Report from the Minehead Harriers and West Somerset Hunt P to P at Holnicote on Saturday 12^th May 2007

 

Not very far to travel for us to this meeting as we haven't been back to Cornwall since the meetings last week but nevertheless we arrived early and it was obvious as I walked the course that the rain of this week had made the course 'good' with 'good to soft' patches and would constitute a very good racing surface.  Two pony races would start proceedings off and apart from some showers expected today could produce some very good racing as there is a good book of entries.

 

In the 13.2hh Harry Derham on G WHIZZ just got the better of Charlotte Long on best turned out COVEHAM GENERATION in the race to the line so I was not able to pick up on this one this week but it was a good race between these two and Joe Ponting on LITTLE LORD WILLIAM made it to third spot.  Philip Prince on MICK THE MILLER came flying home in the bigger class to beat Victoria Griffiths on PERRY by three lengths with George Shaw on JUMBLE a few lengths back in third.  Congratulations to all the young riders, they all did it well and I believe young (9) Miss Welch is looking for a faster 'Star' so she will soon be up among the winners.  Well done!

 

I chose MASSINI MAN (L Gardner) to pay for last night's B & B in the first race, the Restricted race, but I was unlucky as the professionally trained FLYING FUSILIER (D Hobbs) got home in front of my choice by five lengths to rob me and now it would be the kitchen for me unless things improved.  It was the Tory's TORY BLUE (Emma Tory) that took the field along at a good pace with FLYING FUSILIER travelling in second followed by a group which included MASSINI MAN.  Not much change up front until commencing the final circuit when FLYING FUSILIER jumped up to TORY BLUE and took up the running.  Passing the start area for the final time it was still FLYING FUSILIER followed now by D Newton and David Davies's best turned out ONE MORE DEAL (R Woollacott).  It was obvious that the favourite, The Three Shires Partnership's MR GOOFY (J Mahot) was not liking this course and made several jumping mistakes to add to his inconsistent running.  Four from home FLYING FUSILIER was doing just that - flying and was not going to be caught easily.  Over the final ditch and onto the penultimate it was FLYING FUSILIER with Darren Edwards on KILLER CAT in second place now giving chase. Lucy asked MASSINI MAN for a real effort and the response was a good one and brought her up into second place and she was now being followed by Ryan Bliss on J Knapton's SPICKETTS GIRL.  The line came too quickly for my investment carrier and FLYING FUSILIER got there first by five lengths from MASSINI MAN with SPICKETTS GIRL ten lengths back in third.  The winner was trained by Polly Curling when last appearing here in February and was left clear that time and hasn't carried much form since, so the move to a top professional yard seems to have done the trick, but to me it also seems grossly unfair!

 

Thirteen go to post in the Open maiden race and it is very difficult to sort this lot out and for once it didn't look as though the bookies did either.  Eventually they or rather the punters; chose J Manning's WORSHIP THE STARS (J Mahot) as the favourite at two to one with the others available from four to one upwards.  Late money for David Roger's FOUR OF A KIND (W White) and L McGuinness's ROMANY CRUSADE (I Popham) brought their prices down a little but not a lot.  I was stumped and just could not sort out one I thought would make the frame leave alone win but eventually settled for the Darke's BLUE CHIP STAR who put up a good performance at the Fourburrow meeting.  A little each way is invested.  Off they go led by Mrs Dodd's VITAL STRIKER (R Bliss) from FOUR OF A KIND and the Davies's WOODBRIDGE QUEST (C Tizzard) and then C Mitchell's JASPER ROONEY (Kate Lovelace) who attempted to walk through the fence and promptly unseated his rider.  A Ford's HOORAY HENRY (R Woollacott) then joined the leaders, but we were soon to lose WOODBRIDGE QUEST.  My investment carrier was travelling ok in the middle of the pack. The best turned out Mr and Mrs Evan's SEYMOUR BRIG (J Guerriero) also unseated.  Coming up to the thirteenth it was obvious that the Atkinson's KIWI RAP (M Atkinson) was not here for a scenery visitation and began to make rapid headway and was soon to take up the lead.  Six from home and KIWI RAP was stringing out this field but HOORAY HENRY had a go at getting to him and also FOUR OF A KIND was not finished with.  It was good to hear that the remainder had all cleared the final open ditch but it was not so good to hear that BLUE CHIP STAR was a long way back.  Ah well watch the others and enjoy it (if you can!)  At the penultimate it looked as though FOUR OF A KIND was going to reward his late investors but KIWI RAP thought differently and was too good.  On to the line to win by ten lengths went KIWI RAP followed by FOUR OF A KIND and very close in third was ROMANY CRUSADE and several others.  No panic being set in yet but a better effort is needed!  The bag has not yet been opened either!

 

Just seven for the Mixed open race with the Hobbs's SAINT ROMBLE going off odds on favourite and TEDDY BOY (R Woollacott) fancied by some (including the bag carrier!) to be a better wager and grabbed the two to one against.  The best turned out MAXIMIZE (D Edwards) might cause a shock and the price of fourteen to one looks generous but not as generous as forty to one for Miss E Eaton's POWER UNIT (M Griffiths).  The field was made up with T Atkinson's BARTON HILL, the Dufosee's BEADNELL BAY (R Bliss) and the Faulks's MASTER BILLY BOY(C Tizzard).  A slight delay whilst one was brought to the start after attempting to race the wrong way around the course.  Off they go!  All safely over the first open ditch with the field being led by TEDDY BOY followed by SAINT ROMBLE then MAXIMIZE and MASTER BILLY BOY.  Approaching the open ditch for the second time it was still TEDDY BOY going well up front now followed by BEADNELL BAY and MAXIMIZE with SAINT ROMBLE back in fourth place.  With a circuit to run there was little change except perhaps that POWER UNIT has now had his price lengthened to much more than forty to one.  Now MASTER BILLY BOY and BEADNELL BAY have pulled up.  They were flagged around the final open ditch but it made little difference to TEDDY BOY one way or the other as he was travelling well and kept all challengers at bay to race home to win by fifteen lengths from SAINT ROMBLE  and a further two lengths back in third was BARTON HILL, MAXIMIZE was fourth.  Well done Ruth, the bag will really appreciate the addition it is about to receive.  Nothing for the tin again!  Well done the amateur rider and his partner.

 

Three to post for the CA Novice Riders' Club Race with a very clear favourite in L Riley's KINGSTON BANKER with Luke Riley up.  Alice Pearn is up on her FINEWOOD and Jenny Carr rides Mr & Mrs Faulks's CENTO.  This race went as predicted with KINGSTON BANKER making very few mistakes and came home to win by fifteen lengths from CENTO.  The best turned out FINEWOOD didn't appear to like the going and was pulled up before the finish.  No investment in this one so a little more to invest in the next one.

 

The Intermediate race will see eight go to post and I will invest quite heavily in this one.  The horse that is most progressive and has treated me more than well in the past is the Darke's KARINGA COIN and the two to one at the investment arena is grabbed by me and half, well quite a lot, of the tin is placed with two bookies as I didn't want to see one go home with no money. (Highly unlikely!) This is not going to be a walk over by any means as the opposition is the best this money carrier has come up against this season.  The Family Partnership's BISHOP'S BLADE (T Dennis) is a true threat if up to his best as is Carat Club's best turned out CARAT (R Woollacott).  The Dufosee's BARNEY BLUE (T Dennis), B Heywood's TRY TO WYN (D Edwards) and Vodka Racing partnership's VODKA INFERNO (A Goshen) all have recent good form so my choice will certainly have to be at his best.  Off they go and VODKA INFERNO and David Renney on his PASERELLA are the first to lead the field followed by BISHOP'S BLADE.  All over the first open ditch.  No change in the leaders as they pass the crowd.  All over the sixth with TRY TO WYN the whipper in.  At the end of the back straight KARINGA COIN had moved up a little and was travelling well in fourth place. At the open ditch for the second time it was still VODKA INFERNO just ahead of BARNEY BLUE on his outside and BISHOP'S BLADE on his inside; PASERELLA in fourth place with KARINGA COIN on his inside.  It was really a close group as they prepared to go out into the country but we were about to lose VODKA INFERNO.  Lucy on her QUESTIONIT began to make progress and could pose a threat.  To the fourteenth BARNEY BLUE and BISHOP'S BLADE continued to take them along.  CARAT pulled up. Turning up to the final open ditch BISHOP'S BLADE had the advantage of the inside but BARNEY BLUE was very close followed now by KARINGA COIN and QUESTIONIT.  This looks really good!  To the penultimate it was still BARNEY BLUE, BISHOP'S BLADE and then the lovely tones of the commentator reported that KARINGA COIN had made a dash up the outside.  Good racing over that one and the next and to the line KARINGA COIN held off the challenges of all others and got to that very important piece of the course that has been mown to make a nice clear line across the racing surface, before all others, complete with jockey and having jumped all fences which means he has WON!  Two and half lengths ahead of BISHOP'S BLADE who had ran a cracker of a race and then QUESTIONIT four lengths back in third.  That has really helped the tin and the padlock will have to be used again.  More good news - the bag had invested on no other than KARINGA COIN at two to one as well.  Wine with the meal tonight for sure!

 

One more race and only three to run in the Confined Hunts' race.  A toss up who is going off favourite as it is very close between MAXOU DES BROSSES (R Bliss) and MIOCHE D'ESTRUVAL (B Robarts) with GET SMART (J Guerriero) possibly the outsider.  A small investment at even money on MIOCHE D'ESTRUVAL for me as I think this one will appreciate the going here, but Ruth disagrees with me and is sure MAXOU DES BROSSE will win this one easily.  I ask you, how much does she know about it?  She invests at even money also. Off they go! The lead chopped and changed as all three jumped and went well but to my amazement Ryan Bliss on G Brown's MAXOU DES BROSSE agreed with Ruth and brought her investment carrier home to win by no less than twelve lengths from my choice with the third horse GET SMART, ten lengths further back in third.  I am still being told how wrong I was!  Bag open again but tin remaining closed.

 

A good day's racing, only a little rain but good company and some reward for both tin and bag.  Thank you Hunnycut, see you next year and we will now go away and prepare for the other end of Exmoor - Bratton Down next Saturday 19^th May for the Dulverton West meeting but first tomorrow at Vauterhill for the Tetcott meeting - BE THERE!

 

Fred and Ruth