Report from Mid Devon Foxhounds Point to Point held at Black Forest Lodge, Kenton near Exeter on Saturday 11^th February 2006. 

 

We like many others, in particular those with ponies to race at eleven, will leave home early to ensure necessary things, like declarations (10 am for the first race), etcetera are completed on time.  I don't use the system, 'the official service of P to P racing',  but those that did, complained that at half past nine on the race day the latest information on the state of the ground at Black Forest Lodge, was still being reported as of six pm yesterday.  Not a lot of use!   When I arrived I was informed that racing had been put back and hour but as declaration time was not altered this did not affect travelling horses but it might have made an alteration to attendance in general as supporters would now have time to re-route from other cancelled racing.  We were lucky here and the ground would race 'good to firm' and the day would commence with two pony races, to the delight of a lot of youngsters.

 

Seven to post for ponies 13.2hh and under. The best turned out the White's MRS MOUSE looked a picture but it was obvious a great effort had been made to all runners and there were very proud jockeys enjoying this, some for the very first time.  The visitor from Wales, Connar Flint, on his Welsh part bred, STAMBROOK MARQUESA gave the impression he had done it many times before, he got away first, raced well and came home in first place ahead of Charlotte Long on her chestnut COVEHAM GENERATION with Ryan White on MRS MOUSE in third place.   Just five for the 13.3 to 14.2 class. A very exciting race from the off with Hadden Frost on MISS BRADY and Rhys Flint on TYPSY FLINT giving it their all.  Some very professional looking riding by these two jockeys was in evidence but it was TIPSY FLINT that came out the best and went on to win very comfortably from MISS BRADY with Bradley Gibbs on his BWL GIRL in third place. 

 

A level break saw the field of five runners get off for the Confined Race. Lucy Gardner got her TSAR'S TWIST away well and I am very pleased about that as she is carrying a considerable amount from the tin.  Richard Woollacott is close up on best turned out POLLIGANA and Jenny Congdon follows on the Roberts's CHAPNERS CROSS.  Rachel Board did not seem to be able to get her GENEREUX to get going and was content to bring up the rear.  POLIGANA soon took up the running and went away out into the country setting a sensible gallop and on to the first of the ditches; TSAR'S TWIST and PETER'S TWO FUN (D McKenna) following closely.  After passing the start area for the first time Lucy put TSAR'S TWIST upside Richard and gradually got to the front and was in that position as they went out into the country for the final time but only by a small margin. PETER'S TWO FUN was lying in third and these three opened up a good lead over Jenny of eight lengths with GENEREUX still travelling, but well behind.  Crossing the top and at fence 16 POLIGANA had gone to the fore again closely followed by Lucy but possibly she heard my shouting and began challenging Richard again.  At three from home Lucy had a lead of about three lengths and was travelling well followed by POLIGANA and then, also still travelling well, PETER'S TWO FUN.  Turning for home Lucy had it in the  bag and went on to win by twelve lengths from a good duel for second of which POLLIGANA came out the better by half a length from PETER'S TWO FUN.  I think they were the only finishers.  Now I have to take the bubble wrap out of the tin and replace it with 'earnings'.

 

This is to be a good Men's Open Race although only seven runners as four of them have already run this season of which two have won and one has come second.  I am settling for Richard Kelvin Hughes's ITZACLICHE (Peter Mason) to add to the contents of the tin but he has to beat Neil Harris on READY TO RUMBLE and Guy Wetherley on the blinkered POLAR CHAMP.  Richard Woollacott on TUBA, who ran here at the Silverton meeting, will have benefited by that run so may be a threat and Michael Miller on the White's HIGHWAY OAK who had good consistent form last season could also be a problem on his first run for the season.  HIGHWAY OAK took the field over the first closely followed by POLAR CHAMP, then came TUBA, CLUB ROYAL (Tim Lane), READY TO RUMBLE, ITZACLICHE and finally best turned out RIGHT'N'ROYAL (Karl Yates).  Over the open ditch the order had not changed much but the field was beginning to get strung out.  Crossing the top for the first time we saw Michael Miller jumping HIGHWAY OAK really well and riding in a very determined manner.  'In running' punting would have seen the money piling on that one if it was available.  My choice was not liking this at all and was last but one and just not in the race.  Up the hill they go for the final time it was still HIGHWAYOAK stretching them out with both POLAR CHAMP and TUBA getting reminders and staying on READY TO RUMBLE.  These four were now getting away and HIGHWAYOAK, jumping like the proverbial stag, took them over the final ditch and across the top. Neil was getting a response from READY TO RUMBLE and he moved up into second place with POLAR CHAMP and TUBA still staying on.  My choice was completely out of it and as it was Ruth's choice as well there is not a lot of conversation here at the moment.  HIGHWAY OAK gave no concern to his backers, increased his lead, took the last as though it was the first and came home to win by six lengths with READY TO RUMBLE in second and POLAR CHAMP a worthy third. 

 

A great pity but there are only three to race in the Richard Kelvin Hughes sponsored Ladies' Open race.  We don't know much about the Englands' ALPHA EIGHT so we will leave that one out of the equation which only leaves the sponsors SAILORS FOLLY with Polly Gundry up and Charlotte Tizzard on the best turned out LONGSTONE BOY.  I will just enjoy this race without any investment as the favourite, LONGSTONE BOY, is too short a price for me and sponsors have a habit of winning their own races so a shock may be on the cards.  Off they go with LONGSTONE BOY immediately going into the lead.  ALPHA EIGHT was soon to pull his way to the front and I am not sure that Joanne England had too much to say in the way her charge was running, certainly not at present.  After completing a circuit and jumping fence ten ALPHA EIGHT and LONGSTONE BOY were together with SAILORS FOLLY just back in third. On they went at a good pace and at the final open ditch all three were together.  At the fence at the top of the hill ALPHA EIGHT was now being ridden along by Joanne and looked settled for third place at best as the other two raced down hill with SAILORS FOLLY going to the front.  There were quite a few groans around me as Polly pushed on for home on the second favourite and the favourite was unable to respond.  Over the line went the grey SAILORS FOLLY in the fastest time of the day, five lengths ahead of LONGSTONE BOY with a tired APHA EIGHT a distance away third.

 

The Intermediate Race will see the Restricted winner of two weeks ago, FIESTY FROSTY (M Scudamore) having another outing but this time she will be up against a horse from Wales who has won both maiden and restricted this season and will go off favourite to win this - odds-on S Hughes's CLASSI MAUREEN (R Woollacott).  Michael Miller will be looking for another winner with TEACH ALTRA and Polly will be doing the same with the blinkered NICKIT.  The Hawker's are trying to get a win out of their SOOTSIR but it's a long time ago since this one won his restricted.  Off go the five with CLASSI MAUREEN leading the field.  Passing the judge for the first time it was the favourite still leading followed by FIESTY FROSTY and then NICKIT and TEACH ALTRA with SOOTSIR bringing up the rear.  On passing the judge for the final time, very little has changed except that NICKIT made a small mistake allowing TEACH ALTRA to race into third as they go out into the country for the final time.  At the final open ditch CLASSI MAUREEN met it well and cleared it and went on by four lengths from FIESTY FROSTY with TEACH ALTRA six lengths back in third.  Over the fence at the far end and CLASSI MAUREEN was piling it on and would take it with a good lead from FIESTY FROSTY who had definitely not given up.  Three from home and it looked as though Michael Scudamore was closing on Richard but had a bit to make up.  Up to the second fence from home and CLASSI MAUREEN was weakening and FIESTY FROSTY had got to the five year old.  Richard was hard at work but it was the second favourite that now pulled away, took the final bend and fence in fine style and to the line to win by ten lengths from CLASSI MAUREEN.  TEACH ALTRA was three lengths back in third place.  A good race and the two main protagonists will surely see the winner's enclosure a few more times this season.

 

The Restricted Race will see two runners who both won here at the Silverton meeting again, TYRE HILL LILY (Lucy Gardner) who won the 'Members' and SOUTHWESTERN (Neil Harris) who won his 'Maiden', and others in this twelve runner line up have also been placed this season.  This should be a good race!  Well it was if you backed the favourite.  I took quite a bit from the bubble wrap free tin and relied upon Lucy to increase my investment. Off they go and the first two to be mentioned were the previous winners who were noted to be the last away.  Will Biddick led the field over the first on the One Point Zero One Partnerships' (the lowest odds you can get on the Betfair Exchange!) FOXY JUDAS with KERRY ZULU WARRIOR (R Lee) close up and wanting to get on with things, then came KARING KENDA (Darren Edwards) and the remainder followed in a group but Lucy was still in the 'rear hold up position'.  Over the first of the ditches it was FOXY JUDAS, KERRY ZULU WARRIOR, by about four lengths and then came SELASSIE (C Wallis) and WARREN HILL (D Turner) and the rest BUT Lucy was still last.  On reaching the start area again it was still FOXY JUDAS but JOHNSAIR (G Perkins) was upsides now as was SOUTHWESTERN.  Lucy had made a move and was in the following group now.  Back up the hill and out into the country it was SOUTHWESTERN now taking them along and increasing his lead followed by SELASSIE and FOXY JUDAS.  TYRE HILL LILY was taking closer order now but the field was beginning to get strung out.  Over the ditch although FOXY JUDAS tickled the top of it a bit but SOUTHWESTERN under Neil Harris was now pulling away from the remainder.  TYRE HILL LILY moved up to get into second spot but the task of catching Neil Harris was a mammoth one and Lucy could not pull it off and followed SOUTHWESTERN to the winning line some twelve lengths behind.  A little mistake at the second last must have given Neil a fright and me some hope, but the partnership remained intact. SELASSIE ran a very good race and was only half a length to the rear of TYRE HILL LILY in third place.  Off I go to replace the bubble wrap as there is plenty of room for it now and it will prevent the loose (only) change from rattling.  I am very pleased that The Exford Group have got a good replacement for their Toon Society and may they have a lot of fun with this one.

 

A couple of Maiden Races completed the card and it was that man Neil Harris and trainer Jeremy Scott that saw Gary Lever's GONE TO LUNCH (fav) easily win the first Division with T Dunsford's MERCUREY (Michael Miller) running a good race to come in second and although a long way back, LITTLE ED (T Lane) did complete and came in third.  I invested on MERCUREY and Ruth invested on tongue strapped, blinkered best turned out PHANTOM WALKER who pulled up so there was nothing for tin or bag - again!

 

The final race saw eleven go to post and I was sure I could make amends for my previous wrong decisions so I shook out the bubble wrap and left the tin bare as I made my investment on 'Tigger' Barnes to bring home KINGSTON BLUE  and also to loan the bag some to invest. This was a very good race and for a long time I was under the impression that I would be giving the tin a little something to carry home but Darren Edwards on Michael Wear's LISTEN KID had different ideas. Crossing the top on the final lap it was Neil Harris going for a treble on NO TURNING BACK with a lead of about four lengths followed by David Luff on best turned out  JANDAL, then came 'Tigger' on KINGSTON BLUE and going well followed by LISTEN KID (Darren Edwards) and PITTON MILL (D Turner).  A very good finish ensued with KINGSTON BLUE and LISTEN KID getting to NO TURNING BACK at two from home.  LISTEN KID jumped the second last the better and raced on to the line with KINGSTON BLUE forever challenging but unable to get to the winner, who went over the line to win by three lengths with Neil three lengths back in third.  Nothing for tin or bag so back in goes the bubble wrap.  Roll on next week it can only get better!

 

Thank you Mid Devon for providing a good day's racing which was a scarce happening in England today and I hope your extensive attention to providing a good racing surface was well worth while.  Not very profitable, in fact a complete monetary loss, but very very enjoyable.

 

Next week it is our first chance to see the meeting of the Vine and Craven Hunt which is being held this year at the Barbury race course then we will travel back to Buckfastleigh for the meeting of the South Pool Harriers.  We are disappointed that we have to miss the South Dorset meeting but we are not responsible for the fixture list BUT if we were we would not arrange two Westcountry meetings on the Sunday with none on the Saturday.  

 

If you are not at Barbury make sure you are at Buckfastleigh - BE THERE!

 

Fred and Ruth