Report
from The Black Forest Club Point to Point held on
Sunday 3rd December 2006 at Black Forest Lodge Kenton Exeter
History was made at BFL today and it was a day to
remember. Good 'going', good weather,
good crowd and plenty or runners over a course that was well prepared and a
lovely covering of grass ensured exciting racing for the first time ever in
December. Congratulations to all
concerned and although we thought the horrendous gales of last night might have
taken its toll it was not to be and the tents were all still in place although
a few pegs needed the odd clout or two this morning.
Seventy one horses raced over the course and it stood
up to it well. The first two races were
2m 4f Open maiden races and the remainder were over the three miles and the
times achieved were very much the same as in previous years. The standard of racing was particularly good
with hard luck stories resulting in not one lady rider achieving a win. The 'bag' was checked and a little from last
season was found deep inside but the 'tin' was starting off completely
empty. The winter fuel allowance has
been received, the gas and electric fires shut down, at least until we win
something, and the Christmas bonus is also in the 'ready to use' pot. Here we go with the will to win and it must
be more than last year.
Fred (Hutsby) brought three
down from his home up in Warwickshire and with two of them he won the two short
Open Maiden races. The investing arena
made the favourite either POCKET TIGER or FRIENDLY AFFAIR and I think it was
Fred who went off favourite in the end and he won the first but was rather
lucky to do so as Richard Woollacott on his FRIENDLY AFFAIR surely had the
beating of him. After racing together
from four out as they jumped the last together in front of a loudly cheering
crowd he stumbled a little on landing and allowed POCKET TIGER to get away the
quicker and held off the challenge on the run to the winning line and crossed
two and half lengths to the good of Richard with Will Biddick, after a very
good ride on the Welsh visitor BOWD LANE JOE seven lengths back in third. Smiles by the ton here as the bag is opened
and a deposit is made as POCKET TIGER was Ruth's choice whilst the tin remains
silent as I had invested on FRIENDLY AFFAIR to win this one. I am smiling for Ruth but it is very hard
work!!
The second race was run at a much more sedate pace
than the first and I was a little concerned to start with as my choice, Lucy Gardner
on DANCING DASI, was well in the rear and although this one went off as two to
one favourite I managed to get on early and had eight to one, so I really did
not want to see the gap between Rilly Goschen on GIVEUSAWAVE and Lucy at about
15 lengths when they cleared the first of the open ditches. Tim Stephenson on best turned out CHIEF AMERICO was also
travelling along well. It was even more
concerning when they got to the ditch for the second and final time and those
two up front were still pushing on and mine, although a little closer was still
a long way from leading. Fred on his
OSCAR ROYAL was making eye catching progress up through the field. As they got
to the far end things were getting a little stretched out but Lucy was now
beginning to make good progress. CHIEF
AMERICO led with OSCAR ROYAL as company and Guy Weatherley on RYEMAN was still
there as was Isabel Thomsett on LADY MYFANWY but Lucy was closing and at a good
pace. Perhaps a bit premature but the
lid is off the tin! Three from home and DANCING DASI was given a
reminder and obviously took note and increased her effort. Coming to the last Lucy had mastered the
field beautifully and was on her way to filling my tin when she cleared the
last BUT then came down. Fred Hutsby then went on to win by six lengths from Isabel
Thomsett on LADY MYFANWY and Rilly was a couple of lengths back on
GIVEUSAWAVE. Such is racing. There is no fat lady to sing but there is a
line to cross and you have to have a jockey up as well. Lucy and horse were undamaged and I have it
from very good authority that brother Tom will not be sending out family cards
this year, but this is a bogey fence here.
Richard's horse stumbled and lost the race, Lucy came off and lost the
race and over the years many have stumbled AFTER clearing this fence, remember the other Lucy but would I be saying this if I won? The journey back to Warwickshire will be a
happy one.
Next came the Club Members
Novice Riders Race with eight going to post.
A very sensible gallop was set by Katy Jones on her PURE FUN but Nick
Schofield, fresh from his recent success in the big arena, on POLIGANA was in
close attendance. No change as they
passed the crowd and went out into the country.
Heading towards the final open ditch POLIGANA turned it on and went a
couple of lengths to the good but PURE FUN was not
done with yet. Although the styles of
the pilots of these two differed considerably both horses were giving it there
best and were twenty five lengths clear of NEW LODGE EXPRESS (J Jones) and
BACHOLARS WALK (D Collins). Over the
third last and they landed together. The
crowd were really enjoying this and there is a wonderful atmosphere here
today. Two from home and PURE FUN was
now in front by about two lengths with Nick asking for more from POLIGANA. PURE FUN could not be caught now. Over the last and on to win with a tired
POLIGANA back in second and YOUNG GENERAL (Nicola Rovia)
after bringing up the rear for quite some time was now in third place. Whoops! Stewards enquiry announced.
The re-cycling department of the local council would have been pleased
with the way the waste bins were rummaged through with a desperate search for
the required tickets. PURE FUN
disqualified and POLIGANA declared the winner.
Young Miss Jones had apparently lost her weight cloth and could not make
the weight. So pure fun was not so much
fun after all and with previous form showing a saddle slip I feel sorry for
such a good horse! I always deposit my
tickets in the back of the car so no problem in finding mine and I am off to
collect. NEW LODGE EXPRESS was now the new
third horse.
I was hoping Lucy could help me out in the Restricted
race so I plonked a little on her WINTER SCENE (fav) in the hope that I could replace the loss on
DANCING DASI but with odds of six to four against it would have to win and that
was asking a lot in this competitive nine runner race. Richard Woollacott has opted to ride his THE
QUARRY MAN and Guy Weatherley is up on Lay Earl's BALLYCLARE which is also
trained by Richard so there must be a message there somewhere. Julian Pritchard is here to ride a couple for
trainer F O'Brien from the Cotswold country and he is up on FERGAL'S FIND. The
Gordon Chambers trained best turned out JOLI CHRISTMAS (Ian Channin)
is surely due a win after a consistent run of form last season and the visitor
from Wales, D Gibbs's BELLE'S LAST with James Tudor up is sure to run
well. We'll see - off they go! Initially it was BALLYCLARE who led and took
them over the first open ditch at a reasonable pace. On passing the start line again it was THE
QUARRY MAN who had come through the field as had JOLI CHRISTMAS and these two
led the field back to us again. Out into
the country for the final time these two continued to lead but were now almost joined
by WINTER SCENE. Over the final ditch it
was THE QUARRY MAN who jumped it really well and began to assert. Over the next
and the two leaders, THE QUARRY MAN and JOLI CHRISTMAS were going away from the
remainder. Down the hill it was THE
QUARRY MAN who was now laying it on and Richard took a peep over his shoulder
but surely had it in the bag. Over the
second last and WINTER SCENE was getting after JOLI CHRISTMAS but THE QUARRY
MAN was away from them. It was now that
FERGAL'S FIND was asked to go about his work by Julian and was after Richard in
no uncertain terms but THE QUARRY MAN had enough to hold on, over the last with
no mistakes and crossed the line seven lengths ahead of FERGAL'S FIND who was
half a length to the good of Lucy on WINTER SCENE. JOLI CHRISTMAS was
fourth. Didn't win but didn't lose a lot
either! Bag owner very quiet as
well! My choice in this race will win so
it is only loaned!
The Mixed Open saw ten good pointers go to post. The best of these SOUTHWESTERN (N Harris) is
obviously odds on to win although SELASSIE (C Wallis) has previously beaten him
but I think The Exmoor Partners will soon be lining the favourite up for Hunter
Chases and this could just be a pipe opener for this good horse. Take nothing away from the other contestants
as they have all qualified to be here and their form is such that any one of
them could surprise. The best turned out blinkered INAKI (R Woollacott) is taking a little money but I
think that is because he is new to the scene and has form of having won at 2m
4f and has (FR) behind his name. This
will be a watching one for me and I will just enjoy the promised good racing
and see the first odds on favourite of the afternoon do his business. On passing the judge for the first time INAKI
led from SAILORS FOLLY (P Mason) then comes SELASSIE
and POSSIBLE PARDON. The favourite is
happy to bring up the rear at this stage.
BRUTHUINNE (D McKenna) was the first to make a mistake and gave his
pilot no chance. The field was soon
spread over about twenty five lengths with the favourite still bringing up the
rear. INAKI was still in the van with SAILORS
FOLLY close up as they passed the judge and out into the country for the final
time and SOUTHWESTERN closed up a little.
Here I got a real treat as a lady commentator took over and may I say it
did a very good job. There appeared to
be a power failure at the commentator's box for a little while but Ruth was
quick to take over, just for me and not a jump was missed. Over the final ditch it was SAILORS FOLLY who
led closely followed by SELASSIE who is up in class in this race and is getting
a good ride from Charlie Wallace. Across the top of the course SAILORS FOLLY leads followed by
SELASSI and now SOUTHWESTERN is up into third place. These three are a long way clear of the rest
and we appeared to have lost INAKI somewhere. Three left to jump and
SOUTHWESTERN has gone to the front for the first time and there he stayed and
showed the rest how it should be done and crossed the line to win by nine
lengths from SELASSIE and a horse that made up a lot of ground and pinched third
place was CROSS THE HIGHMAN (C Mitchell).
SAILORS FOLLY was fourth and these were the only ones to finish.
The Intermediate was a very exciting race but it only
concerned two runners out of the seven who set off. I chose the even money
favourite and Ruth chose the five to two second favourite. The favourite was the Keith Cumming's trained
MAXOU DES BROSSES (N Harris) who has very good form including beating
SOTHWESTERN in a members race and the second favourite
is the second ride for Julian Pritchard GREGORY PECKORY who also has worthwhile
form. The pace was set by GREGORY
PECKORY and Neil Harris was quite at home bringing up the rear on the
favourite. Over the first open ditch and no change.
Before the next MAXOU DES BROSSES passed one WARREN HILL (D Turner) who was
getting reminders. Closing fence ten and
the field were now only separated by about eight lengths with GREGORY PECKORY
still leading but MAXOU DES BROSSES, taking a wide run, was closing. Out into the country for the final time it
was now GREGORY PECKORY leading with OSOKENDA (T Cave) in second place and Neil
travelling very sweetly in third. These
three were going away from the remainder and over the final open ditch it was
MAXOU DE BROSSES now in second place.
Travelling across the top it was the two main protagonists that were
racing together and were about 12 lengths ahead of Tabitha. These two now provided us with a very good
race and amidst much cheering and shouting they came towards us, over the third
last GREGORY PECKORY by a length. Neil
really had to work hard to close the gap which he did and they jumped the last
together but Julian got a little more out of his mount and crossed the line to
win by two lengths. OSOKENDA was twenty
lengths back in third with BALDHU JAY ARR (D Edwards) fourth. A very exciting race with the winner only three seconds slower than
SOUTHWESTERN. The bag owner is
delighted, the tin owner, not so!
Finally, the open maiden with thirteen going to post. Neil Harris is on the clear favourite and is
odds on but I see no reason why another maiden could not come out of this bunch
and beat The Town and Country Partnership's EMANATE. Just a little snag - who
is it going to be? Lucy has had her
problems with her HI STAR, could she have more luck now? Mike Weir's previous runner did not shine so
will his REAL SHARP be brought home at twelve to one by Will Biddick? Then there is Fred Hutsby's
third ride of the day and his WHEEL TAPPER could make it a hat trick for him.
Jennifer (Congdon) has a good chance on father's OH SO NAUGHTY but did not
finish the season up too well. Eeeny, meeny, miney, mo! Plonk each way on Will Biddick! Off they go!
First to dispatch his pilot was VITAL STRIKER, which means the Dufosee
trained Ryan Bliss ridden team has not had too happy a day. The field was soon spread out and as the
leaders jumped the first open ditch it
was OH SO NAUGHTY leading but only just from HI STAR then came FOUR OF A KIND
(R Darke) and RADDICHIO (D Turner).
Passing the start it was still Jennifer leading the field from Lucy and
then Richard Woollacott on JOYCE'S PRESENCE began to get closer.
CANTCALLHERTRIGGER (Alice Mills) who has been in the rear for most of the race
is now pulled up. Passing the judge with
a circuit to go it was anyone's race. At
the next JOYCE'S PRESENCE came down on landing with Richard out the plate and
also interfered badly with EMANATE (odds-on favourite) and brought down
QUANTOCK'S RETURN (M Wall). WHEEL TAPPER
jumped really badly and Fred had to sit tight there. There is one horse who
is not involved in any of this and is quietly being ridden very comfortably by
one Will Biddick and my twelve to one is looking sound - early yet! OH SO NAUGHTY is still leading followed by HI
STAR. Final ditch and Jennifer is over
and clear as is HI STAR and now
A super days racing made better, of course, by a
healthy tin and bag. We are ready for
the next one down here, make sure you are!
To our readers from outside the UK and around the
world, please email to let me know who you are as I see you are clicking in
from France, Cyprus, Israel, Canada, New Zealand and Western Australia.
Regards Fred
and Ruth (Fred@fredsampson.co.uk)