Report from the West Somerset Vale Point to Point
Meeting at Cothelstone on Sunday 17th April 2005.
The
weather forecast not too good for today's meeting but the right clobber is in
the back of the (new - same colour!) Jimny so we are up and at the course quite
early. The vehicles of two other keen
supporters are in before us but they are a bit more local AND are known to have
starting problems sometimes! The course
has a good covering of grass and will race 'good' but if only they could alter
the positioning of the open ditch, the most exciting fence, so that both the
commentators and majority of the viewing public could have it in their view as
opposed to the present position, which leaves guesswork to decide who has made
it or who hasn't. I would appreciate
comments on this as maybe I am overlooking something very obvious which would
not spring to the mind of a Cornishman but it is the only fence blocked out on
this otherwise lovely setup.
I took an early
price about my choice in the first race, the hunt cup and regretted it! KIRISNIPPA (D Luff) was on the board at odds
against and I grabbed it as I thought it would surely go odds on but that was
not the case and it was ELIIPOP (Tom O'Brien) who went on to become the odds on
favourite and ran like one and came home a six length winner in the six horse
contest with my choice, second and MISS KARINGAROO (W White) five lengths back
in third.
In the second
race, the restricted race, nine went to post and I chose not to back the jockey
who had let me down in the first race and as the favourite ASKERS JACK (Nick
Williams) was a stingy even money favourite I began to look elsewhere for a
money raiser and I settled for BARRY LYDON (Andrew Glassonbury) each way who I
thought had been hanging on to reasonable form. CHITA'S FLORA (Dom Alers Hankey) was also proving popular but I
will stick with my original choice.
Ruth chose differently which worried me as her luck has been extremely
good of late as the bulging bag I keep seeing out the corner of my eye reminds
me. Off they go! Its drizzle type rain and a little difficult
to make them out at first but on passing us for the first time and by Ruth's
action I was informed SLIEMA (N Wilmington) was taking them along which was
obviously her choice. Mark Jackson had
a near one on CASTLE FROME going down the far straight and did a great job in
remaining onboard. The dulcet tones of
the very good commentator informed me that my choice was under pressure
already. I thought from here on in I
will cheer home the choice of the bag holder and then I will be massing up
brownie points for the time 'borrowing' is mentioned as I feel sure that time
is not too far away. The leader, until
approaching the ditch for the second time, SLIEMA, is now joined by the
favourite, ASKERS JACK and CASTLE FROME.
SPACE CADET is reported to be here as well as bringing up the rear but
for sure BARRY LYDON is making no impression.
Out into the country for the final time it is still SLIEMA, followed by
SPACE CADET, CASTLE FROME, ASKER JACK and best turned out BREWERY LANE. The remainder seem to be struggling. SLIEMA continued to lead but ASKERS JACK was making his presence
felt. Coming down now to the line it
was ASKERS JACK now leading as the pressure told on SLIEMA but after the last even
ASKERS JACK could offer no more and SPACE CADET came and took the race by three
quarters of a length driven out by his whip waving jockey - just the one I
wagered on in the first race, did not fancy him here in the second and he
brings home a twelve to one winner. No
justice!
The ladies and
men's open race only had six runners but it was probably the presence of the
Hobbs's SAINT ROMBLE with their young daughter up that might have put a few
off. With five first and a second this
season under this young lady you will need to be 'vgi' to beat her. Needless to say that the favourite went off
at odds on BUT did they know something!
Even money was available quite late - but I refrained from taking a
chance. Darren Edwards would go off
second favourite on MAITRE LEVY (Ruth's choice!) closely followed by Ben Dixon
on best turned out
ELLOFAMONKEY. Off they go! Passing us for the first time it was the
favourite leading from MAITRE LEVY but going down into the back straight the
visored PERTEMPS PROFILE (Mark Jackson) had a go up front and led all six to
the second of the open ditches but others were now picking up the pace again
and as PERTEMPS PROFILE led the field into fences eleven and twelve, LEABURN
(Julie Houldey) MAITRE LEVY and SALFORD (Tanya Newman) were following quite
closely with the favourite pushed back a little and ELLOFAMONKEY bringing up
the rear. Approaching the starting area
for the final time it was now MAITRE LEVY taking them along with PERTEMPS PROFILE
close up but the field beginning to spread out. To the final open ditch it was MAITRE LEVY, this one who had only
be beaten by a couple of lengths by that good thing SANDY DUFF when racing down
in Cornwall, led and appeared to be going away from the remainder. MAITRE LEVY had the advantage going to fence
eighteen and nineteen and came home four lengths clear of SALFORD who got the
better of ELLOFAMONKEY who was an eight length third. A real decent time and the favourite, like me, was out of the money
back in fourth but bag handler collected yet once again.
Six to run in the
intermediate and all to be ridden by novices.
Vanessa Shaw will be up on RYDERS HILL and will surely go off favourite.
Close second favourites will be my choice, ALL EYEZ ON ME (Zoe Hammond) and Guy
Disney up on BOYNE BANKS. David Green
will ride SLIP THE NET and the outsider of the six will be best turned out
HORRIFIED with young Shaun Finn having his very first Point to Point ride. Well only three finished this race and they
were really spaced out but the shock was the poor performance of RYDERS HILL
who did not want to race at all and was pulled up. This mare did this once before at Black Forest Lodge and like
here today, Vanessa could not get anything out of her. The eventual winner was BOYNE BANKS by
twelve lengths with ALL EYEZ ON ME in second and twenty lengths back in third
was MAGNEMITE (C Jones). I had some
excitement out of this race but once again the tin remained firmly closed.
Disaster is fast looming up!
The PPORA Club
Members race followed with nine going to post.
The odds on favourite was the Tizzard family's BAK ON BOARD, who ran
this race very well under Charlotte and came when it mattered to come home some
six lengths clear of DANTE'S PROMISE (T O'Brien). TENINAROW gave Vanessa Shaw a much better ride than her previous
mount did and kept up his consistant performance by coming in third. It was expected that COOL WAGER under
Dominic Alers-Hankey would have been in the frame at least but this setup hindered
his run of three wins. Again nothing
for the tin and I am not going to ask how the bag did!
Two divisions of
maiden races followed and Nathan Wilmington onboard MARDEREIL got home three
lengths to the good of Tiger Barnes on hot favourite KINGSTON BLUE with Darren
Edwards on GREAT ESCAPE six lengths back in third division in division one and
Vanessa Shaw got even better on GRENOUILLE to come home after a peach of a ride
two and half lengths to the good of Andrew Glassonbury on SUP OF TEA with
MADAME CHOLET back in third - somewhere!
The winner ran a good race between fences at Trebuddanon but his jumping
was sketchy to say the least. He could
have run a good race at Great Trethew but due to the fog-mist-rain I was unable
to see how his jumping had improved - even if it did - but the handbag must
have glimpsed something, for there was another broad smile on Ruth's face after
this race. A month ago this horse had
not jumped a twig but today he appeared to be foot perfect and is one to keep
an eye on now. Vanessa's right arm
appeared to be a little damaged after the race as it blew freely in the wind,
well not quite, but it would have needed sticking back in the socket so I hope
it gets better soon.
That's the lot for
this weekend and needless to say it is 'borrowing time' again but with so much
in there it will not be missed. I'll
replenish the bag within the next couple of weeks - probably at Flete Park on
Saturday so make sure you are there to see it happen - BE THERE!
Fred and Ruth
