Report from Four Burrow Hounds P to P meeting held on Saturday 28^th April 2007 at Trebudannon nr. St Columb Major.

 

What a wonderful tribute to the late Mr John Weldhen this course at Trebudannon is.  It is presented today for the second meeting here in immaculate condition with the racing surface the best one could expect in the current weather conditions and all facilities in place for a great days racing.  Ruth and I were in position with the kettle on by 0930 and it was a great pleasure to walk the course in super weather and in lovely surroundings.  The grass cover had increased considerably and the added water and the minimum amount of rain has produced going as 'good' with 'good to firm in places' and the entry sheet looks promising.  A six race card eventually produced sixty one runners with no race less than seven.  A great days sport!

 

The short race for younger horses and geldings (2m 4f) saw ten go to post and I sorted out that Polly Gundry must have an excellent chance to win this, as the four year old WINNING CONNECTIONS which she will ride will only be carrying ten stone seven pounds which is a stone and a half better off than any other runners.  Ian Popham had previously ridden this one at Great Trethew in the quicker of the short races there, into third place.  Must have a really good chance here.  Quite a lump from the tin was deposited with the nearest layer with the best price of three to one which I was delighted with. The tin incidentally has arrived on course with just the bottom covered and plenty of room for a top up.  The owners, the House Family will be delighted if this one comes home but I will not be behind in the 'happy' stakes either.  Several fancied J Dallimore's RADJEL (T Dennis) after a previous second here and there is also good support for the local horse, GREY WIZARD (Will Biddick) who tired over the three miles at Flete Park so maybe a little shorter distance will be the answer.  Off they go!  Tessa Hayes set the pace with K Northcott's LIFE ESTATES closely followed by GREY WIZARD and the remainder in a group.  The first to be pulled up was Ian Hambley on his GARROW GATE whilst the rest set off down the back now for the final time.  LIFE ESTATES followed by GREY WIZARD and now Richard Woollacott was spotted bringing David Newton's best turned out  ONEMOREDEAL into a more prominent position.  WINNING CONNECTION was still travelling nicely back in fifth position.  LIFE ESTATES had a three length advantage at the final ditch followed by ONEMOREDEAL and now WINNING CONNECTION was in third place.  I now moved my viewing position as where I was standing it was a steep incline in front of me and I might need to jump a little in the home strait so now on an even keel I was prepared.  With one more fence to go ONEMOREDEAL had joined LIFE ESTATES, with Polly just ready to do the business in third position.  I jumped, shouted and waved arms but to no avail, as Polly could not get any closer to Richard than two lengths with Tessa back in third; first ONEMOREDEAL, second WINNING CONNECTION and third LIFE ESTATES.  Five finished. A good race but I paid a lot to see it!

 

I quickly studied form again for the next, the Intermeidate race and settled that it was between Mike Weir's REAL SHARP (R Darke) and the fresh Paul Tylor's MR LEHMAN (L Gardner) so off to study the boards to see if it was possible to regain a little here or even win some!    Polly Gundry on Gerald Probert's LADY PURTON is fancied by some after her last win was against three hunt staff (see Seavington Report), but Will Biddick on The Wee Willy Winkies Partnership's CANDLELIGHT VALLEY will probably go off favourite.  I settled for MR LEHMAN and because I got the price of six to one it was now my intention to fill the tin immediately so the investment was increased.  Off they go!  Well I feel sorry for the others in the race as they will get very little mention as MR LEHMAN went to the front very soon after the start and was still in that position very near the end having jumped and run extremely well only to be caught on the race over the last two and to the line by REAL SHARP.  An excellent race no doubt, but Mike's REAL SHARP did it extremely well in a time only beaten by the Open race, of six minutes exactly.  I understand from Mike that REAL SHARP is now for sale but how I wished a purchaser had previously been found and had taken the horse to run at The South and West Wilts at Larkhill or even the Teme Valley meeting at Brampton Bryan, anywhere but Trebuddanon, as then Lucy and I would have been on a winner and the tin would be looking lovely.  REAL SHARP by four lengths from MR LEHMAN with best turned out HORIZON HILL (T Hayes) a length back in third.  The latter is also a horse I will be watching very closely from now on.  I am still trying to find details of how Lee Rowe who came down in this race and was helicoptered away is getting on. (email me with info please&Fred@fredsampson.co.uk)

 

Next came the shorter race for Mares and Fillies with eleven going to post.  I am expecting Richard Woollacott to bring home the Symes and Ms Hale's OVER T'PAGE here having just failed to win her previous attempt by a head at Cherrybrook.  By the look of the boards there are a lot like me and although there are substantial investments on MISS PRETTY (P Gundry) and S Elford and R Back's UNFINISHED SYMPHONY (D Edwards) it will be my choice that goes off favourite.  Off they go!  It was obvious from the start that R Grant's NINAH was proving to be a bit of a handful for Caroline Farrant and came down at the first down the back bringing down D Ford's HAZEL MERE as well.  I understand Caroline, although helicoptered away, is at home with bruises and sore ribs but repairable. Next incident was that D Ford's ROMANY ROCKET did not like the route along which she was being taken and ran off in a different direction despite the efforts of Alice Mills.  The remainder up over the open ditch and into the home strait it was still Darren Edwards on UNFUNISHEDSYMPHONY leading followed by MISS PRETTY, OVER T'PAGE, LOAN SPITFIRE (S Young) JEWEL THAT SHINES (M Woodward), CANTCALLHERTRIGGER (S Parrish) and MENAROW (L Gardner).  One more circuit to complete and Darren kept up the pace with a length or two advantage followed by MISS PRETTY and OVER T'PAGE down the back strait (first fence omitted - damaged previously).  Up to the final open ditch where Darren put in a good leap and gained the advantage over Polly and went on by about two lengths with Richard Woollacott not out of it in third.  These three took the second last in this order.  Over the last the same order but it was here that Sue Young on LOAN SPITFIRE appeared travelling quite quickly, so quickly in fact that she got up to within two lengths of UNFINISHED SYMPHONY to claim second spot with OVER T'PAGE back in third.  It came to pass that I learned that both bag and tin were on OVER T'PAGE to win, so conversation ceased for a little while between their owners whilst stock was taken of amounts now in their respective receptacles.  Not too bad yet so on we go to&

 

The Mixed Open race with seven runners but surely a match between Ros Oliver's LET'S FLY (Polly Gundry) and Sally Rowe's CANADA (R Ross).  The former with such solid form and the latter back on conditions which are suitable and who won handsomely at Upton Cross recently; this is surely going to be between these two.  The other challengers are Reuben Chapman's INDIAN RAIDER (J Cole) who clocked up a commendable second in a Members here behind LET'S FLY (3 lengths - 5min 58secs) recently, Miss J du Plessis and N Edmonds's MISS ZIGGERSON (Lucy Gardner), best turned out R Grant's SPINNING SILVER (M Woodward), A Cottle's MONTU (N Harris) and The Ansell Partnership's OFF THE HOOK (Ian Hambley).  I chose CANADA after the way this one helped the tin out at the Eggesford.  Polly went off the odds on favourite. CANADA set the pace and was jumping well.  Others tried the second spot but it was soon LET'S FLY that settled in behind the leader. SPINNING SILVER was not enjoying himself too much at the tale end.  With a complete circuit to travel it was CANADA still setting the pace followed by LET'S FLY three lengths back then came INDIAN RAIDER and the remainder.  Down the back Polly brought her charge upsides on the inside.  Up to the final open ditch and I was beginning to get extremely confident that the tin would rattle again.  Polly probably got away from the ditch a little better but at the second last they were together.  They both settled down now to race this one out.  Let the cheering, shouting jumping commence.  I viewed from a little past the finishing line and although supporters around me were convinced CANADA had won; because of past experiences here I was not and was prepared to await the judges decision.  Then it came - first Number 10, second Number 2 and third Number 13, Distance A HEAD and five lengths - 5 min 57 secs.  LET'S FLY had kept up his winning sequence and CANADA - you owe me!  MONTU you were not disgraced by a long shot back in third.

 

There was a whisper around the ring about my next choice but it was sound sense as Mark Munrowd had brought R Oliver's LORD ADPAR into second place here at the last meeting and would have won had it not been for a mistake at a fence.  On goes a considerable amount of what was remaining in the tin and at three to one I stood to really profit when this one comes home.  J Cottle's TOMSK (N Harris) went off a short priced favourite with my choice the second favourite.  The remainder were much bigger prices.  Richard Woollacott had A Ford's HOORAY HENRY up front as they passed the judge on the first circuit with LORD ADPAR travelling well in mid division. Polly Gundry on Ross Oliver's WEE FLY was also travelling well but at this time it was good to hear the commentator report that LORD ADPAR was travelling (happily!) in mid division.  Soon it became obvious that my choice had decided to close up a little, in fact several places and when they passed the judge with a circuit to go it was LORD ADPAR that was leading alongside HOORAY HENRY and close up was Alice Mills on best turned out the Hayes's LADY VERDANTYE.  Down the back straight Mark (yes, it is Mark now that he is out in front!!) increased the pace and got a five length lead over Richard and now ROSE LIR (Will Biddick) was trying to close them down.  The six length lead at the second last was whittled down to two lengths on the line but LORD ADPAR got there from HOORAY HENRY and back ten lengths in third was Clare Ford on CONTRARY KING.  Well done Mark, the tin will be delighted.

 

Finally came the nine runner Restricted race and a very competitive one as well.  Several of them have made the tin happy during their maiden days but now they are all in the same race it is going to be difficult to pick a winner.  I am going to go for MILLCROFTSWEETAURA (Polly Gundry) who won here at the Easter Monday meeting albeit over a shorter distance so provided Polly can get a little more out of her I should collect.  Richard Darke will be up on best turned out  KARINGA COIN who helped the tin out at the Eggesford meeting so maybe I should choose that one but L Tylor's PEPPERY PAMELA (L Gardner) is also a threat as is the Summersby's LOUP DU SUD and what a price that one paid out when winning at Cherrybrook.  No I will stick to Miss Gundry to finish off the day for me and tin.  Off they go and it was good to see my choice going so well and over the first ditch it was EVANLY MISS (T Cole) and MILLCROFTSWEETAURA that was leading the field followed by PEPPERY PAMELA, KARINGA STAR,  A ROMP TOO FAR (W Biddick), JAUNTY JANNER (T Dennis), LOUP DU SUD (D Summersby) and MISTY BROOK (T Gardner).  Down the back they travelled without much change until I heard those disastrous words from the commentator that not ONLY had EVENLY MISS pulled up but so had MILLCROFTSWEETAURA.  Terrible!  No more for the tin today. MISTY BROOK took up the running down the final back straight but a group were all in with a chance including LOUP DU SUD, PEPPERY PAMELA, A ROMP TOO FAR and JAUNTY JANNER. At the final open ditch KARINGA COIN had about a half length advantage over MISTY BROOK, with LOUP DU SUD closing up on the outside.  The race over the last two fences and to the line saw KARINGA COIN win by six lengths from LOUP DU SUD with MISTY BROOK six lengths back in third place.  I knew I should have done that one!  How many times does one hear that AFTER the race?  Ah well! Be thankful for what you have got and not what you might have got!

 

Super weather and the bag custodian provided a lot of 'bon hommie' at her hospitality picnic, which a lot of friends and visitors who entertain us when we are away, enjoyed.  A quick trip home to get the results up on the web site and then pack for the journey tomorrow to Stafford Cross for the Axe Vale meeting.  Eight races forecast as well as Pony racing so - BE THERE!

 

Ruth and Fred