Report from East Cornwall Hunt Point to Point meeting held at Great Trethew on Sunday 1^st April 2007.

 

Firstly I noticed I have a new reader and this one is in California; is someone on holiday I ask myself? Is there P to Ping in California? Please get in touch Fred@fredsampson.co.uk.  Now back to Great Trethew.  Lovely weather and it got even warmer after the threat of a shower passed by, and the course is in very good condition and will race quite fast.  A good crowd is expected but possibly diminished a little by the fact that Newton Abbott is opening up its summer season today and will run the final of the Totnes and Bridgetown Company Novices' Hunter Chase.  A pity as that takes at least nine jockeys away from pointing and nine good pointers.

 

I can combine two races in one from the nine-race card, as young and attractive Miss Emily Noszkay won them both.  Her horses who were both second here last season were Miss J and Mr D du Plessis's best turned out  KINGSMILL LAKE who won the three runner Farmers' race by four lengths from Ian Popham on Margaret Best's BRIEF DECLINE and Sue Young on LIRKIMALONG.  No investment took place as the odds of four to seven ON were a little too skimpy for me but Emily rode well around here and kept the challenge of Ian away and came over the last two fences in winning style and a lovely smile on crossing the line.  Later in the card Ian was again her main threat in the eleven runner Restricted race on the jointly owned FREEMANTLE DOCTOR but Emily on The Alderplot Friends's WALTER DE WODELAND soon saw him off and tearing down the final hill and over the last two it was again Miss Noszkay smiling and amid much cheering, no doubt from the Alderplot Friends, (where on earth did that name come from?), crossed the line four lengths to the good of Ian. Jenny Congdon, after a good race also, on D Congdon's JAUNTY JANNER was three lengths back in third.  This one was near last rounding the bend behind the tents and before going down hill but persistence got her up and came in a good third.  This one surely has a race in him soon and it made no difference that his normal jockey was away winning the Hunter Chase at Newton Abbott but the star was Emily.  I must throw away those somewhat disparaging remarks in a previous report and now put her top of the (Lady Novices) Class. Ten out of ten. 

 

The Open maiden race division 1 for the young horses over two and half miles was definitely going to be exciting. Thirteen runners, some with form but the majority without around this course, was not a task for the feint hearted and speed was a necessity.  The unfortunate BRINGONTHEBOYS (Ian Popham) who was disqualified at Quantock Staghounds meet when losing his weight cloth with the winning line at his mercy is favoured to make amends here but quite a few more fancy MILLENNIUM ACCORD (Guy Weatherley) from Ollie Jackson's stable.  Nick Schofield is also fancied to bring in best turned out RIVER HEIGHTS but I am going for a real light weight in Derek Mead's  MANMOON with Tabitha Cave in the plate and racing over two and half miles with only 10 stone 7 pounds to carry and at odds of six to one the tin needs to be opened (prized open as I have lost the securing device or has it been safeguarded by someone else?) A considerable handful is carried to the investment area and plonked on to win.  At the first open ditch MILLENNIUM ACCORD buckled on landing and Guy Weatherley on the favourite was out of the race.  Will Biddick set a good pace on AS COLD AS ICE with UNFINISHEDSYMPHONY (D Edwards) and FALINES WAY (R Woollacott) close up and MANMOON doing enough in mid-division.  Over the final open ditch it was FALINES WAY, AS COLD AS ICE, UNFINISHED SYMPHONY, MANMOON and MURPHYS MAN (T Dennis) that took them around the bend and down the hill for the final time.  I am not cheering yet but I am happy with the set up as my light weight will surely come from behind a little later.  Across the top and commencing the run down the hill it was reported that MANMOON was travelling 'menacingly' in third.  Just a little cheer at this stage but a dash to a better viewing position saw my left, size thirteen, 'walking' boot, catch under a tent securing rope which meant I was listening to the race with one ear extremely close to what a pregnant ewe had left behind and the other one facing the heavens but an embarrassed 'jump' brought me upright again (too embarrassed to go back and pick up my favourite pen!!!) in time to watch the final race to the last two fences.  Two out and Nick Schofield (RIVER HEIGHTS) had just got the better of Will Biddick (AS COLD AS ICE) with Ian Popham (BRINGONTHEBOYS) also on the scene.  This was when Miss Tabitha Cave asked her mount for the necessary effort AND GOT IT!  She fairly shot home to take it by two lengths on MANMOON from RIVER HEIGHTS and a length back in third was BRINGONTHEBOYS.  An excellent result and a lovely way to start the day.

 

There were two more divisions for younger horses and I never managed a winner from them.  Darren Edwards rode a good race in division two on second favourite Miss L Claydon's KING'S WOOD who kept the tabs on the favourite BONNY BUSONA (Lee Rowe) throughout the race at the head of affairs.  For the second circuit there were only four left running out of the eight that started.  BONNY BUSONA continued to lead followed by KING'S WOOD, THE BUDDLE (Josh Guerriero) and somewhat detached now ETERNAL MIDNIGHT (A Mills).  The race really had the makings of a tight finish as at the second last the leading two were together.  The job of leading throughout had taken a little more out of BONNY BUSONA (needs three miles!) than KING'S WOOD and the latter went on to win by three lengths with THE BUDDLE a length back in third.  The third division also provided an extremely good finish.  Ten went to post and Josh Guerriero on Mrs J Taplin and Mrs S Jones's MOON BEAR went off favourite but was available at the investment arena at a sensible two to one (probably six to four later!)  The field was strung out on completion of one circuit with about twenty five lengths between first and last but Nick Schofield was leading on L Tylor's PEPPERY PAMELA at a good pace followed by MOON BEAR and then the remaining pack lead by WINNING CONNECTION (I Popham).  PEPPERY PAMELA continued to crack on and MOON BEAR was intent on keeping the tabs on him. Across the top for the final time and at the start of the run down the hill Nick was beginning to work hard on his charge as MOON BEAR came upsides.  Nick led by a length over the second last, Nick just held a lead over the last and the race to the line up hill over this very short run in saw Nick hold on by half a length.  Ian Popham brought WINNING CONNCECTION into third place five lengths back.  This was the quickest of the shorter races and all we have to do now is to remember what happened when we next see these winners and placed horses over three miles.  The tin has given back a little but is still in a very healthy state and is looking forward to being replenished, (as always!) after the next race.

 

Six will race for The Basil Young Memorial Mixed Open Race and with no disrespect to five of the runners, the race will surely be between Ben Messer-Bennetts's very consistent SEA SNIPE (Nick Schofield) and Sarah Hobbs's DOUBLE HONOUR (Diana Hobbs).  I have no problem here! I really am 'not bovvered' as Becky Kennen has SEA SNIPE on top of her game and this 10 year old mare is so consistent that she will pull this one off and will carry half a tin load for me.  Nick Schofield is riding so well and is getting a lot more experience than Diana and I feel this will be the difference on the line.  These two are rated the same in the race card but jockey, ground and past performances have convinced me to run down the line catching as many bookies as I can, provided they use computers, at the very generous odds of five to four (2),even money (4).  It's on so stand back, without the aid of a tent and watch it happen.  The two ladies in the race took the field round for the first circuit, Diana on DOUBLE HONOUR and Alice Pearn on FINEWOOD with Nick Scholfield watching from third position. ALNEY ISLAND (J Cole) was pulled up.  Over the final open ditch it had changed to SEA SNIPE leading the field from DOUBLE HONOUR.   Down the side of the course the leading two raced and had opened up a lead of eight lengths  now to best turned out MIOCHE D'ESTRUVAL (Ben Robarts).  Climbing the hill DOUBLE HONOUR took the lead by about two lengths from SEA SNIPE but when asked this game mare closed up and went round the tight bend and appeared again leading by two and then came down the hill travelling well.  Diana asked for more from DOUBLE HONOUR and what's more, got it and began to close SEA SNIPE again. Believe it or not I am still not bovvvvered!  Over the last and DOUBLE HONOUR did get a bit close but to the line it was my choice SEA SNIPE by two lengths from DOUBLE HONOUR with MIOCHE D'ESTRUVAL seven lengths back in third.  I went to walk back to Ruth but found my 'walking' boots had sunk at least two inches down in the firm ground.  I might just have been forcing the body down instead of my usual jumping up.  Now I have to wait a couple of minutes for the body to resort to normal then I will go and set about collecting and filling the tin to overflow mode.  There is room in the bag if I need it, although I see that it is a little fuller after this race than before!

 

The Confined hunts maiden race for the older horses see only five go to post (unfortunately FINALLY SORTED (R Woollacott) was withdrawn, not under orders for a small misdeamour in the paddock!)  with Ben Robarts on his PHAIRY STORM going off the favourite but I am not prepared to invest as he is odds on and although progressive is not quite value for money.  I will wait at the car and guard the tin!  Reuben Chapman's FURZECHAT (J Cole) led the field for a considerable time but PHAIRY STORM soon had the better of him shortly after the final open ditch then FINAL DEAL (Ian Popham) gave chase to the favourite followed by Jennifer Congdon on Mrs Jane Wickett's LOVE THE LAMB.  Up to the top and it appeared that Jennifer has trouble with the tight bend up there and was a little late in appearing at the third from home but PHAIRY STORM had no such problem and went on to win by two lengths from FINAL DEAL with LOVE THE LAMB eight lengths back in third.

 

Now comes the Intermediate with seven going to post.  Lucy (Gardner) has entered WINTER SCENE so the going must be considered suitable and according to the investment area this one will win as they have made it favourite.  I have invested as well but not a great deal as opposition to this one in the way of best turned out COOKIES BANK (R Woollacott) and CANDLELIGHT VALLEY (Josh Guerriero) is sound but the remainder are available at much bigger prices.  First to show was WINTER SCENE and Lucy took the field up around the top and then down the hill and she was being followed by CANDLELIGHT VALLEY, THE ONLY OPTION (A Mills) (the commentator says THE LAST OPTION!), ABSEAL (R Darke) and COOKIES BANK.  Over the first of the open ditches Lucy took them along.  The penultimate, next time round, still Lucy took them along.  Over the final open ditch, round the top and down the hill and Lucy still took them along although CANDLELIGHT VALLEY did threaten and came upsides but Lucy pushed on.  COOKIES BANK was back in third. Three fences to go and the race will be on coming down the hill for sure but at the moment Lucy still pushes on.  Down the hill and COOKIES BANK increased his pace and got up into second spot and closed WINTER SCENE but never got in front and over the line Lucy went in good style to win by a length having led practically from flag fall.  I must remember when I get home to take a little from the tin and put it aside for my Betfair Exchange and keep an eye open for entries for the Exeter Racecourse Intermediate P to P series final Hunter Chase at Exeter on Wednesday 16^th May and after winning that onto Cheltenham Wednesday 2^nd May.  No problem!  Lucy kindly introduced me to the charming winning connections after the race and how I wish I was a lot younger! I am now quite rich and the bag holder profited by that one as well, so its big smiles all round but it will take a lot more to half fill it!

 

One more to go and seven will run in the Confined race.  Nick Schofield can pull off a treble by winning this one and by the look of the boards it is only Darren Edwards who can prevent it.  Karen Heard's FAUNTLEROY (Nick Schofield) is the favourite closely followed by Mandy Hand's FRONTENAC.  Richard Woollacott riding K & J Heard's NDITLIR is also fancied but it is FAUNTLEROY who will go off as the favourite.  I fancy the favourite as I did manage to get an investment on at even money but he will probably go off at odds on.  I had a little bit of worrying time during this race as NDITLIR did threaten at one stage but eventually best turned out  FAUNTLEROY, even though he jumped out to the left on occasions, crossed the line a length to the good of NDITLIR with FRONTENAC six lengths back in third.

The bag handler was so hoping that Richard could prevent Nick getting his treble for the day as her investment was in that direction but it was not to be.  Well done Nick! 

 

I now have to ask Ruth to hang on whilst I collect my money and lock up the tin which is greeted with a weak smile as she put the not so full - bag away.  One more thing I must do and it proved a very sensible move.  I returned to the offending tent to search for my favourite pen.  Yes there it was!  No one had picked it up!  I am so lucky today but it was probably due to the fact that it was covered in what that pregnant ewe left behind that stopped others from picking it up - it did not stop me!

 

Thank you Owners and all others that were connected in providing an extremely good days sport. Next week Cherrybrook and no doubt we will get an equally good meeting - BE THERE!

 

Fred and Ruth