Report from The Vine and Craven Point to Point meeting at Fullers Barbury Racecourse on Saturday 18^th February 2006.

 

The Downs were covered in fog as we approached the Barbury Racecourse but the sun was trying to poke through and would soon burn off this nuisance.  We were early again so as to take in the Pony Racing as we both enjoy seeing the younger ones really go for this type of racing and they would either take to it as of now or pass it by until older before deciding if this was a career venture.  I walked the course at a sprightly step and this was a little faster than I would normally travel as I was in company with Ben Dixon, jockey of HERSWELL CREST, who was probably using this  'jog' to keep his weight down; well it did nothing for my weight  but it certainly made the lungs squeak a bit.  This course today would provide perfectly 'good' going.  I must revert to walking the wrong way round!

 

Unfortunately a commentary was not available for these pony races due to a technical fault but there was a full house of ten runners for both age groups and they travelled at a fair clip from the start near the open ditch, around the bend and up the home straight.  Harry Derham brought G WIZZ home to win the first race and Oliver Murphy did the same on FITZWARREN to win the second race.  SPARKY BOY, DUSTY ROSE, FOXYLINCH ERIBA, SAMBUK and CHERRY were the placed horses.  There were lots of smiling faces at the presentation by Mr P Walwyn and although no money was won there were rosettes galore!

 

The sun has done its job and the weather here is now just lovely and if it continues in this vein we will have a good day's racing.

 

I have never been so sure that I was going to win something for the tin as I was when I placed my investment for the Intermediate Race for Novice Riders.  I lost a little by waiting for a better price but eventually settled for five to two and on went a good half a tin full.  Now to sweat it out!    The syndicated PRESIDENT HILL (C Hart) went off favourite at odds on but that was not my choice. The best turned out P Clarke's TOUCH OF FLAME would be carrying my shirt (or a good part of it!) and the fact that he has young Josh Guerriero onboard has pleased me no end as he rode his first winner in good style at Chipley Park and works for Philip Hobbs's stable.  I saw this horse run here before this season, at the two day meeting and although placed fourth, did enough to convince me he was now beginning to show some of his very good breeding and would win this Intermediate.  With so much at stake I followed this one with the glasses and did not have much time for the remainder but I do know that the favourite was held up as Ruth kept me informed as it was carrying her investment. I did see TOMFOOLERY (D Burton) fall at fence four.  The de Giles's RAKA KING (Felix de Giles) ran well and came home in third place and after being nowhere, the favourite, PRESIDENT HILL made up a lot of ground and did come home in second place BUT these were twenty lengths behind the money carrying TOUCH OF FLAME.  After being in the mid division for the first circuit of this track, I watched closely as Josh brought this good thing slowly through the field, jumping extremely well and gaining ground on each fence until he was following the leaders led by MAQUILLEUX (D Maxwell), then going on to lead, first by a couple of lengths, then slowly and professionally he increased it until crossing the line twenty lengths ahead of his nearest rival.  That was a very well ridden race by a good young man.  The tin will not forget him in a hurry!!

 

The twelve runner Confined Hunts Race witnessed the even money favourite winning by fifteen lengths.  Richard Woollacott had the job this time of steering home best turned out THE KINGS FLING for Countess Goess-Saurau and this was achieved in a time only one minute slower than the Mixed Open Race.  STRONG TEA (Rilly Goschen) set off at a good pace with ALPHEUS (P Mason) upsides and closely followed by THE KINGS FLING and SEA BEACH (A Bush).  These four took the field down the far side, over the open ditch; STRONG TEA was the first to drop off the pace and it was the YOUNG THRUSTER (F de Giles) who took up to challenge for the lead.  With a complete circuit to race it was ALPHEUS, THE KINGS FLING, and now CHAUCERS MILLER (D Turner) who went up the straight almost together followed by YOUNG THRUSTER.  With two fences left to jump it was THE KINGS FLING ahead by two lengths from CHAUCERS MILLER and then ALPHEUS who was about to be overhauled by YOUNG THRUSTER.  Richard pushed THE KINGS FLING out a bit and went on to win by fifteen lengths from CHAUCERS MILLER with YOUNG THRUSTER making third just ahead of ALPHEUS, seven lengths back.  Nothing for the tin, but Ruth managed to get even money for the favourite, so did improve her finances a little.

 

Onto the fourteen runner Mixed Open Race with just two main protagonists according to the investment area and so it turned out to be.  Neil Harris on COUNTY DERRY to take on Jamie Snowden on DEEP POCKETS; both with recent good form and with conditions to suit.  Even money was available on DEEP POCKETS and when this came up one of the owners syndicate was seen travelling down the line and lumping on wherever he could get the price where as COUNTY DERRY was generally a little better but both Ruth and I decided to watch this one as even with the tin looking healthy I could not invest as I did not know the winner of this encounter.  DEEP POCKETS led the field from the off.  COUNTY DERRY settled in about fourth place.  Rilly Goschen soon had GLANAMANA up front along with DEEP POCKETS but by the time they got back to the start area it was Neil Harris taking them all along by two lengths from Jamie Snowden and then came Felix de Giles on HI RUDOLF and then Rilly.  On reaching six from home it was COUNTY DERRY who got in a bit close but sorted himself out but this allowed DEEP POCKETS to get upsides again, these two well clear of HI RUDOLF and Richard Woollacott on TEDDY BOY.  DEEP POCKETS jumped the next, fence fourteen, and gained a length and went on to get five lengths clear of COUNTY DERRY with these two pulling away from the remainder of the field.  It was here that I so wished we had an opportunity to invest 'in-running' as it looked for sure that DEEP POCKETS had it in his deep pocket but COUNTY DERRY will stay forever and with the necessary encouragement from a good pilot he slowly but surely got back at the gallant DEEP POCKETS, over the last together, up the final straight and COUNTY DERRY progressed and went over the line to win by six lengths.  A distance back in third place came best turned out SIMPLY SAM (G Fry) and this was an impressive first run this season so let's hope the Fry family has this one back on track.

 

Three divisions of Open Maiden Races for 4, 5, 6 & 7 Years Old followed with a variety of performances on record.  The fields were invariably soon spread out and the fifteen fences not all jumped by quite a few.  Division One saw a figure appear in the form for the first time of the six year old THEMATIS ridden admirably by Dominic Allers-Hankey and as that figure was a 1 there is no doubt we will be seeing this one again as soon as he can stay the three miles.  He came over the line four lengths ahead of Charlotte Tizzard on HYDROMATIC and Tabitha Cave was seven lengths back in third place on the family's LETS DANCE.  Division Two went to an outsider and was available at a very good price prior to the off.  W Smith's MAY BE POSSIBLE proved it was possible and came home first, three lengths ahead of the ten stone carrying filly RIVER TIGRIS.  This may not have been the result if the light weight had got about her business a little earlier (what makes you think I had a vested interest in this one!) Third horse home was FOX JOHN (Felix de Giles) twelve lengths back.  Division Three was a slightly slower affair and a more exciting finish saw Nathan Wilmington bring BUSY ISIT over the line three lengths to the good of Darren Edwards on JAYEMCEE BOY with Felix de Giles in the frame again on third placed horse, RUSTIC JOHN just a couple of lengths back in third.

 

Sixteen to post for the Restricted Race with not much to go on as some fancy Jamie Snowden to bring home WHO ELSE KNEW and others choose Dominic Allers-Hankey to cross the line first on SONNET SUPREME, eventually it was the latter who went off favourite.  Off they go and a steady pace was set as the field closely bunched passed the judge with two circuits to go.  Rounding the top and reaching fence four it was JOYE DES ILES (W Ward-Thomas) taking them along followed by FAR GLEN (D Greenway) and then came WHO ELSE KNEW and HANDY HILL (D Turner).  Through the starting area it was now MASTER JED (G Disney) who took over to take the field along with WHO ELSE KNEW in second place and these two were three lengths clear of best turned out  SHEPHERDS HUT (Tigger Barnes) then came BUCKET AWL (Richard Woollacott).  The field now well stretched out but very little change in the order except that the leading pair was now eight lengths clear of the remainder.  WHO ELSE KNEW was jumping better than MASTER JED and this enabled him to get away from him with SHEPHERDS HUT now closing.  MASTER JED tired very quickly and it was left for SHEPHERDS HUT to reel in WHO ELSE KNEW with ROYAL GUNNER now getting the better of BUCKET AWL and closing a little on the leading two.  On coming back into view with two left to jump it was a group of three left to fight out the finish.  At the final fence it was WHO ELSE KNEW and SHEPHERDS HUT in the air together with ROYAL GUNNER a little to make up.  A good race to the line and 'Tigger' Barnes at his very best got up to take it by a length from Jamie Snowdon with 'Rilly' Goschen just two and a half lengths back in third.  A very good finish but nothing for either receptacle as although we chose different horses to win, SHEPHERDS HUT was not amongst them.

 

The last chance now to add to tin and bag but as the favourite,     QUICKSWOOD (G Maundrell) is such an odds-on I don't think we will be investing in The Gales Brewery Vine and Craven Hunt Members'. Subscribers' and Farmers' Race.  Four go to post and although best turned out KNOWHOW (Neil Harris) and SEE YOU AROUND (S West) made the favourite stick to his task, he did it well and came home a worthy winner by one length from KNOWHOW with SEE YOU AROUND six lengths back in third.  Nothing for the tin but there is still some left from that lovely win on Josh Guerriero on TOUCH OF FLAME. I will have some to take to Buckfastleigh tomorrow where we will try again.

 

That completes a good days racing here and The Vine and Craven have done a good job providing a 96 runner card plus two pony races.  We will be back next year.

 

South Pool Harriers Buckfastleigh tomorrow Sunday 19^th February - BE THERE!!

 

Ruth and Fred