Report from Eggesford Hunt Point to Point meeting at Upcott Cross, Near Halwill Junction on Sunday 15^th April 2007

 

Thick fog all the way up to this meeting didn't deter us one little bit and we soon had our place set up and the kettle on, after all it was only ten o'clock and the first race wasn't until one.  We have brought everything from sun hats (and cream!) to welly boots and Barbers but the forecast is for the sun to come out soon.  Many people arriving reported different weather conditions where they lived.  Sun in some parts, rain in other areas and fog in Cornwall but here there was a very damp mist as I walked the well prepared course.  The well watered course with a good covering of grass would race 'good' with 'good to firm' patches but I must say that this is my opinion and I now carry a bruise where I went to push my stick in, slipped, and now have my umbilical cord remains (to those that got less than a C in biology, that is your belly button!) nearer my back bone than in the place it has been for a lot of years.  A bit slippery on the bends!

 

Five runners for the Hunt Race, but I was delighted when I saw Mrs Rowe's CANADA (R Ross) along with D Summersby's CHARLIE ASH and best turned out  Musical Mayhem Club's CONCERT PIANIST (R Woollacott) as last year here this one won the corresponding race by twelve lengths from the favourite NDITLIR.  This will definitely be my choice so a not so little amount from the tin will be deposited with the layers.  After a paddock inspection of the five, I decided that a trip back to the layers for a little more investing was necessary.  Now I have rather a large part of the tin on CANADA.  CONCERT PIANIST went off odds on favourite as he has had a couple of good runs this season, winning the North Cornwall Open as one of them.  CHARLIE ASH does not have much form to go by as letters are more prominent than figures in his book. Ken and John Heard's NDITLIR (T Dennis) is fancied by some and it would be fair reward for these gentlemen if this one made the winners' enclosure as it is with their permission we race here today.  The Prouse's SHOBROOKE MILL with Caroline up could also provide a threat to my heavy investment in CANADA but I will not be changing my mind today.  It was after passing the judge on the first occasion that CANADA moved up into the lead followed by SHOBROOKE MILL, NDITLIR, CONCERT PIANIST and CHARLIE ASH.  All over the first open ditch and CANADA jumped it really well but so did the remainder so no need to get excited yet!  Coming down the home straight and to the judge on the second occasion, CANADA increased his lead with CONCERT PIANIST now up into second place then the remainder.  On the lower bend CHARLIE ASH was pulled up.  Up the far straight, over the first then the final open ditch with CANADA. Spring heeled at it and on with a three lengths advantage over CONCERT PIANIST and NDITLIR followed by SHOBROOKE MILL.   They are all trying to reel in CANADA but he is having nothing of it and going across the top he was six lengths to the good.  Coming down the long home straight one relies heavily on the commentator as they race towards you.  It was obvious though that there were only three left in it now as we must have lost NDITLIR on the top bend.  Second last, spring heeled, well a little stumble on landing but still seven lengths clear.  The time has come now for some really good vocal support and some body movement, like up and down, jumping whilst shouting. Over the last, spring heeled and to the line to win by fifteen lengths and to fill the tin quite nicely; CONCERT PIANIST second and SHOBROOKE MILL twelve lengths back in third.  So there Mrs Rowe, you will have to clean it at least once more but I will willingly do it for you if you come back next year. The race times are interesting as last year CANADA won it in seven minutes three seconds where as after the course adjustments this year it was done in six minutes one second.

 

The Ladies Open Race saw four go to post but the race surely is just a match between Polly Gundry on R Mitford Slade and Miss L Fielding Johnson's best turned out  TEDDY BOY and Kath Hobbs on her Mum's DOUBLE HONOUR.  Mary Biddick will ride the One Point One Partnership's DIAMOND MONROE and Vicky Heal will be up on M O'Connor's SPRINGFORD. I will invest a little on Polly but I am not very confident because Miss Hobbs is sure to be a threat on this very capable horse of hers but perhaps his string of seconds will continue.  A fair pace was set and this was soon too much for DIAMOND MONROE who was tailed off before pulling up.  SPRINGFORD led for most of the first circuit and the pace was a hot one.  The visibility was a little poor for the far end of the course but the commentator did an excellent job, as always, and as they started the home run for the second time it was still SPRINGFORD leading on the inside followed by TEDDY BOY and DOUBLE HONOUR.  Passing the judge with a circuit to cover Polly was reminding TEDDY BOY that racing was the game and to pay attention and get on with.  Concern for the favourite backers!  At the final ditch it was obvious that TEDDY BOY needed another smack; DOUBLE HONOUR closed up.  On the turn and with three left to jump on the run for home it was TEDDY BOY who now decided to give Polly a little more.  SPRINGFORD was soon to fall.  Down to the second from home and the two main protagonist both got it wrong but on they went and DOUBLE HONOUR jumping the last well, then got the better of TEDDY BOY and went on to win by seven lengths.  The tin is not looking quite so good, but the handbag has started to look quite healthy after that race.

 

The Confined hunts' race had ten runners and this was a difficult one to sort out.  Mandy Hand's DANTE'S BACK (Darren Edwards) is in great form but Nute and Tomkins's WINTER SCENE (Lucy Gardner) is likewise, the Hobbs's best turned out WAVE ROCK is sure to put up a good performance and who is to say that Richard Woollacott will not pick up another winner riding Mrs Roberts's THE QUARRY MAN.  The Robarts family's MIOCHE D'ESTRUVAL is getting closer to a win and D Branton's UNUSUAL SUSPECT has the in-form novice Nick Scholfield to help him along. Off they go the second time with WINTER SCENE carrying a little out of the tin and DANTE'S BACK carrying the honour of being six to four favourite.  We were very soon to lose one from the rear; the Tufters SUPREME HILL (Sam Alwood) will take no further part.  UNUSUAL SUSPECT leads them across the top with the Faulks's  CENTO (Jenny Carr) as company and these two have already built up a few lengths lead.  HOLLY WALK (J Cole) in third place and then the following group.  The loose horse was a worry but did not cause any obvious damage.  I very soon had a worry.  I noticed WINTER SCENE was a little sluggish at his jumping and in particular at the open ditch Lucy had to sit very tight and finished up bringing up the rear.  Coming down the home straight for the second time the leaders were still the same, UNUSUAL SUSPECT and CENTO with THE QUARRYMAN close up in third followed by R Finch's ZESTA FIESTA (Neil Harris) and DANTE'S BACK.  After passing the judge Lucy pulled WINTER SCENE up and something today he certainly did not like.  Ohhh! Dear! The tin! And the bag! Over the first up the hill and towards the final open ditch.  Out in front now is MIOCHE D'ESTRUVAL (Ben Robarts) followed by UNUSUAL SUSPECT and DANTE'S BACK with THE QUARRYMAN and WAVE ROCK making no progress.  As they turned back towards the waiting crowd with three left to jump it was Ben Robarts who kept his charge going really well and although Nick tried to get to him it was not possible and these three made a really good race to the line with MIOCHE D'ESTRUVAL getting there by three lengths from UNUSUAL SUSPECT with DANTE'S BACK six lengths back in third.  This confined was only three seconds slower than the Ladies' open and the first three will surely win again this season.  A good race and the tin suffered but I still have some 'Canada' funds.

 

The Intermediate will see eleven race with many in with a chance.  I have chosen the Walker's SIMON'S SEAT (Rachel Green) to replace losses in the tin.  This one has won this season and looks good and must be in the shake up, preferably first.  The favourite is The Wee Willy Winkles CANDLELIGHT VALLEY (Josh Guerriero) closely followed by the jointly owned CATTLE CLASS (R Woollacott).  The race eventually went this way 

The Family Partnership's BISHOPS BLADE (T Dennis) fell,

P Picton-Warlow's CALLITWATULIKE (M Sweetman) pulled up,

CANDLELIGHT VALLEY fell,

S Batchelor's CHESTER CHARLIE (Neil Harris) fell,

J Cole's TRICKY LYPS (A Mills) pulled up

The race was led by different runners but when we came to the top bend and prepared to race down the home straight it was G Smith and J Miles's ABSEAL( R Darke) that was taking the field along closely followed by CATTLE CLASS, then a pushed along KARANTAKA (Will Biddick), with my SIMON'S SEAT, after having travelled at the rear for quite some time now about to get into it.  Here they come with CATTLE CLASS now about to challenge ABSEAL for the lead with SIMON'S SEAT getting closer.  A little vocal support is deemed necessary with the odd jump up and down - or two!  At the last unfortunately my choice was not too clever and it probably cost the race.  To the line they went amidst massive cheering (Ruth included) as it was going to be very tight.  First CATTLE CLASS by half a length from my choice SIMON'S SEAT and a neck away third was ABSEAL.  Whew! That was tight and nothing for the tin was the outcome, but Ruth was smiling broadly.

 

The Restricted race saw an impressive winner at Larkhill come onto the scene and this one was immediately made favourite and at the price of five to two ON it was not worth bothering with.  A Wilmington and N Crook's DRYBROOK BEDOUIN (N Wilmington) was sure to win this race after a 30 length win over two and half miles on his only outing this season. I chose Messers Hooper and Trerise's best turned out LYRIC LADY (T Dennis) to bring in a little for me without the favourite being considered.  Lucy had withdrawn her MASSINI MAN so my chance with that one was gone but six will race and it is all about who will come second.  Well the favourite didn't start too well but eventually got going and then left his legs in the fence and had to follow the field led by M Beck's MASTER ACCORD (L Buswell) closely followed by R Britton's JEMANNETTE (R Woolacott) and LYRIC LADY.  The favourite gave his jockey many scares as his jumping and his running left much to be desired.  Going up the far side Richard Woollacott pulled JEMANNETTE up and things did not look too good.  MASTER ACCORD still taking them along and was followed now by the Knox's BOUNCE AGAIN (Tom Chanin) and LYRIC LADY.  D Treneer's RITEWAY HOME (A Mills) was tailed off and was later pulled up.  Previously MASTER ACCORD had gone wide at this bottom bend and lost a length or two and here he was doing it again on the final circuit.  Now it was my choice, LYRIC LADY who led the field followed by BOUNCE AGAIN and then the favourite who I must say was now travelling much better.  These three now had the race at their mercy and as they entered the home straight and tackled the final two fences (one was to be by-passed) it was anyone's race.  Unfortunately my choice was the first to weaken but BOUNCE AGAIN did give the favourite a very good race to the line and there were only two lengths between them when they crossed it.  My choice was ten lengths back in third; exciting but unfortunately not profitable.

 

The Men's open race will be left alone by me as it is only a three runner race and there are two very worthy candidates to take this.  H Messer-Bennetts's SEA SNIPE with top novice jockey, Nick Schofield up, will go off odds-on favourite and I would normally take this at about four to five on but the best I could see was four to six and sometimes four to seven so I will enjoy watching a good horse win or will she?  If The It'll Be A Long Night Partnerships' LONG NIGHT (R Woollacott) is back to anything near his past good form then he could be an honest threat.  The third horse is not out of it either, best turned out M Watson's HANDYMAN (I Popham) would be there or thereabouts if the others dare make a mistake.  Well it was a one horse race!  LONG NIGHT was disappointing and had to be pulled up before the open ditch on the second circuit (Ruth not happy!). HANDYMAN could not compete with the in form SEA SNIPE and the winning distance of twenty five lengths in a time of six minutes gave the game little mare her sixth win for the season.  Nick registered his 15^th between the flags win.

 

Two divisions of Open maiden races, five runners in division one and ten in division two followed.  I was very grateful for the ride that Richard Darke gave his KARINGA COIN as I picked this one out in the paddock, invested reasonably heavily and at a good price and sat back and watched it happen.  That is not really correct unless you can call shouting your head off, jumping up down and waving furiously, as your investment carrier is going for the line at a terrific rate of knots, closely pursued by the popular favourite, Ken and John Heard's MURPHYS MAN with one Polly Gundry in the plate - sitting back!  Richard got there by a length from Polly with Ian Popham on HILTON HALL twelve lengths back in third place.  You could hear the tin sigh when I forced the lid open and deposited my gains.

 

Not so lucky in division two as Rachel Green on the Axe Valley Racing's best turned out  ONEONEEIGHT who was carrying my investment could not quite master Mr Summersby's LOUP DU SUD and had to be content with a two length second with Nick Schofield on RIVER HEIGHTS four lengths back in third.

 

That completed a very nice day's racing.  We had a break during racing as the stewards and ground staff carried out a little repair to the course as one or two complained of horses slipping on the top bend.  This was soon corrected and off we went with the minimum of delay.  Well done Eggesford and hopefully all your hard work will have provided you with due reward.

 

Next week we are at Flete Park for the Dartmoor meeting and then on to Little Windsor for the Seavington meeting.  Both these promise to be very good so - BE THERE!

 

Fred and Ruth