONMYWAYHOME took her turn in leading but VIRGOS BAMBINO was on her quarter from half way through the second circuit.  DUEL ISLAND was pulled up.  Across the top of the hill with half a circuit to go it was VIRGOS BAMBINO who led and carried on to do so across the line by twelve lengths ahead of ONMYWAYHOME and to the cheering crowds delight, a distance back in third place came Art Cole on FOWLER.  A little for the tin but the investment managers did not give a lot away (do they ever?) and the price was very very short.  Jade's purse couldn't manage the amount necessary to invest and the bag suffered the same complaint.  It can only get better for those two!

 

The number of runners necessitated the restricted being split with ten going to post in each.  The clear favourite in division one was SMART CAVALIER (N Williams) who would surely have won at Ottery but crashed out when in the lead at the last.   All the others were available at much bigger prices except possibly the second favourite who was WENDYS DYNAMO (M Munrowd) who is progressing nicely this season.  O'ECH (Tim Dennis) took the field away from the start and this lovely striding grey mare ran a good race the other day at Kilworthy and was very unlucky not to win there, soon had a four length lead over the remainder.  SMART CAVALIER was being held up in rear.   Second lap and O'ECH was still taking the field along but SMART CAVALIER was closing up a little.  RUTHERFORD in second, WENDYS DYNAMO up into third.  GLENGOURA was pulled up.  Nine out of ten go out into the country on the final lap.  Tim Dennis now increasing his lead to about eight lengths with WENDYS DYNAMO into second and PHARSU now taking a closer order and racing into third.  SMART CAVALIER closing up all the time.  Three from home now, fence 16,  SMART CAVALIER now in the lead and absolutely cruising on the outside.  From here on it would have been easier if Nick Williams had a rear looking mirror as he spent most of his time viewing the field behind him instead of noticing where he was going.  The horse did know where the winning line was though and brought the field home to win by ten lengths from PHARSHU (Jamie Snowden) with WENDYS DYNAMO six lengths back in third place.  MIGHTY MACK a close fourth.  No money invested so no need to check tin or bag on this occasion.  Jade in a lovely tone of voice stating that old saying of those that have just lost -'I was looking at that one!  Very difficult to explain that we all do that sometimes!!  The horse to watch out for on her next appearance is definitely the improved PHARSHU who, although beaten by ten lengths ran an excellent race and will be thereabouts very soon.

 

No clear favourite in division two and tight punting on STARS 'N' STRIPES (T Dennis), ON HIS TOES (Will White), LOVE FOOL (Guy Weatherly) and ZORALO (Mandy Hand) was being carried out in the investment arena.  Finally it was Tim Dennis who had the honour of being the most fancied, jockey I mean!  Off they go and as they pass the crowd and over the open ditch for the first time the field was led by GUNNERS MISTAKE (A Holdsworth) with the remainder very close behind.  A couple pulled up during the transit of this lap but as they reached the open ditch for the final time, although he got in a bit close, it was the favourite, STARS 'N' STRIPES who jumped up to lead and take the field out on the final circuit.  The pace is increased and ON HIS TOES was now making an effort and took up the lead with STARS 'N' STRIPES very close behind and these two were getting away from most of the following pack.  It was Will Biddick on CORAL BAY now closing up a little and taking up third position.  Across the top and the first three are making a real race of it. Down the far side and not until the second last did the favourite, STARS 'N' STRIPES get his way and went clear and to the line to win by seven lengths from ON HIS TOES with CORAL BAY four lengths back in third.  Nothing for the tin but I did appreciate a very good race and there are big smiles from the bag holder (and family) as they managed to get an each way bet at 25 to 1 on the third horse.  I told her not to be greedy as she was peeved at a friend who got 33 to 1 on the same horse.  Never satisfied!

 

The mixed open turned up quite a surprise for most of us.  Eleven went to post and the two main contenders for the prize money were JOYEUX ROYALE from the Paul Nicholls's stable and to be ridden by Cloe Roddick and the inform BALLYSICOS from the Ollie Jackson stable to be ridden by Guy Weatherly with possibly the former going off favourite.  I chose the latter.  Well Guy set off at a very good pace on BALLYSICOS  and came round past the crowd with a four or five length lead and took the field out into the country where as JOYEUX ROYALE was in the hold up position which in this case was very nearly last.  On the second circuit it was TALES OF BOUNTY (N Williams) who took it up for a short while but Guy soon took his mount up into the lead again and cracked on.  On the way back the two raced together with ORANGERIE (Will White) and MISTER CLUB ROYAL (M Munrowd) in third and fourth.  JOYEUX ROYALE making up a place or two.  Over the final ditch and down the hill and up to fence thirteen it was TALES OF BOUNTY who went on by about three lengths but came down at this one and left BALLYSICOS in front once again with ORANGERIE coming upsides.  MISTER CLUB ROYAL was now having another go and was in third place.  JOYEUX ROYAL was travelling sweetly in fourth with best turned out  HASTEN BAK (Lucy Gardner) also travelling well stalking this one.  BALLYSICOS was the first to weaken and this is where Lucy took HASTEN BAK up to challenge for the lead and jumped the third last well and soon opened up a gap of about three lengths.  JOYEUX ROYAL could find no more and BALLYSICOS likewise.  Lucy went for home and came into the winning straight going well and on to cross the line   to win by fifteen lengths from MISTER CLUB ROYAL and eight lengths further back was FIRST OFFICER (Tim Dennis).  The winner  obviously liked the conditions but also appreciated the good ride that Lucy gave him.  A surprise winner at about eight or nine to one.  Nothing for the tin on this occasion and I am almost afraid to ask about the bag (or Jade!).

 

Seven to post in the novice riders race and although it was Mike Weir's TENINAROW who went off favourite under Vanessa Shaw it was young Ian Channin who took the spoils on best turned out MYSTIC WARRIOR and beat the favourite by ten lengths with Daniel Pick on his first ride coming in third on GENEREUX another ten lengths back.  IT'S THE BIZ (Dean Summersby) led the field to complete the first circuit but on crossing the top of the course it was MYSTIC WARRIOR  and TENINAROW who closed up together in second place.  On clearing the open ditch for the final time it was still IT'S THE BIZ followed by MYSTIC WARRIOR, down the hill and up to fence thirteen these two together followed by TENINAROW.  IT'S THE BIZ was the first to weaken and TENINAROW was closing up on the leader.  MYSTIC WARRIOR then began to increase the pace and opened up a real good gap.  On he went well and Ian brought him home to win by ten lengths from Vanessa with young Daniel another ten lengths back in third place.  Well done the novices for a very sensibly run race.  Nowt for tin or bag -a little serious now!

 

The Exeter Racecourse Intermediate Race is sorting out some class horses and none more classy than  best turned out  CLASSIFY from Richard Barber's stables with brilliant form this season this horse ridden by Nick Williams came home twenty lengths to the good of the travelled SHERWOOD ROSE (Neil Harris) who also has good form this season and back in third was Sarah Gaisford on RIO GRANDE.  IMPATIENT LADY was not that at the start as this mare was so patient she didn't want to start with the rest and gave them at least twenty lengths.  When she did start she did not live up to her last years form and was pulled up.  A stewards enquiry was later held but I didn't hear the result broadcasted so I cannot comment on what had happened but another letter is added to the form guide instead of a figure.  It was certainly a CLASSIFY day, a class act and a double for Nick Williams.

 

There were again several vying for the post of favourite in the confined hunts maiden race and my choice eventually went off with that title.  I am informed that APPLE PIE LADY needs to be held up and its up to Jennifer now to bring her to the front just on the line.  Will Biddick will be trying to prevent that on his DEAR AS SAFFRON and Tabitha Cave would also like to make sure that it is STEPONTHEBANDIT that will be crossing the line in number one spot. The best turned out SOME TOOL (R Rowe), JUST FABLE (M Munrowd) and MADAME CHOLET (M Woodward) would also like to be in prime spot but for me, I am investing in APPLE PIE LADY to bring home some spoils for the tin.  Eleven runners set off.  Lucy on her FINBAR had the lead for some time, COOK O'HAWICK also had a go, STEPONTHEBANDIT tried it as well but during all this APPLE PIE LADY was covering them back in about fourth or fifth position.   Going across the top for the final time it was noticed that Jennifer was closing up a little.  Well the remainder was lovely to watch, in particular if you had your tin riding on it, as Jennifer continued to pick off those in front of her one by one and coming up to the finish she had the better of all of them and won by one and half lengths from STEPONTHEBANDIT with DEAR AS SAFFRON ten lengths back in third.  Just a low pitched whistle as I make my way to the arena to pick up my spoils.  Don't want to make it too obvious that the tin is just about to be topped up again.

 

Finally there is the confined hunts race for 5, 6, and 7 years old horses. (not 5, 6, and 7 year olds as some call them!)  with nine going to post.  They are struggling at first to nominate a favourite but finally they settle for the correct one in Lucy Gardner's  TSARS TWIST to make it a double for this capable rider and she brought this six year old home to win by seven lengths from Caroline Prouse on best turned out  TED ONE  with Dominic Alers-Hankey back in third spot on the one I mistakenly  settled for, FINAL DEAL.  Just a little out of the tin but nothing to get worried about.  Jade didn't do too well and as it was the bag supporting her -that certainly looked a bit thinner!

 

The weather has been glorious and a great crowd must have enjoyed themselves immensely.  I feel sorry for those that went to Newton Abbott out of loyalty but you can't be everywhere.  Whoever arranged the fixture list is to blame!!  You can go to N.A. when summer racing starts, at the moment we are in Point to Point season.

 

Next week we are back at Lifton (Eggesford) on Saturday and then on to Cothelstone (West Somerset Vale) on Sunday.  A very good entry list at Lifton and no doubt the same at Cothelstone.  You just make sure YOU -BE THERE!

 

Fred and Ruth