Report
from The Dartmoor Hunt and Modbury Harriers' Point to Point (first) meeting
held at
This parkland setting looked glorious with the trees a
little forward this year with plenty of leaf showing and bluebells galore in
the woods. This course has been well
watered over a few days so it should race fast and as well watered courses
do! Let us hope the owners support the
amount of effort put in by the P to P committee and their band of
volunteers. As it came to pass thirty
nine runners competed over this lovely course and some good racing was
witnessed by a large crowd in beautiful weather.
Just three to post for the 'farmers' race with a very
odds on favourite in the Robarts's JALONS STAR (Ben Robarts) who with his
current form was taken to beat Lyn Glanville's LISHEEN STORM (T Dennis) and to
do likewise to Mike Weir's QOBTAAN (R Darke) who has not raced over
fences. Initially a slow pace set by
JALONS STAR but as the race progressed the pace moved up a notch or two but no
records would be broken. LISHEEN STORM
was the first to increase the pace and move up to join JALONS STAR but Ben was
having none of it and he also increased his pace which was a faster one than
the other two could manage and gradually got away from his pursuers and raced
home to win by ten lengths from LISHEEN STORM and a very good third by QOBTAAN just
two and half lengths back.
The restricted had a much better entry with eleven
going to post. Mr R Westacott's RUN OF
KINGS (R Woollacott) was soon established as the favourite but not a very
convincing one to start with. Ben Robarts on his second ride for the day was
fancied on his PHAIRY STORM with J
Wickett's HUMBLEEXPECTATIONS (T Dennis), Lynette Avery's UMISTA (M
Munrowd) and Mrs D Treneer's RITEWAY
ROUND (Will Biddick) also taking some money in the investing arena. I am very happy to see UMISTA running here as
her performance at Trebudannon was very encouraging (the form says she was a
head second but my results page said one and half lengths!) and with an obvious
liking for the firmer ground I am expecting big things and a good handful from
the tin will be placed with the layer with the best odds on show. I got four to one and am delighted with that. RUN OF KINGS went off favourite at 6 to 4. Mr Hooper's JUNGLE GINGOES (J Congdon) set
off leading the field at a good clip and was soon a few lengths to the good of
the following group. Passing the crowd
the field were now spread out over about 25 lengths. All over the first of the open ditches and on
went JUNGLE GINGOES followed by best
turned out Mike Weir's LOVE FOOL (R Darke) then the comforting words of the
commentator - back in third UMISTA, travels nicely for Mark Munrowd!! RUN OF KINGS began to get closer to the
leaders as did RITEWAY ROUND. The
commentator is really a friend of mine now as his dulcet tones announce that
UMISTA still travels nicely for Mark Munrowd.
A little early to start any great amount of cheering but a few shouts
went out as they cleared the final fence next time round. PHAIRY STORM had not responded to Ben's
urging and had dropped off the pace considerably. I could see RUN OF KINGS running well up with
the pace. Out into the country for the
final time Jennifer still had her JUNGLE GINGOES up front but now UMISTA was
into second place. I won't cheer yet as
there is no doubt that even my voice will not carry that far. I suspect I will need it later! LOVE FOOL, RITEWAY ROUND made up the quartet
which had a handy lead over RUN OF KINGS at this stage and Mr Ellis's FINE
ENOUGH (S Ellis). The front five cleared the final ditch and when they emerged
from behind the big tree it was UMISTA that was providing a big threat to
JUNGLE GINGOES and was upsides, well almost!
Across the top and heading for the downhill it was here that JUNGLE
GINGOES was headed for the first time and RUN OF KINGS, UMISTA and RITEWAY
ROUND were now the leading three. Coming
down the hill and towards the final run through Mark had taken UMISTA to the
front and gained a four length lead. Now
was the time to cheer as it was surely in the bag (or rather tin)! Up
the hill they come and over the second last and RUN OF KINGS was beginning to
reel in my UMISTA. Gosh this is going to
be close. Much cheering was now
necessary accompanied by several up and down jumps that would have done any
keep fit class a credit. This was now
followed by a little concern as I lost sight of them from my viewing point as
they raced to the line. The wait of four
and half hours for the result, well not really, it was only a minute but it
certainly did seem a lot longer and then it was all so easy, no problem, had it
in the bag all the way and many other statements which were really far from the
truth as it was a super race, in a good time and won by just half a length by a
worthy winner. RITEWAY ROUND was a ten
length third with JUNGLE GINGOES in fourth after a very good front running
race. The tin is now overflowing but
before I collect I will just dash to the winner's spot and say thank you to the
owner, Lynette, who I found swamped in silver ware and prizes and Very Very
Happy. Well done!
Six to the start for The Lord Mildmay of Flete
Memorial Men's Open four mile race. Neil
Harris will be up on best turned out Mandy
Hand's FRONTENAC who has consistent form without any wins for some time but
chased SEA SNIPE home at Wadebridge in March and will like the course, going
and distance. (I think!) Favouritism is between Mrs Welch's GUNNER'S MISTAKE
(Will Biddick) and Alan Walters's BUCKET AWL (R Woollacott) with the latter
going off with that privilege. Off they
go! Out into the country and on with
their long journey. To the first of the
open ditches which they take three times in this four mile race and it was
GUNNERS MISTAKE over it safely followed by FRONTENAC and then the Partridges'
ISOU (R Darke) and the remainder which included BRIDES LEGACY (R Bliss) who
took a little time to settle but has done so now. Passing the crowd and out onto the second circuit
but GUNNER'S MISTAKE came to grief at the open ditch as did BRIDGES LEGACY so
he probably hadn't settled that well after all; they were out of it. On went FRONTENAC followed by BUCKET AWL and
SUPREME GLORY. Out into the country for
the final time led by FRONTENAC followed by BUCKET AWL and ISOU but we lost
SUPREME GLORY at the ditch. The pace
increased and it was going to be between FRONTENAC and BUCKET AWL. Unfortunately I think ISOU was hampered and
lost a length or two but was still continuing.
Down the hill, through the run through and FRONTENAC was still two
lengths to the good. Richard now asked
BUCKET AWL for a major effort and closed a little but a good race finalised
with FRONTENAC crossing the line two and half lengths ahead of BUCKET AWL and
ISOU a distance back in third. Just a
little for the tin just to keep it in overflow mode but the bag handler has not
collected yet so a few kind words of encouragement are necessary. A glass (or two!) of champagne has been seen to
be passing her lips as Digger and his wife Anna celebrate their half a century
of married bliss in the area next to us.
Congratulations to them both!
Only three for the Ladies open race and Lucy Gardner
will take Mr Brown's GREY CISEAUX off as a very odds on favourite so I will
just be watching this one. Her opponents
will be Sarah Gaisford on The Easdon Partnership's visored THE FLYER and Becky
Barnett on best turned out Over the
Last Racing's GET SMART. It was a
sensible race at a steady pace and the result was as predicted with GREY
CISEAUX winning by eight lengths from THE FLYER, with GET SMART seven lengths
back in third.
The Confined hunts race also had only three runners
and again an odds on favourite was predicted to win in the shape of Mary
McCarthy's TOI EXPRESS with Ben Robarts onboard and Will Biddick was expected to follow him home on The
Profile Partnership's best turned out PERTEMPS
PROFILE with L Bratchley's DUEL
ISLAND (S Parrish) bringing up the
rear. Off they go and all was well
until they reached the top of the course and had just come out from behind the
line of trees and about to start the turn for the race down hill for the first
time when I noticed a pile of white was left beside the track up there in the
shape of a would-be jockey. Yes, Ben had
slipped off (somehow or other!) and was out of the race. This unfortunate happening left Will on
PERTEMPS PROFILE to race around steadily, jumping well, and come home without
challenge to win by a distance from a tired
The Intermediate saw four go to post and this was much
more competitive. Will White on The
Exeter Racecourse Group's JOLI CHRISTMAS is fancied by some and is made
favourite, whilst Mrs J Perry's SANDERSTEAD (N Harris) and also best turned out Mrs R Welch's LITTLE
APPLE BAY (R Darke) are taking some investments.
Finally we have a nine runner Confined maiden race and
I will place my trust again in Jane Baker's SERVE TO LEAD (T Dennis). She has been made favourite so at a price of
two to one a considerable amount should be invested. I will take a trip to the paddock to have a
look at her to see if a real big investment is necessary. Unfortunately I arrived at the paddock only
to see Jane lead her out and let her go as I spent too much time on the journey
from my viewing position by the last fence to the paddock. Is that a message to
me, I ask myself? The investment area
has now made Mr Weldhen's GREY WIZARD (Will Biddick) even money favourite so
now a small investment is made and back to view the race praying that I haven't
lost a chance to go away really loaded. Off
they go! By the time the field settled
and got around to coming down the hill for the first time it was still Tim
Dennis on SERVE TO LEAD leading from BENARINA (
That brought the day's racing to an end and we will
pack up in a hurry and proceed to the Crewkerne area and make ready for
tomorrows P to P at Littlewindsor.
Monetary transactions will no doubt take place en route to ensure the
bag is equipped for tomorrow and that I will have room in the tin for some
more.
So for the Seavington meeting at Littlewindsor - BE
THERE!
Fred and Ruth