Report from The Western Foxhounds Point to Point
Meeting held at The Royal Cornwall Showground Wadebridge on Saturday 12th
March 2005.
We got up to
glorious weather and not too early as we only have to travel a few miles up the
road to the Western meeting. The course
would race good to firm as there hasn't been too much rain in this area lately
but a good days racing is expected and we are lined up for eight races . Both tin and bag are in reasonably good
condition as I managed some success at the recent Sandown meeting where some of
our point to point riders were in evidence,
MOOR LANE being my biggest success which brought the level up quite a
bit so here we go to increase that level.
A quick note - I know apologies will be tendered to those expecting some pony racing here at this meeting but extra medical cover for the younger generation is required and these were not available so it was not possible to hold them.
We kick off with
the confined race for which there are six runners. In the investing arena punting on the six runners is very close
and probably difficult to choose a winner at first but it then became clear
that the majority thought Jennifer (Congdon) could bring home her DANTIE BOY
which would please her very much - and father, a lot more. Some got two to one but I settled for the
seven to four and set off to watch my first winner come home. The race was led predominantly by BRUTHUINNE
(D McKenna) with Liam Heard on best turned out PROCEDURE tracking or upsides with DANTIE BOY quite happy to sit
in just behind for a circuit and a half.
At the final open ditch it was PROCEDURE who came off the better and
went on to lead by a couple of lengths for a while but BRUTHUINNE was not going
to give up that easily and came back again to come over fence 14 upsides again
with DANTIE BOY just edging a little closer to these two leaders. The remainder were being well strung out
behind now. The leading two jumped the
fifteenth together but at three out PROCEDURE got the better and went on by two
lengths but went a little wide on the bend and BRUTHUINNE was up to him
again. It was here that Jennifer asked
DANTIE BOY for his effort and then joined the leading two to jump the second
last in a line of three. On went DANTIE
BOY to get clear of PROCEDURE and raced to the line to come home four lengths
clear with HASTEN BAK racing on well under Lucy Gardner, a length further back
in third. Fourth was BRUITHUINNE. This was a very good confined race and a
real decent time for the day in six minutes ten seconds. We will no doubt be seeing quite a bit more
of DANTIE BOY as well as the other placed horses. Tin now beginning to smile handsomely.
Race two was the
ladies open race with five runners. There is no doubt where my investment will
be as Mary McCarthy is here with her best turned out SANDY DUFF and provided he sticks to the
course and not run out like on his last visit, the tin will prosper again. Competition will no doubt come predominantly
from Polly Gundry on BALLY BLUE and Mandy Hand on her KARADIN but the other two
are not without a chance if on song; that is young Ella Kennen on IT'S NOT
SIMPLE and Charlotte Tizzard on TONY'S TIME.
Off they go to what looked like a ragged start as KARADIN and TONY'S
TIME were soon six or seven lengths to the good of the others who were
stretched out and SANDY DUFF was well in the rear. I later found out that Mary had purposely held him back so that
he wouldn't pull and settle him down to his task quietly. By the ditch TONY'S TIME led but had come
back to close the field up somewhat.
All over the fence before the
top of the hill and then, a good point with this course is that as they round
the far turn everyone can see just how the field has settled. TONY'S TIME by a length from KARADIN then
two lengths back to BALLY BLUE, followed by IT'S NOT SIMPLE and SANDY DUFF, still happy to sit in
behind. On passing the crowd on the way
down the hill it again looked as though Mary had her hands full. SANDY DUFF was full of himself, let's hope
she manages to keep him on course for fence eight. The commentator reminded us all that SANDY DUFF had run out
previously whilst trying to navigate this downhill run and that is not what the
nerves require at this moment.
Success! We are at the bottom of
the hill, over fence eight and rounding the bend without mishap and on up the
straight with Charlotte continuing to lead on TONY'S TIME followed by Mandy on
KARADIN still looking good and now Mary has SANDY DUFF in third place. Passing the judge for the final time Polly
decided to get BALLY BLUE into the race and took up third position relegating
SANDY DUFF to fourth spot. A gap had
now developed back to Ella on IT'S NOT SIMPLE. Around the top and then KARADIN and TONY'S TIME took the field past
us and down the hill with SANDY DUFF close up in third and BALLY BLUE a close
fourth and onto fence fifteen. It was
now not long before Mary set SANDY DUFF off on his way to the line. Gosh! Doesn't this animal jump like the
proverbial stag! Up the home straight pinging his fences and on to cross the
line nine lengths ahead of BALLY BLUE and two lengths back was KARADIN. The fastest time of the day was recorded AND
my tin has reaped the benefits and put back what was taken out at his previous
run here.
Now comes the
intermediate race with nine going to post.
Sally Alford's RARE GEM (Will Biddick) will go off odds-on favourite
closely followed by the visitor from Exmoor, TOON SOCIETY (N HARRIS) with the
remainder available at much bigger prices.
I am choosing Mandy Hand's FRONTENAC (each way) to keep the tin in good
order as this horse ran such a good race to beat the good thing BODDIDLEY by a
length at Buckfastleigh. Off they go
with PORTO (W White) doing his normal thing and setting a good pace by front
running followed by Tabitha Cave on SEA SNIPE, then comes BEACHTIME, FRONTENAC,
HAPPY TEAM matching strides with NAVITE
DRUM (R Woollacott) and then the favourite RARE GEM. The lead changed very little for a lap and half except for RARE
GEM creeping up and maintaining third place behind PORTO and FRONTENAC. Tabitha reminded SEA SNIPE that there was a
job to be done and improved and TOON SOCIETY got the same treatment from Neil
Harris but did not improve. PORTO was
the first to weaken and at fence fourteen it was FRONTENAC who rose first
fractionally to the good of RARE GEM with under pressure SEA SNIPE back in
third. After fence fifteen RARE GEM
just got the better of FONTENAC with SEA SNIPE not giving up, in third place. Will Biddick now sent RARE GEM on and came
home up the home straight, jumping well with just hands and heels and although
Mandy tried desperately to get back on him it was the favourite who crossed the
line half a length in front of my choice FRONTENAC with SEA SNIPE finishing a
creditable third seven lengths back.
The time was a quick one and when SEA SNIPE and FRONTENAC win their
Exeter Racecourse sponsored Intermediate then they will not disgrace the final
at Exeter Racecourse in May. I have
taken a little out of the tin and made use of it in investing in a side wager
that FRONTENAC will give Mandy Hand a Hunter Chase win. Any layers!
The very sad side of this race was the fact that we lost TOON SOCIETY,
possibly with a heart attack as he was being walked back and my commiserations
go out to the Exmoor Partnership run by 'Jacko' from Exford.
Three divisions of
maiden races followed and Richard Darke brought home the Fisher's KATIES HERO
(2nd fav) to win by a large margin after Les Jefford on the
favourite TRIGGER MEAD failed to continue the race when providing good
opposition to the eventual winner when dumping Les again. Fifteen lengths second to KATIES HERO was
HIGH ROCKER who ran a good race under Liam Heard and is progressing nicely. Third horse home was KARING KENDA (N Harris). The unusual sight after this race of a
jockey being asked to walk a white line and touch the end of his nose with his
fore finger of his left hand, to prove his sobriety, by the men in black bowler
hats will probably go down in history as a first at the Royal Cornwall
Showground. The result (of the race,
not the sobriety test!) provided more fuel for the tin and bag, the latter
being a little quiet this afternoon so far!
Guy Weatherley
took the second division to provide the first leg of his double on the horse
with a name one would normally reserve for their first pony, DAPPLES, but for
sure he did not run like a pony but came home in no uncertain fashion to win by
a distance from Rachel Green on GOLDEN SPIRIT who had gone off the favourite
and carried my investment and third four lengths further back was VERO BEACH (R
Darke).
The third division
saw a good investment for me come home in the top spot and provide Guy
Weatherly with his second winner at the meeting and it emphasises the great
form Ollie Jackson has her team in at the moment. LOVE FOOL, (at any price up
to ten to one), provided much cheering and shouting to just get home one length
ahead of JEMANNETTE (Mark Dennis) and another length back in third was Mary
McCarthy who did an excellent job in getting her head strong LOUISE'S CHOICE
around without mishap this time.
The men's open saw
six go to post with a clear favourite established in FIRST OFFICER (Tim Dennis)
with LETS FLY (Will Biddick), just back from a journey out of county, hunter
chasing, set up as the second favourite; the other four available at much
bigger prices. Up to the first open
ditch it was RED HUSTLER (R Darke) who led the field with LETS FLY in close
company, then came GURU RINPOCHE (R Woollacott) and PETER'S TWO FUN (D McKenna)
and FIRST OFFICER tacked on the rear.
Around the top end, down the slope and over fence 7 and through the run
through it was PETER'S TWO FUN who had taken the lead with LETS FLY and RED
HUSTLER in second and third. With a
complete circuit to travel it was now LETS FLY who led the field from PETERS
TWO FUN and GURU RINPOCHE toward the final open ditch. FIRST OFFICER yet to make a move from the
rear. At fence fourteen it was GOTHA
who had now got up to run with LETS FLY and GURU RINPOCHE. It was some time before Tim Dennis asked
FIRST OFFICER for his best effort and with three fences to go he got the better
of GURU RINPOCHE but never managed to peg back LETS FLY who Will brought home
up the final straight to win by twelve lengths from FIRST OFFICER with GOTHA
two lengths back in third place. This
was the second leg of a double for Will and we now await the final race to see
if his young sister, Mary, on her very first race ride can add to the family tally
for the day.
Seven will go to
post for the final restricted race.
FRANKLY FEAR has gone down early as the Jockey thinks if she gets to the
start early she will get off early but it is not really like that Mary! The favourite at the off was the Heard's
FAUNTLEROY with Liam up and a jostle for second favourite between Rilly Goschen
on BESSIE BUNTER and Michael Milne on
RUTHERFORD. Off they go with a good
start led by PANTO PIXIE (Tabitha Cave) and PINMOOR HILL (Mark Munrowd) and all
safely over the first. Up the home
straight for the first time and obviously Mary on FRANKLY FEAR did not agree
with the slow pace and quickened things up a bit and took the field past the
judge for the first time and onto the open ditch. All safely over the ditch and fence six, round the top bend down
to fence seven and through the run-through and still it was FRANKLY FEAR and
RUTHERFORD taking the field along. With
one more clear circuit to go it was now RUTHERFORD in charge at the front with
FAUNTLEROY (Liam Heard) close up, then came OFF THE HOOK ( Ian Hambley) and
PINMOOR HILL. Mary had decided to give
FRANKLY FEAR a breather at this stage.
FAUNTLEROY was soon to fall.
Down the hill for the final time it was RUTHERFORD, PANTO PIXIE and OFF
THE HOOK who were drawing away from the reduced remainder. Mary at this time was quite content to bring
up the rear having made the decision that the going was not to FRANKLY FEAR'S
liking. RUTHERFORD led the trio round
the bottom bend but only by a short distance and up to the finishing straight
with one to jump was still leading but a very industrious ride to the line by
Ian on OFF THE HOOK and despite the vociferous support from a couple of young
ladies for Rocky to KICK ON! it was OFF
THE HOOK who captured the spoils by one length from the long time leader RUTHERFORD
with PANTO PIXIE just two lengths back in third place. Young Mary Biddick completed the course
successfully and will probably await the arrival of some mud before bringing
FRANKLY FEAR out again. Well done! Another young jockey, Joe Tickle, had a nasty
fall and was carted off to hospital but he is back at home again now and apart
perhaps from a sore head to remind him of
his day, he is ok!
I thank Jennifer,
Mary and Will for filling my tin but I am afraid the bag did not do so well and
is sulking at the moment. Temporarily
no doubt! Next Sunday it is the turn of
the Dart Vale and Haldon Harriers meeting at Buckfastleigh which promises to
have a very good list of entries. So BE THERE!
Ruth and Fred