Report from Stevenstone Hunt Point to Point meeting held at Vauterhill Farm on Monday 1^st May 2006. 

 

We have to travel a little further for this meeting but clear roads and good weather make the journey easy and, as usual, we arrive in plenty of time and are ushered into a good parking spot.  I walked the course and after some overnight rain this is now in as near perfect condition as can be.  A good covering of grass and a good print will be made and up to speed racing will be possible.

 

I have just one moan - parking at the course edge is limited and quite rightly, the disabled badge holders have priority plus a few spots for Hon Officials etc. Now in come 'the bookies'.  Out with the bit of string measured off in distances which allow each operator the necessary amount of working space.  White dots sprayed on the lovely green grass.  All happy they set up their boards etc.  I think there were 18 of them but what I do know for sure is that they had 22 cars and they parked them tight, and I mean tight, up against the course fence.  It was practically impossible for anyone to get in front of the vehicles and do you know what?  The cars were empty throughout the whole afternoon.  They deprived the public of viewing the races for a distance of at least 75 yards just after the winning post, deprived of the view of horses going to post and were generally in a nuisance area.  Please get them to move their line further away from the course so as to allow the public to do what they came for - view good racing!

 

On we go with the 'farmers' race and four turn out for this.  Nice to see Mr Squires's best turned out RICE POINT back on the track again and this being the track he has liked in the past he should run well but he will be up against it as Neil Harris is here to ride Mrs Wicketts's SOLDIER OF ROME who has been very consistent this season.  Not without a chance also is the Three to One Club's HUMBLE EXPECTATIONS who got home on the line at Cherrybrook.  There is also a separate book on the fourth contender as SLIPPEN-ON has yet to complete but today could be the day and the Ford family will enjoy it whatever happens as this is Claire's first attempt at this game I believe.  Off they go in beautiful weather to tackle the three miles around here.  All going well at the first of the open ditches with the field being led by SOLDIER OF ROME followed by HUMBLE EXPECTATIONS (Tim Dennis), SLIPPEN-ON (Miss C Ford) and bringing up the rear RICE POINT (C Heard).  RICE POINT is a little keen at the moment and needs to be held.  Claire made a mistake but soon got it together again.  Tim Dennis kept his charge right up to Neil Harris and Colin Heard on a much more settled ride did not let either of them get too far away.  A tough battle between Neil and Tim ensued and at three out it was anyone's race with RICE POINT near enough if good enough.  At the last fence it looked as if my wager on a forecast of SOLDIER OF ROME and RICE POINT was going to come up but not to be as Tim Dennis made sure HUMBLE EXPECTATIONS maintained his challenge and at the line it was SOLDIER OF ROME by a length from HUMBLE EXPECTATIONS with RICE POINT half a length back in third.  I fell off the back of the Jimny urging on RICE POINT, so I am not sure if Claire got home so will someone please email me and let me know!

 

A good turnout of eleven to post for the restricted race and it is difficult to choose here but I did well!  David Johnson's BE COMMERCIAL (Guy Wetherley), the Emily Thompson trained, best turned out CATTLE CLASS (R Woollacott) and the Walters's MONTEBANK were all being invested on and quite rightly so as they have consistent form this season.  Off they go! Tim Dennis on LIRIC LADY took the field over the first and it was Neil Harris on NO WHIPS bringing up the rear. All over the first open ditch and a good pace was being set.  BE COMMERCIAL was the first to show signs of 'I don't want to be here' and got a couple of reminders.  Heading back to the ditch for the second time it was difficult to determine who was actually in front from this head on position but the leading group all cleared it well and progressed to the home straight and on to the final circuit.  LIRIC LADY still led the field, PADDY JOHNO (M Milne), CANYOUTALK (Lee Rowe) QUESTIONIT (Lucy Gardner) were in close attendance. BE COMMERCIAL was six or seven lengths adrift.  EARLY MORNING (Merv Woodward) was pulled up so the cheek pieces didn't work this time.  LIRIC LADY was pulled up.  Down the hill and on through the starting area there were six or seven in with a chance being led by PADDY JOHNO marginally from CANYOUTALK, CATTLE CLASS and QUESTIONIT but surprisingly in rear at this time was MONTEBANK.  To the final open ditch three out and on the outside it was CATTLE CLASS followed by QUESTIONIT and PADDY JOHNO back in third.  These three made a very good race of it over the last an onto the line but it was the lady, who won the Ludlow Gold Cup Hunters' Chase on her TSAR'S TWIST on Sunday, who prevailed and came home to win on QUESTIONIT by three lengths and PADDY JOHNO followed her in with CATTLE CLASS one and half lengths back in third place.  Those that come over and have a chat noticed I had a bright shiny new tin again.  Well that was because of TSAR'S TWIST.  I invested a little handful from the other tin. (Exchange prices were 8.51, 16.50, 3.35 and 2.30)  The wait for the result was almost too much but to win on the line by only a head was all I needed.  Because of that success a new tin was necessary and now, would you believe, I chose QUESTIONIT for an each way wager and that has come off also. Great stuff!

 

Just three for the mixed open race which is a pity but best turned out (another one for Emily Thompson's yard) FINEWOOD with Richard Woollacott up should have no trouble here and his odds are a little too cramped for me.  Who will be second?  GREY CISEAUX (Lucy Gardner) ran second to SANDY DUFF last time out and the Be My Native gelding BUSH PARK (Rupert Tory) is no slouch so I will just sit back and watch.  Quite uneventful really, FINEWOOD did as expected and won by ten lengths from BUSH PARK and GREY CISEAUX who has probably not quite recovered from chasing Sandy home at Cherrybrook was eleven lengths back in third.

 

Onto the Confined hunts race with ten going to post.  Mr G Lever's READY TO RUMBLE (Neil Harris) went off favourite closely followed by SEA SNIPE (N Schofield) who opened at six to one which was quickly taken and by the time I got to the arena I could only get two to one.  Others slightly fancied were GIN 'N' FONIC (C Heard) and JAYAS (G Weatherley) and a little went on, including a small each way wager from me, ROYMILLON, with Lucy in such form it would be silly not to.  Mark Munrowd took SPORTING CHANCE into the lead from the start and set a good pace and maintained this position until well into the race.  JAYAS followed for some time and READY TO RUMBLE was keeping tabs on the scene.  ROYMILLON, GIN 'N' FONIC and SEA SNIPE travelled well.  All over the open ditch for the second time.  Out on the final circuit it was still SPORTING CHANCE and now best turned out MAGICAL FUN (Miss T Hayes) closed up a little with READY TO RUMBLE, JAYAS and GIN 'N' FONIC all ready to pounce.  POLAR FAIR (J Cole) was pulled up!  At the down hill fence we lost GIN 'N' FONIC!   Pulling up the gradient from the starting position on the last lap SPORTING CHANCE was joined for the first time and it was the favourite, READY TO RUMBLE who took up this position closely followed by SEA SNIPE and ROYMILLON also now closing up.  As the leaders were viewed crossing the far end of the course young Nick Schofield whispered to SEA SNIPE that it was now time to go on and that is exactly what this game little mare did.  She fairly scooted away from the others - two lengths, four lengths six lengths and on she went, down the straight and over the final open ditch and on and on!  Lucy and possibly others had been caught out by the burst of speed and ROYMILLON gave chase but it was an impossible task and home came SEA SNIPE to win by four lengths from ROYMILLON with the favourite READY TO RUMBLE eight lengths back in third place.  The good pace set by SPORTING CHANCE was right up SEA SNIPE'S street and this was a clever bit of riding by this young man but it was also a game performance by the mare.   A little for the tin from the winner and a little more from the second - this is the way to do it!  The bag hasn't had such luck but a charming lady has just delivered Ruth's winning from the Lottery Lucky Ball competition that we enter to support our local hunt, so the bag is really pleased about that!

 

I was having a chat with the camera man as one does when desperate for good information and he informed me that best turned out CHITA'S FLIGHT with Tigger Barnes up could  be a good thing in the next.  He assured me that the form was solid, she was owned by none less than The Cashmere and Concrete Partnership, (so that's good!), and she was a six year old grey mare. She has travelled down from the Weston and Banwell Hunt area and enjoyed the journey. I am now armed with vital information from a good source so I am off to invest.  Whilst waiting at the desk of the investment taker, I passed on my valuable information to a friend as it is always better when one loses that there is someone else in the same boat.  We waited and eventually parted with some tin ingredients (only a little because whilst I like the Cashmere I am not too impressed with the Concrete bit!) and took the price of nine to four.  So the Exeter Racecourse Intermediate Race is within my grasp.  Seven to post and the grey stands out! (It should do, it is the only one!)  Off they go!  No they don't! Oh! Part of my valuable information that I haven't mentioned is that this grey mare likes false starts so it looks good so far!  Second time of asking and they are away.  Young Mary  Biddick led the field over the first but she is definitely trying different tactics today as she soon steadies FRANKLY FEAR in behind a couple of others and it was Darren Edwards on BALDARA who led the field around the top and into the turn towards the open ditch for the first time.  The main opposition to my choice and who went off favourite is ON HIS TOES (Will White) and he has settled in mid pack.  Onto the open ditch for the second time it was still BALDARA leading BUT now it was the grey mare who was running in second place and travelling sweetly (I would say that though!) ON HIS TOES in third, JAUNTY JANNER (Tim Dennis) also going well.  Down the hill and CHITA'S FLIGHT jumped that fence really well and they disappeared out of view for a few second and then back climbing out of the run through and to the first going up the hill it was BALDARA over first but CHITA'S FLIGHT then got the word and was soon upsides.  Across the top Tigger set this mare really going and she cut loose by about six or seven lengths followed by ON HIS TOES and JAUNTY JANNER.  To the final open ditch and on to the final fence without a worry and across the line to win by fifteen lengths from the favourite ON HIS TOES  with JAUNTY JANNER eight lengths back in third and these were followed by BALDARA, ON MY WAY HOME and FRANKLY FEAR.  Off to pick up a little more and perhaps I'll buy the camera man a pint!

 

Two divisions of open maiden races followed with fourteen runners in the first and thirteen in the second.    Lucy Gardner came unstuck on Paul Tyler's MISS MORFIRE and took a nasty kick in the mouth for her troubles.  She was taken off to Exeter Hospital and as yet I have not heard how she is but I will continue to check it out.  Mr and Mrs Runnalls's TRAVEL DE'HOUCHE under Will Biddick took the field along for quite a while but came to grief after the start location on the final lap. Mike Weir's horses which are usually in amongst the winners by now have not been performing to their normal high standards until today.  The grey WADDON HILL who has been lightly raced was given a great ride by Vanessa Shaw and took this field apart from the top of the climb, over the final open ditch and on over the last to get home by twelve lengths from LE MANS (R Darke) who was just a head to the good of CONTRARY KING.  As you said Vanessa, you needed that! I am sure Mike agrees with you!

 

The final race saw an extremely good run by Mrs Pam Pengelly's DENNIS THE LEGEND (Alex Charles-Jones) who went off clear favourite to take this division.  Good runs by DART A TRUMP (T Dennis) (2^nd) and SIR HARRY HALL (J Cole) (3^rd) will go down in my note book for future maiden races. 

 

An excellent days racing in a lovely atmosphere and really good weather.  Thank you Stevenstone we enjoyed it as did many others and at very sensible prices.  Get the 'bookies' moved!  Next weekend we start our annual pilgrimage to Exmoor and the first one will be the D & S Staghounds at Holnicote and then on to see Lee Glanville at the Axe Vale at Stafford Cross. Racing here is preceded by two pony races with nine in the 13.2hh and under at noon and seven in the 13.2hh to 14.2hh at 12.20pm.  All good stuff so - BE THERE!

 

Fred and Ruth