Report from Dulverton West P to P meeting at Bratton Down on Saturday 19^th May 2007.

 

There are a few showers around as we arrive at Bratton Down after a superb dinner last night and an equally superb breakfast this morning at Cloutsham where we are always made very welcome so we are now ready or would have been ready for a good days racing had it not been for the stupid parking arrangements.  I do feel very very sorry for the volunteers who get a real ear wigging about it.  Enough said as it is covered in a separate report see separate report...but I will send a copy to the Weekender for their columns.

 

The course is in good condition and although in two halves with the top half firmer than the lower half it should race quick on generally good to firm ground. Plenty of entries and the hope of clearing weather we are all set.

 

The pony racing is a little late off the mark which is probably due to the officials arguing over parking arrangements but eventually the five runners in the 13.2hh race get underway and once again Henry Hayes gets the one to three on MILLIE into her favourite position - out in front!   There were a few confused jockeys as they rounded the final bend and came up the long run in with some this side of the course and others on the far side but there was no doubt whatsoever in Henry Hayes's mind and MILLIE won it well with Anna Weatherlake on POPCORN in second place and the visitor from Wales, Emerly Scarfe on LOCKSLEY VIKING WARRIOR in third. The best turned out SIANWOOD OWEN was a credit to her handler and looked a picture.

 

The bigger ponies were racing over further and seven went to post. A clear favourite was Danial Aldridge on TOMMY'S GIRL another visitor from Wales.  The best turned out PERRY looked a picture in the paddock and was well ridden by Victoria Griffiths and coming up the long run in it looked as though she was going to overturn the odds on favourite but at the line where it mattered it was just the favourite who got home by a small distance and Victoria had to be satisfied with second place and David Pritchard on FLANDERS FIELDS came in third.

 

One thing that came out of these two pony races is for sure, the standard is getting better, the riders are riding with more confidence and the whole setup is definitely here to stay.  Well done to all those concerned.

 

The first race.  The Ucanstore.com must be disappointed with the fact that only one runner could be found for the 'farmers' race here on Exmoor which they sponsored, so it was that P Clarke's TOUCH OF FLAME (M Miller) who recorded a walk-over.

 

Better in the Mixed open race with seven going to post and a classy race to boot.  I will be watching G Foot's ASKERS JACK (R Lee) as although he owes me I feel the competition here is a little beyond him.  I like the price about Lee Granville's LISHEEN STORM (R Woollacott) but by the time I decided the 40 to 1 had gone but surely that would have been a gift as each way.  Lucy Gardner will be carrying my win investment on G Brown's GREY CISEAUX but will have to be at his best to get the better of the likes of best turned out RIMPTON BOY and S Humphreys's BACK NINE (J Guerriero) and it is the latter that will go off about even money favourite.  It was Charlotte Tizzard on the Faulks's MASTER BILLYBOY who took the field along initially followed by N Tory's OUR JOLLY SWAGMAN (N Wilmington) but it was obvious to me that GREY CISEAUX was not liking something and was no way going to be in the frame in this one.  Ruth was also on Lucy so the both of us are now intent on sitting back (not in the car as we cannot see from there!) and enjoying the race.  There is one fence that the commentators cannot see the landing side of and I fear that is where ASKERS JACK unseated his pilot or may even have fallen.  I am pleased I decided to watch that one this time.  At fence twelve in the straight for the final time and a circuit to go it was little change in the order and the race would surely be on very soon.  As the race began in earnest unfortunately the horse ambulance was parked obliterating the view of the commentator, even from his lofted viewing position so we had to wait to see who came clear.  To the final open ditch it was still OUR JOLLY SWAGMAN taking them along with MASTER BILLYBOY almost alongside then came LISHEEN STORM.  Up to the next plain fence and the leaders were now grouped together with the racing now on in earnest.  LISHEEN STORM took it up but Rachel Green on RIMPTON BOY saw the move and came through the field to challenge for the lead.  MASTER BILLY BOY was now third followed by the favourite, BACK NINE.  From here on in the race was between LISHEEN STORM and RIMPTON BOY, up the long run in and to the line the classy grey took the race by a head from the promising LISHEEN STORM with MASTER BILLYBOY fifteen lengths back in third. 

 

The division one of the Open maiden race is split and nine will go to post in both parts.  In division one part one I chose Lee Rowe on his BONNY BUSONA to bring me in a little although he is carrying four pounds overweight.  Probably eating too many chips whilst recuperating from his nasty fall at Trebudannon but very pleasing to see him back fit and well and hopefully now about to make amends.  The horse from the professional yard, SPIN THE GIN (I Chanin) is the favourite at two to one but for a horse that has only completed once and that being a 28 lengths fourth I don't call that very good value but obviously others do.  They were right! The favourite won by eight lengths from a very unlucky Lee Rowe.  He led almost from flag fall until being taken very wide by a loose horse on one bend and then got interfered with by another loose horse and still came back for more and it was nothing short of a miracle that Lee got him home in second place just eight lengths behind SPIN THE GIN with Sean Ellis fifteen lengths back in third on his FINE ENOUGH.  The second part of this division saw a very good ride by Nick Schofield on Lucy Dickinson's BRAVE FACE after another race that had lots of interference from loose horses.  To watch young Mr Scholfield make ground on the bends whereas other lost it was lovely to watch as he brought this favourite to cross the line first.   Darren Edwards managed to steer clear of loose horse trouble also but had to suffer some uncertain jumping but still brought R Rawle's grey PROJECTFIVEONEFIVE into second some six lengths back with Will White twenty lengths away back in third on the Smith's HAZY WITCH. 

 

Division two saw thirteen go to post and this was another exciting race.  The grey Pam Pengelly's THAT'S MY BOY (Nick Schofield) went off even money favourite and might have been odds on in some areas but it is asking a lot as this one is very lightly raced although when he did he looked really good.  Ruth chose best turned out OVER T'PAGE (R Woollacott) to help her bag out and I chose TOMSK (Neil Harris) to put some in the tin as nothing has gone in there yet.  Sadly my choice didn't come out of this race and was carried away after falling at the fence in front of the crowd whilst at the same time another one, Lee Rowe and Miss Cole's HARFORD LADY was being carried away having fallen going down the hill on the far side.  As the race went out into the country for the final time it began to sort itself out but it wasn't until the run in that the excitement reached its peak.  A very good jump by Darren Edwards on WOODBRIDGE QUEST put him up to the leaders alongside the Trickey's  NO WAITING (Will White),  OVER T'PAGE, Charlie Dailly on J Curtiss's SURE HOW BAD and then DJ Bluett's DEER VALLEY (I Chanin).   Over the last and the race up the straight, which is over a furlong, came from WOODBRIDGE QUEST, NO WAITING and DEER VALLEY.  It was good and the judge made the decision that Darren Edwards had got to the line by half a length from Will White with Ian Chanin two lengths back in third.

 

Eight to post for the Intermediate race and again this promised to be a close competition.  The Shortwood Family's DAWN SILK (I Popham) went off favourite with the Hawker's SWEET SHOOTER as second favourite.  The remainder were available at sensible prices. Well, again Darren Edwards was involved in a very tight finish as The Family Partnership's BISHOP'S BLADE ran a very good race, jumped well and was only beaten on the run to the line by half a length. Sarah West on Anthony Tory's PRESENTINGTHE CASE came in six lengths back in third.   The Hawker's SWEET SHOOTER did not go at all well and was pulled up.  I had a small investment in Lucy Gardner riding Paul Tylor's MR LEHMAN and marvelled how Lucy remained onboard after going right up the neck and back again on this one and didn't appear to lose any momentum.  It was good to see how it is done right in front of the crowd and not down at the open ditch or some far flung spot and not know what really happened and she then went on to lead down the hill.  At the final open ditch it was MR LEHMAN, followed by BISHOP'S BLADE and DAWN SILK.  Up to the final bend it was BISHOP'S BLADE, but being chased down now by DAWN SILK with MR LEHMAN now beginning to tire.  Over the last and I bet by now Pam (Roffe-Sylvester) would have been exercising vocal chords, leg muscles and any other movable part as the race to the line saw both pilots at their best.  Ian Popham just got there by half a length from Darren Edwards with Sarah West six lengths back in third.  Very exciting but not profitable for either tin or bag.   Much more of this and we will both be in the begging suit.

 

I could win money on the next race but at odds of two to one ON I will just stand back and watch young Nick Schofield win the PPORA Club Members race on H Messer-Bennetts's SEA SNIPE.  The main opposition should come from Luke Riley on KINGSTON-BANKER who has also been in the winners enclosure frequently this term but I don't think the Henderson's DUN LOCHA CASTLE or M O'Connor's best turned out SPRINGFORD will be a threat.  It was an experience watching how this young man rides and the combination of an in-form mare and a very confident jockey gave us a spectacle over this course in a time of five minutes fifty seconds and to win by twelve lengths at that.  In the end SPRINGFORD and KINGSTON BANKER had a race between themselves up the finishing straight with the latter just hanging on by half a length.  SEA SNIPE was second in the Mixed Open race two years ago to CASPERS CASE who won in a time of six minutes seventeen seconds and that was the quickest of the day then!  (I remember watching it then but I did have a periscope in the vehicle.)

 

I have been chatting to David Pengelly and his charming wife Pam about the chances of their good thing in the next race and I am not so sure that they are as confident as they were at the Axe Vale meeting of a win!  DENNIS THE LEGEND has won his last two races and Nick Schofield is about to make it three in a row - or is he? One thing is for sure - the jockey is in form!  I also see that Mr Pengelly has brought his cheer leader with him today, so he must be quietly confident or is it that Helen does not intend to miss seeing the winner come in, as she dipped out at Axe Vale.  We will see!  The odds-on price has put me off and I am going for an outsider and although only seven runners I will take an each way price about the Faulks's TONY'S TIME (C Tizzard). The jointly owned CATTLE CLASS (R Woollacott) is also an in-form horse with two wins to his credit lately and could be the one to rattle up DENNIS THE LEGEND.  Off they go!   Not yet Helen they have three miles to go!  As they take fence three it is TONY'S TIME, BETTER THYNE and SHOBROOKE MILL and they take the field up along the home straight.  Unfortunately BETTER THYNE (S Alwood) fell at the fourth and was out of it.  Over the first open ditch SHOBROOKE MILL continued to lead.  Into the home straight for the second time it was still SHOBROOKE MILL followed by TONY'S TIME and CATTLE CLASS then, only then came DENNIS THE LEGEND.  Out into the country for the final time saw CATTLE CLASS take closer order and move up alongside TONY'S TIME but SHOBROOKE MILL still carved the route towards the final open ditch.  The commentator reported that quite a gap existed back to DENNIS THE LEGEND.  Cheer leader now coming into her own and just a little shout at the moment.  These four drawing well clear, over the final open ditch and the climb up to the home straight begins.  SHOBROOKE MILL goes six to seven lengths ahead followed by CATTLE CLASS and then TONY'S TIME.  Nick Schofield is now doing what clever jockeys do and is reading the situation very well.  He asks his charge to get to work and that is exactly what it does. Around the turn and to the last and it is still SHOBROOKE MILL followed by CATTLE CLASS and DENNIS THE LEGEND.  Over the last and these three have the race at their mercy.  A great race towards the line with cheer leader giving it welly as well as the owners and it must have had a great effect as their DENNIS THE LEGEND made it by a length from an excellent run by SHOBROOKE MILL with CATTLE CLASS just four lengths back in third.  I should have gambled David and I chickened out!  Nothing for the tin or bag.

 

Finally came the Restricted race with eleven going to post and if any of the previous races were easy to pick the winner from, this one is definitely not.  Colin Heard and Gary Wilson's RIVER HEIGHTS (I Popham) went off favourite but unfortunately fell at the open ditch on the final circuit. Amanda Bush led with J Daniell's LORD FITZROY for quite some time and Jenny Congdon on Horwood Hopefuls's APPLE PIE LADY was also up there as was the Rawlins's CORKSCREW KING (R Woollacott).  Going out into the country for the final time it was obvious that it was too much for several and they were pulling up but the leading group were still contesting.  After the final ditch and round the starting bend a new name came into the announcer's vocabulary and one which I was very pleased to hear as Mrs Forde's BLACK LEGEND (R Green) started to get closer.  I had invested in this one and at generous odds of six to one I began to get a little excited. The leader as they turned into the home straight with one to jump is BLACK LEGEND.  Now I wished I had a cheering party to help my investment carrier home.  Over the last it was still BLACK LEGEND from Bob Andrews's OFFALEVEL (J Barnes) and R Smith's WESTOVER LAD (W White).  The race to the line was on as was the cheering and shouting and jumping up and down on the spot!  Here they come up the long run in and would you believe it the best turned out BLACK LEGEND was no where to be seen.  A brilliant ride out by Will White saw WESTOVER LAD get to the front and cross the line three quarters of a length clear of Darren Edwards on MASTER KEVIN (where did that one come from?) and a length back was Amanda Bush after a great ride on LORD FITZOY. 

 

NOTHING FOR TIN OR BAG. Forty copies of the Big Issue have been ordered and a soap box is in situ outside F W Woolworths Newquay.  Please don't pass by without buying a copy as you know how it happened!  Ah! Second thoughts I could always get a job parking cars, although not experienced I would certainly be streets ahead of the one in charge of the said employment at Bratton Down.

 

Unfortunately this will be my last report from this meeting as unless the parking arrangements are changed and a few of the vehicles obscuring the race view by being parked in the centre of the course are parked alongside the outside of the course, (to assist the commentator) I do not intend to spend my time breaking my neck from inside my vehicle just to please someone who wants to be awkward. 

 

Next weekend no parking problems as we are at Mounsey Hill Gate and it will be to support the Dulverton Farmers and just a case of "Over to you Alfie"- BE THERE!

 

Fred and Ruth