Report from Spooners and West Dartmoor Foxhounds Point to Point at Cherry Brook, Tavistock on Sunday 9^th April 2006. 

 

There were so many rumours this past week about this meeting not taking place that the poor Secretary must be so pleased it is now over and done with.  It is said that they started in Exeter market but as most rumours in the Westcountry start in Exeter market I am surprised that any notice was taken of the false statements being made.  It was a glorious day, cool wind but apart from two very short hail showers, it remained a glorious day for the whole of the meeting.  The going was good and I thought that apart from a little more grass it was as good as you will ever get at Cherry Brook.

 

This was to be a day for favourite backers and non more so than in the Hunt race.  A good turn out and eight went to post with VIRGOS BAMBINO (S Gaisford) the clear favourite and was backed at even money by both Ruth and I and although at one stage best turned out KARADIN (S Young) looked to be in with a shout, it was the favourite who came clear to come home by fifteen lengths from KARADIN (2^nd fav) and twenty-five lengths back in third was Tigger Barnes on NICKIT. The course was completed in a sensible time of six minutes fourteen seconds which was going to be about the norm for the day.

 

A large line up for the restricted race of fifteen runners and UP TO THE MINUTE went off favourite but due I think in some part to the fact that Jamie Snowden was in the plate.    Ruth charged Alex Charles-Jones to bring home SANDERSTEAD to replenish her bag and I chose Charlotte Tizzard to balance my books by making FULLY LOADED cross the line, preferably in first place but I have made my investment each way as competition is tight in this one.  It was a good race.  We both witnessed our horses leading at some stage of the race but my excitement increased as FULLY LOADED got up to be arguing with ON HIS TOES with Will White up and BUCKET AWL and Richard Woollacott, clear of the remainder.  Charlotte was giving it her all but I think, although I could not see the happening clearly, she might have clouted the final fence.   Never mind, money back as ON HIS TOES crossed the line four lengths ahead of my FULLY LOADED with BUCKET AWL three lengths further back in third place.  Just a little for the tin and needless to say there is room for plenty more.

 

The Mixed Open saw nine go to post, all with great chances but none with such a chance as Mary McCarthy on her SANDY DUFF.  Impossible to wager on this (two to five ON!) fine animal as he is as near as dam it to a racing certainty as you will find so we will look for the one that will be second.  In the arena it is MYSTIC WARRIOR who is second favourite but both Ruth and I will settle for Lucy Gardner to bring in her GREY CISEAUX in second place.  We find a price of three to one without SANDY DUFF and lump on half tin and some bag.  Well Mary kept her Sandy nicely positioned until finally she was heard to whisper (loud enough for me to hear!)  "Go on Sandy its time to win this one!" and that is exactly what happened and SANDY DUFF again crossed the winning line in the honoured position of 'first'.  I was really quite happy as it was Lucy on GREY CISEAUX that kept up with SANDY DUFF for most of the final lap and when it mattered was a clear second some fifteen lengths back and in third place was Richard Woollacott after a very good run, on SIR WILLIAM.  Half tin now full tin (almost!) and bag quite happy!

 

The Confined Novice Riders race saw eight go to post and again an odds on favourite was soon established.  This time it was Ben Robarts on JALONS STAR that was being touted at big odds on prices.  After his past two efforts close home I am afraid of this one and I will be looking for something else.  Ruth agrees with me and we both fancy POLIGANA (Jenny Carr) to either win or come second to the favourite.  Not to be!  These novice riders put up a good performance, in particular Nick Schofield on SEA SNIPE.  He had the favourite in his eye and tracked him well until the last circuit when across the top it was obvious he meant business and rode up to get alongside JALONS STAR.  The very exciting race was then on between these two and eventually it was only a length and half between them on the line with the favourite taking it. Best turned out O'ECH was fifteen lengths back in third place.  If JALONS STAR comes down to Cornwall again I am sure it will be SEA SNIPE that will take the honour of crossing the line in best position.  We will leave POLIGANA for another day.  Nothing for either receptacle that time!

 

The final fence in the home straight has taken a beating again and needs repairs and then it's off for the seven runners in The Exeter Intermediate Race.  Again a solid odds on favourite is soon established in Jamie Snowden on WHO ELSE KNOWS.  This very much in form horse should have no problems winning this but now to find a good priced one to come second.  Mark Munrawd is getting some good tunes out of WENDYS DYNAMO although he found a recent hunter chase run a bit out of his depth.  Yes I will take this one to come second to the favourite.  The best turned out BLUEBELL HILL (T Dennis) has taken a lot of money in the investment area and has gone from eight to one down to three to one at the off so maybe I have chosen the wrong one - no! My choice was the only one to give the favourite a race.  He kept up a good pace throughout and stayed the distance but could not get to him and the winner, WHO ELSE KNOWS, went over the line six lengths to the good of WENDYS DYNAMO and Darren Edwards on GUNNER'S MISTAKE was at least fifteen lengths back in third.

 

Two maiden races followed, the first for over eight years old and eleven went to post in this one.  The last fence has taken a beating again so they have given up on this one and it will be by-passed for the remainder of the meeting.  No clear favourite for a while but eventually, THISELDO US took the most money and with Jamie Snowden onboard went off with that honour.  To me it was a false favourite, meaning there were others who had as good a chance to win and with much better form than this one but I expect it was the jockey's name that caused the money to flow in for him.  In fact I don't remember his name being mentioned but then I was busy watching Tim Dennis ride a great race on a horse he trains, one JAUNTY JANNER.  This one was only just beaten at the Western meeting (a head!) by that good thing THIRTYTWO RED so he was my choice.  Alice Mills on HANNAH BAY made him work hard for his win but it was JAUNTY JANNER at ten to one who came over the line two and half lengths clear.  Back in third place was COOK O'HAWICK who has at last added a figure to his form and finished the course to boot which he has previously never done whilst pointing.  Now the tin is looking healthy and the bag is content.

 

The final race broke my heart and the tin contents.  Whilst talking to connections earlier I learnt the LOUISES CHOICE will not be ridden by her owner, Mary McCarthy today as this smart mare has been a little naughty in the past and perhaps a stronger hand is needed.  She behaves well at home but gets a little fractious when at the race course.  The eventual choice of jockey was one Byron Moorcroft who is fresh from having a winner at Llanvapley yesterday and works for the Frost yard.  I got a good price, seven to one, for more than half the contents of the tin.  This good price was due to the fact that an even money favourite was also running, LORD OF THE SEA with Alex Charles Jones was a good second at the Taunton Vale meeting and was expected to pull this one off easily. Not so!  A great race with LOUISES CHOICE up front and leading the field.  Looking good!  Out into the country for the final time and still leading and look to be travelling well.  Back into sight as they climb the rise and she led over the thirteenth and looked good going across the top of the course and got away from the favourite - LORD OF THE SEA. Back in third was Tim Dennis on HUMBLE EXPECTATIONS. The few remainders were well strung out. The tin lid is now checked for ease of opening!! Confirmed plenty of space inside.  On the homeward route with just one to jump (last one not in use) it was a case of money in the tin provided she could stay the three miles.  The closer she came the more confident I and lots of others were that we had chosen right.  To my amazement, after rounding the final bend the jockey dropped his hands and stopped riding. A few strides later he was waving his arm in the air in a winning gesture before reaching THE LINE.  Tim Dennis during this debacle was still doing the job he was there for - riding a race horse to win!  He didn't ease up and seized the opportunity, came up the inside and got past the hand waving 'person'on LOUISES CHOICE and went through to win the race by two lengths.  Dom Alers-Hankey on FINAL DEAL was ten lengths back in third.  I was gutted!  Stewards enquiry but there is no way they can take it away from Tim but if they fine the young offender a million quid that will not help MY TIN!  He admitted his MISTAKE and got fined £125.  That hurt him but how stupid!!  Surely lesson one must always be quite simply - win first, weight in, then celebrate.

 

A very quiet journey home but at least we know Mary has two good horses but it will now take me twice as long to get my money back as the starting price on LOUISES CHOICE will not be that good for a long time.

 

Next week Upcott Cross (which is the best way for supporters from Cornwall to get there? Please email me and I'll stick it on the web page!)  for the Eggesford meet and then down to Trebudannon for the Four Burrow meet.  Good entries for both so - BE THERE!

 

Fred and Ruth