Report from East Devon Hunt Point to Point Meeting held at Bishops Court Ottery St Mary on Saturday 4^th March 2006. 

 

Although it was cold I am sure the supporters of this meeting did not mind waiting a little longer for the start as we were at least getting some racing as other areas were not so fortunate.  A very slight alteration was necessary and runners would pass inside a big tree at the far end of the course as opposed to the usual route and would then ensure that racing was on frost free ground.  As normal Oliver kept us well informed.  By the start of racing I had already reparked our vehicle to please Oliver three times and it did not surprise me to find that my final position was one I preferred in the first place but this gentleman has his own way of getting things done.  I was initially asked by a passenger in one of the bookmakers' cars to move as he suggested more of his compatriots might like to park where we were.  I politely explained that there was room for all but took a great deal of satisfaction out of the next move when Oliver shifted ALL the bookies to park nearer their stands.  Great!  Then came exasperation when I found out that the 'gentleman' who suggested that I moved only got a lift in from the bookie, did not work for him, and entered the meeting without paying. 

 

So at 1230 instead of 1130 racing was underway and three went to post for the 'Farmers' race. It looked for some time that the best turned out VAGUE IDEA owned by Oliver and ridden by Tabitha Cave was going to win this one but did not make it by three quarters of a length and the odds-on favourite, BALLYSICYOS ridden by Guy Weatherley crossed the line in first place.  The other runner Mr J Slugget's WESTWOOD LIR (S Young), found the pace a little too hot and pulled up.  A lot of punters (Ruth included!) thought that VAGUE IDEA had got up but it was an optical illusion or rather the angle that the finishing line was viewed from that made all the difference.  Nothing was used from the tin on this race.

 

It was disappointing to find that there were only three runners for the Men's Open Race and a very clear odds-on favourite in the best turned out SPUDDLERS DREAM (H Fry) for the Axe Valley Racing (R Barber) made it a little more of a pity.  The opposition came in the form of POLAR FLIGHT (R Woollacott) and DONTNOCK'ER (C Wallace).  POLAR FLIGHT did run a good race but was outclassed by the favourite who came home to win by ten lengths.   There were only two finishers.  Nothing was used from the tin again as the odds were prohibitive, even for a healthy looking tin!

 

A few more for the Intermediate Race as eight went to post.  This was more open and it was difficult to choose the winner.  Mrs Mann's KILLARNEY PRINCE (P Mann) was taking most money in the arena and may go off favourite but the two he has won are his maiden and restricted, this is tougher!  Likewise the same for the Hawker's CHARLIEBOB (R Hawker) except that his achievement was last season.  Ruth and I chose Ken and John Heard's NDITLIR (C Heard) to carry our investment as although we did not see him win his restricted we have received good reports that it was done quite easily.  A horse that runs well on this track is the Havashott Partnership's mare MAYBE A DOUBLE (N Wilmington) having achieved her maiden and restricted wins here and is available at a very good price of six to one.  Off they go!  A steady pace and going down to the first of the open ditches it was KILLARNEY PRINCE leading the way from MAYBE A DOUBLE, CHARLIEBOB and ROY MY BOY (J Cole).  Along the back strait and to the bend under the tree the positions had not changed much except for the fact they were a little more stretched out now and NDITLIR was now lying in fourth place some eight to ten lengths back in the field.  After the final open ditch the field had been well and truly sorted.  CHARLIEBOB had fallen and the race was surely going to be between MAYBE A DOUBLE, KILLARNEY PRINCE and NDITLIR as these three began to race in earnest down the back straight.  Out from under the tree, KILLARNEY PRINCE was leading but NDITLIR had moved up to second place with MAYBE A DOUBLE relegated to third and these were well away from any other challengers.  The cross fence, the third from home was where NDITLIR made his challenge and moved up to lead.  MAYBE A DOUBLE also made a challenge and moved up into second place.  The race to the line was a good one and it was Colin Heard that brought home the family-owned NDITLIR to great cheers from the both of us as the line was crossed six lengths ahead of MAYBE A DOUBLE and KILLARNEY PRINCE was four lengths back in third.  I am sure these three will win again this season but for the moment both tin and bag are delighted. 

 

Another one of the Richard Barber trained horses, Mr Geddes best turned out REVIEWER (Rachel Green) is to run in the seven runner Ladies' Open race and is sure to go off favourite.  This eight year old has a consistent form rating from NH and Flat and has won an open already this season.  Tabitha Cave will be challenging on Oliver Carter's EARLY EDITION and there are others who will not give in easily like the Bucklers POYNTON HENRY, the Richards's SIR D'ORTON ( Charlotte Tizard) and Mrs Vigars riding her VIN DU PAYS.  Lucy Gardner should put up a good show on Mr Brown's GREY CISEAUX as a third at Wadebridge must have just been needed to get the season off to a start.  Off they go!  There were changing leaders in this race with VIN DU PAYS and POYNTON HENRY bringing the field up from the back straight KARADIN (Sue Young) and EARLY EDITION following and the favourite travelling very nicely behind these.   REVIEWER was still in fifth place over the final open ditch but still travelling well.  GREY CISEAUX was maintaining his position easily - last!  It was a good race between VIN DU PAYS and POYNTON HENRY for first place up to the penultimate fence and then REVIEWER came on the scene gently overtaking all and raced on to win by four lengths (easily!) with POYNTON HENRY in second place just one and half lengths ahead of VIN DU PAYS with SIR D'ORTON back in fourth.  REV IEWER didn't need a race but I think all the others would have profited by that run and will come on for it.

 

For those with good memories, at least of last season's performances, then they will remember the consistent running of Mr Channon and Mrs Murphy's WENDY'S DYNAMO (Mark Munrowd). Seldom out of the frame then and has had a 'needed' run this season but like me there were probably a lot who didn't remember!  Out of the thirteen runners for this Restricted Race I chose THEMATIS (Dominic Alers-Hankey) to load up the tin, the bag was also on this one but we were out of luck. The favourite backers who banked on the in-form Jamie Snowden to bring home WHO ELSE KNEW were also out of luck.  The latter having now joined the ranks of those with letters in the form as well as figures.  BEXLEY (C Heard), FORDHAM GLORY (G Weatherly) and SISSINGHURST STAR all raced well but in the end it was Mark on WENDY'S DYNAMO who came to take the spoils and crossed the line three lengths ahead of a good run by BUCKET AWL (R Woollacott) with BEXLEY two lengths back in third. 

 

Now we came to the maidens, two divisions of Open Maiden Races and two divisions of Confined Maiden Races.  Very difficult to find the winners in open maidens at the best of times but I am really stumped over this lot.  Darren Edwards's ride PHANTOM WALKER is best turned out in the first division and at a decent price so a little each way is invested.  The favourite is a horse that did have some NH form some time ago but trainer Caroline Keevil will probably have this one, OFF BROADWAY, about right for Dominic Allers-Hankey to get a good race out of him as I am sure she doesn't want to upset the owner who she knows quite well!  Off they go and my choice was over the first in front but not so good for Mrs Hussey's ELEGANT ACCORD as she deposited Will Biddick on the deck at this one.  On they go!  Darren Edwards kept PHANTOM WALKER well up front in this race and led for most of the time but it was the favourite who was creeping through the field from his position well in rear that was impressive.  Slowly accounting for each surviving runner he finally got the better of my choice and went to the line five lengths to the good of him with KARINGA COIN (R Darke) some twenty lengths back in third. Yes an impressive winner but the tin will do well out of a decent priced second.  Ruth's was one of those that decided to lie down half way through the proceedings.

 

Now why did I pick PADDY JOHNO to win division two?  Well it was the fact that Michael Milne deserves a win as it is well known that he has been trying for quite some time to pull off the feat of crossing that line which means success as opposed to 'nearly'.  The rewards I would collect would be quite nice as the investment area is saying that I have a three to one chance of half filling the tin but according to them I have to beat Caroline Prouse - whoops! This was quickly corrected by an alert announcer to Mrs Caroline Farrant so now you know!  Anyway I have to make sure Michael comes home in front of Caroline on TED ONE and also make sure the favourite, TOG GO BOGE with Alex Charles-Jones up is also in the rear.  Off they go!  Geof Maundrell on his MORATTI made life a little easier by adding another letter to his form book, which incidentally is very short of figures at the moment.  One less to worry about!  CHASING KATIE (Merv Wodward) was another who made things a little easier and she was soon to be joined by Ruth's choice MARGERY'S OPERA (C Kellaway) (Ruth had an Auntie Margery who sang in an opera, forty nine years ago today at half past three in the afternoon - as good a reason as any for an investment!)  A depleted field with a reduced number of fences (damaged) now so surely Michael with his vast knowledge of how to ride a finish? must hold onto this lead and not be frightened of ACJ on TOG GO BOGE who is also trying to win, overtaking him.  Hold on!  Caroline was bringing up the rear a little while ago and about 25 lengths away but now she looks as though she may catch up on TED ONE.  Never mind that one, just watch Michael bring home PADDY JOHNO to win by three lengths, in the fastest time of the maidens, from TOG GO BOGE (wherever did they get that name from?) and the wave of the crop in a professional manner as he crossed the line proved to me that he knew I was on a winner all the time.  TED ONE was third a distance back.  To the tin, release the lock and top up!

 

I invested on Lucy (Gardner) each way on the last of the two Confined Open Races but as she only managed third place on both WINTER SCENE and HI STAR and as there were only five runners in each race, I did not pick up any more but made a mental note to have a word with that young lady when I see her next week at the Western Point to Point at Wadebridge.  She owes me!  The best turned out WILLY FURNLEY (Dominic Alers-Hankey), a four to seven ON favourite won the first division but only just from a good ride by Guy Weatherley on BE COMMERCIAL, who veered to the left away from the crowd on the run in and possibly lost him the race.  The final division saw a promising ride by Will Biddick on Oliver Carter's GONE MISSING get scuppered after Ryan Bliss brought LADY EDISON home to win by four lengths, with Lucy back in third on HI STAR.

 

This was a good days racing on a course which stood up to nine races well and it was also a good initiation for a new white flag man.  After three false starts in one race the rules are now fully understood and this will not happen again. White flag up - flag down; not flag up flag down flag up flag down flag up!

 

Next week back to Cornwall, Wadebridge BE THERE!