Report from The Exmoor Hunt meeting held at Bratton Down on Saturday 3 June 2006. 

 

Such beautiful weather as we travelled up the Atlantic Highway to get to Bratton Down early and pick up a good parking spot facing the course.  The course had more grass on it than I have seen for quite a few years and with this covering and recent rain it was surprising but it would still race fast and probably be declared as 'good to firm'.  Brilliant sunshine which looked set for the entire day and a lot of entries so a good days racing should be in store.

 

Five will run in the Farmers race and Colin Heard on COLONIAL SUNSET will go off odds on favourite with his closest opposition being Richard Pyman on the family's OPAL 'LOU and the other three were considered without much of a chance.  Off they go on their three mile journey with OPAL 'LOU getting his head in front practically from the drop of the flag.  On they went and it appeared that every time Richard Pyman got a vision of Colin Heard appearing in the corner of his eye he pulled out a little more and increased his lead a little.  Many nods over fences were evident from OPAL 'LOU and none more serious than that at the third from home on the final circuit but this little mare looked after Richard and allowed him to stay onboard and raced to the line to win by six lengths from the odds on favourite, COLONIAL SUNSET.  Hugh Thomas on his MASTER KEVIN was third.  Because of the very short price about the favourite we did not invest but now wished, along with a lot of others, we had taken the five to two about Richard.

 

Thirteen to run in the Restricted race with two or three bits of class expected to be up against one another in this one, but the two that will surely be racing it out at the line will be NEBRASKA (R Green) and MARIA GIGI (J Snowden) as these two have caught the eye of followers this season.  NEBRASKA for the way this five year old won his two and half miles maiden at Tedworth and his liking for firm ground, although he did unseat his rider at his last run.  As for MARIA GIGI, this one has been most consistent and has only been out of the frame once this season and has probably not lived up to expectations (cost £20,000 plus) but likes this ground and should run well here.  NEBRASKA goes off the odds on favourite with best turned out MARIA GIGI no more than 7 to 4.  I wrongly chose to give FARLEY WATER (N Harris) another chance as his price was each way value but although he led for a considerable distance, in fact right up to the third from home, I did not collect so the tin suffered its first blow.  NEBRASKA made mistakes at his fences but when it was necessary Rachel got this one going well and made up a lot of ground between the last two fences and joined Jamie on his charge doing exactly the same and the outcome of a good race in particular up the Bratton Down long run in went to NEBRASKA by two lengths from MARIA GIGI with WHAT'S UP MAID four lengths back in third.  The latter ran an exceptionally good race and has two more chances to win a restricted this year.  Watch out!

 

Six to post for the Intermediate race and the owners of one have arrived by helicopter to watch it race so we are expecting big things from Rachel Green on Paul Barbers best turned out WILLYANWOODY but I have chosen to invest in the Caroline Keevil trained OFF BROADWAY (D Allers Hankey) who has won his Restricted this season and appears to be an improving one. Ruth agrees with me and has opened the bag for a little investment as well.  As expected by most, WILLANWOODY goes off odds on favourite and our choice is just above even money.  It took Rachel a little time to settle the hard pulling WILLANWOODY but he soon got the hang of things and took the field along at a good pace. SPINNING SILVER was close up in third going down the hill for the first time followed by MAGNEMITE, HORIZON HILL and OFF BROADWAY.  HARNAGE was bringing up the rear.  With a complete circuit to go it was the strapping good looking chaser in the Paul Barber's colours WILLYANWOODY that led the field out into the country followed by HORIZON HILL, SPINNING SILVER, MAGNEMITE and OFF BROADWAY.  Running up to the final ditch it was still the favourite leading who was jumping beautifully and gained distance in the air and always landed running.  On passing the start area MAGNEMITE decided to increase pace and joined and possibly got his head in front of the favourite but it was short lived and the big chaser took up his normal dominant position and led the field all the way home to win by five lengths from a very good run by MAGNEMITE who was half a length to the good of my investment carrier, OFF BROADWAY.  The winner is sure to go places so remember the name.  Poor tin and bag!!

 

Nine to post for the Ladies' open race and I have no hesitation in announcing my investment after having seen this one run at Mounsey Hill (that was the moment you could see!) so Clare Allen on WATCHYOURBACK will again be carrying a considerable amount of tin content.  Having said all that I have to say that this is one of the best Ladies' races I have seen go to post for some time.  BALLY BLUE (P Gundry), BOYNE BANKS (T Good), CENTO (S Gaisford), GREY CISEAUX (L Gardner), SPUDDLERS DREAM (R Green), TYNEHAM (A Goschen), best turned out YOUNG GENERAL (H Rovia) and SHOBROOKE MILL (C Farrant).  My choice is the favourite and I managed to get on at even money but I am sure he went off favourite and rightly so having won his last six races, in fact seven this season.  It was BOYNE BANKS that set the pace and it was as expected, a good one.  He took them down to the open ditch, which they all cleared and around to the starting area for the first time followed by WATCHYOURBACK, BALLY BLUE, and held up GREY CISEAUX.  YOUNG GENERAL seems to have pulled up.  Along the home straight and around the turn to take them out into the country for the final time it was now BALLY BLUE and WATCHYOURBACK up front followed by GREY CISEAUX. TYNEHAM was looking dangerous sitting back in fourth place having overhauled BOYNE BANKS.  As they raced down into the dip and towards the final open ditch it was Miss Gardner who asked her GREY CISEAUX to take it up and she led the field over the final ditch and around past the starting area.  Lucy quickly built up a lead of five or six lengths from the chasing WATCHYOURBACKS and now SPUDDLERS DREAM in third place.  Over the last there was nothing in it between these three but the long drive up the finishing straight was won by Lucy with SPUDDLER'S DREAM one length back in second and my choice was a neck away in third.  This was the fastest race of the day and the only one under six minutes. A great race and I was not too disappointed after watching a super spectacle and it was no surprise to me when Miss Gardner was presented with The Best Rider of the Meeting award at the end of the day as this performance was a really clever one and well deserved.  Tell me next time Lucy!

 

There were over forty entries for the Men's Open race and out of this fifteen went to post. Great!  There was a squabble as to who would go off with the honour of being favourite and in the end I think it was the very good thing UN JOUR A VASSY (A Ralph) who had that honour.  Very close in the pecking order was GONE TO LUNCH (N Harris) but according to the investment boards it was one or the other who was going to win as the remainder were very much bigger prices. I chose an each way investment at a really good price and I did need it as the tin is not looking too healthy at the moment.  The horse that carries the responsibility of putting things right for me is ITSACLICHE (P Mason) who has not yet won an open but ran well in an intermediate and has come second in his open attempt.  The best turned out TOUCH OF FLAME has had a very good season but has raced a lot and was a beaten favourite last time out otherwise I might have been tempted but I'll stick with Pete Mason to sort me out.  Ruth chose SPRINGFORD (D Allers Hankey) who like most of these runners, has good form this season, to boost the bag a little.  Off they go!  No they don't!  Now they do!  SEA SNIPE (Nick Schofield) led the field as they got going on their way!   Passing the judge for the first time it was now CANADA (R Ross) who led the field but only just from a following bunch.  Rounding the bend at the starting area it was now CHARLIEBOB (R Hawker) who led followed closely by FONTENAC (D Edwards) and BEADNELL BAY (J Snowden) with SUPREME GLORY (B Evans) a couple of lengths back.  Up the home straight for the second time it was FONTENAC now leading with CHARLIEBOB back in second and POLAR FAIR (J Cole) now on the scene.  Down the hill and out into the country it was SPRINGFORD who now led them along, POLAR FAIR, BEADNELL BAY following and ASHBURY STAR (B Dixon) now taking closer orders.  UN JOUR A VASSY fell.  Positions changed again coming up the far side but it did not interfere with the running of SPRINGFORD who came to the last leading the field followed by GONE TO LUNCH who had made up ground and now my ITZACLICHE was making progress.  A good race to the line this will be!  Here they come amidst the roar!  It was close and Neil Harris on GONE TO LUNCH crossed the line first by a neck from SPRINGFORD and then one and half lengths back to ITZACLICHE.  Both Ruth and I collect which is great but also it was a first class race and very exciting.

 

Three divisions of maidens followed and two out of the three produced very close finishes.  I had invested on MIRAMAR (T Cave) to take the first which she did, by a neck from RANGE ROVER (R Green) with SHARP HAND (M Harris) two lengths back in third which balanced up the tin quite well.  Only seven ran in division two and BILLY WHITELIES (M Carter), a proper looking point to pointer, won at a good price as the odds on favourite, LORAMSKI (R Green) didn't get a look in but HOT FOOT HARRY (P Turner) came home in second place some six lengths back with LORD FITZROY (A Bush) a long way back in third.  Ruth and I had hoped the favourite best turned out CHELSEA AVENUE (R Woollacott) would bring in a little for us but no luck this time.  The final division would surely be sorted out between Pam Pengelly's BIG DAVES LEGEND (A Charles-Jones) and TOMSK (N Harris).  The latter had run a good race at Minehead and was only beaten two and half lengths by NIPPER STAR with MILNSTORM back in third.  Surely good enough form to win this!  As for BIG DAVES LEGEND his form has not been up to much but I have been informed to forget his last run and this going and this way round things should be different.  Well it was different - they were both beaten by Guy Weatherley riding a sound finish on OH VLO to take it away from TOMSK by a head with BIG DAVES LEGEND a neck back in third place.  An excellent finish to a real good days racing in perfect conditions.

 

Now I need a little help!  I had a little each way investment on FIRST WAVE (D Allers Hankey) in the last race owned and trained by Marilyn Burrough.  I never saw the horse throughout the race!  The Commentator did not mention the horse throughout the race!  He certainly did not win or get placed in the race!  I had several supporters watching for Number Seven but to no avail!  WHERE IS FIRST WAVE please?  WHERE DID HE GO?  Someone can surely email me and put me out of my misery! 

 

The tin and bag remain steady but only just! (Steady means we can go again!) On Wednesday evening at Upcott Cross we will be at the rearranged Lamerton meeting so you just make sure - BE THERE!

 

Fred and Ruth