Report from Mid Devon Foxhounds Point to Point meeting held at Black Forest Lodge Kenton on Sunday 4^th February 2007. 

 

I thought I was seeing things when we arrived early at the course as there were about fifty people walking the course and it was only just after nine o'clock.  Some were young, some just teenagers, some were a little older and then there were the grand parents and older friends.  The cause for all this popularity was, of course the pony racing here today.  The Mid Devon is the first of seven pony races in Devon and Cornwall area with a grand final at Umberleigh on June 16^th.

 

Gabbling little tongues sounding a little like magpies, belonging to excited youngsters, which have no doubt had very little sleep last night and would have got parents up at some unearthly hour so that they could come and race their ponies.  Some with a little bit experience but most were going to have their first ride.  I had a chat with 12 year old Kerry Seward who looked extremely smart in her racing silks of black, pink star and stars on her sleeves, black cap and pink stars and a liberal covering of sparkling glitter over her eyes.  She would be riding L Beasley's ALBANY in the Young Rider class against nine other competitors.  There were a couple of bookmakers prepared to take investments and it was soon established that Charlotte Long riding best turned out  COVEHAM GENERATION would be the favourite in the first race and Connor Flint from Wales on STAMBROOK MARQUESA would be second favourite.  This prediction turned out to be the correct one and Charlotte came home two and half lengths to the good of Connor who was only a head to the good of Charlotte Hayes on MILLIE followed by Henry Hayes on HEAVENLY ROSE but they all certainly rode extremely well and all deserved their rosettes.

 

The second race was equally exciting and this time it was Mathew Barber who brought home DANEHILL RETURNS to win by two lengths from David Prichard on FLANDERS FIELDS followed up by Daisy Whitfield on ARNIE.  The best turned out was Sarah Shellard and Richard Prince's JOHNNY THE JIG. All riders once again collected rosettes which were presented in the paddock.  Little tongues were still describing the thrill for a long time after and I bet they all slept well that night.  The next Pony Racing will be at the Dart Vale and Haldon Harriers P to P meeting at Buckfastleigh on March 11^th.  Enquiries please to Eileen Ashby 01548 531490.

 

Twelve noon and we kick off with the Confined race with five going to post.  Unfortunately Mrs J Perry's MUST BE SO got rid of Neil Harris at the start and was withdrawn.  Too late for the investment takers to form a new book so 'rule 4' would come into play and deductions would be made to all winnings.  This did not affect me but it did concern the bag holder as a forecast was predicted with the odds on favourite SWIFT WOOD (M Miller) winning and LORD VILLE (Nick Schofield) coming second should have paid out quite nicely but there was a considerable deduction but nevertheless the bag profited on the very first race which is almost unheard of.  Only four runners and an obvious winner did not detract from it being an excited race as for a long time it looked like PERFECT LIAISON (B Robarts) was going to be second home but after POSSIBLE PARDON (Jennifer Congdon) was overtaken by LORD VILLE young Nick Schofield kept his charge up to his work and he slowly closed up on PERFECT LIAISON and was in a challenging position for second spot at the final fence.  It was here that PERFECT LIAISON ran round the fence and this allowed LORD VILLE to take second spot without any trouble, some twelve lengths behind the winner SWIFT WOOD.  Distance between second and third was not recorded as it was not recognised at first that POSSIBLE PARDON was the third horse home.  Smiles all round as the bag accepts a good starter.

 

Seven to post for the Men's Open race and a clear favourite is soon established in the consistent HIGHWAY OAK (M Miller) who has good form to his name and his odds on price prevents a win investment but without the favourite Ruth has chosen RIO POPS (R Bliss) to increase the bag contents where as I have chosen to make notes on this race and no investment is made.  A horse from the North Ledbury, BESEIGED (M Munrowd) has taken a considerable amount of late money and will now probably join SAILORS FOLLY (P Mason) as second favourite. RIO POPS is third favourite and the remainder are much bigger prices.  All off at the first attempt as these open racers should know the rules by now.  HIGHWAY OAK took them along past the judge and up the hill.  He got in a bit close here but brushed through the top and carried on unaffected.  SAILORS FOLLY was tale end Charlie as they raced to the first of the open ditches.  Across the top HIGHWAY OAK led and carried on doing so down the slope and back towards the crowd with SAILORS FOLLY now travelling well in second spot with BESEIGED in third.  VANORMIX in the rear was being asked for a better effort by Tony Squires but not getting much response.  BESEIGED took second place for a while but the effort was too great, he made a scratchy jump and was back in third again.  Final open ditch and HIGHWAY OAK had SAILORS FOLLY close up with RIO POPS now up to third place.  As the race continued the two leaders pulled away from the field and made a very exciting race of it.  SAILORS FOLLY was definitely getting back to his best and made Michael Miller on HIGHWAY OAK pull out all the stops and only just made it and crossed the line just a neck to the good.  RIO POPS unfortunately was pulled up which allowed best turned out TITCHFIELD to grab third place a full distance back.  Those that had taken the skimpy odds of four to seven on must have had a real fright there but came good in the end.  Nothing for either container that time.

 

Five to post in the Ladies open race and the best turned out favourite upset things here.  The really well backed LADY MISPRINT (Polly Gundry) got a flyer away from the start and must have been half a dozen lengths to the good on reaching the first fence but then she refused and took no further part in the race.  Now it was the Hobbs's MOUNSEY CASTLE with Diana onboard leading the field from my choice BALLY BLUE (Tabitha Cave) followed by Sarah West on SILENT SOUND. Alice Mills on ISOU brought up the rear but there was only about eight lengths covering the whole field as they cleared the open ditch, crossed the top and came racing down the hill to pass the start position.  Now approaching the next MOUNSEY CASTLE ran out and deposited Diana on the deck.  Maybe they wanted to join Polly but now it was my choice leading the field, but a long way to go yet.  On passing the crowd and at the fence so that all could see BALLY BLUE put in a long one and it really was a beauty and landed full of running.  Out on the final circuit they go with Tabitha leading and trying to make this her 121^st winner on the point to point circuits and to top up the tin quite nicely.   On to the final open ditch SILENT SOUND got his nose in front for a while but BALLY BLUE came back and took over.  ISOU was back in third.  Fence 16 saw BALLY BLUE get a long one in again and absolutely winged the fence but Sarah on SILENT SOUND was not beaten yet and kept in touch.  With three fences left to jump it was clear that this was going to be a hot little race to the finish.  I gave a cheer or two but kept the noise down as I knew it would be needed at the end.  Two out and it is still in my favour and the shouting started.  Round the bend and Tabitha goes fully for home, asked for the big one at the last and got it and increased her lead and was three lengths to the good on the line from SILENT SOUND with ISOU eight lengths back in third.  Great, the tin will really appreciate this!  I wonder if Tabitha has ever had such a good ride as she did on this in form BALLY BLUE - well done!  It is always a shame when two of the main protagonists fail but that's the game and its three miles, with a jockey onboard, over every fence and first over the line that wins the race.

 

Another odds on favourite in the Intermediate race with the best turned out MAXOU DES BROSSES now being ridden by Ryan Bliss as Neil Harris is probably suffering from being dumped off Mrs Perry's MUST BE SO and this one is going off at very skimpy odds. Four to seven on!  Off they go but very soon after the start Will Biddick pulled up the second favourite Mrs Trueman's AID DE CAMP and dismounted very quickly and it looked like trouble for this one.  BULLRUSH was also becoming detached as the field went out into the country for the first time.  ONE DAWN (J Jones)  was taking them along with WHITES TOUCH (M Miller) in second and then MAGNEMITE (W White) with the favourite quite happily travelling along in mid field.  As they go out into the country for the final time very little had changed except perhaps BULLRUSH had closed up and was in with a chance if good enough.  It was not until passing the start position for the final time that Ryan asked MAXOU DES BROSSES for his effort and was getting response.  WHITES TOUCH had now taken the lead with ONE DAWN tiring and BULLRUSH was still on scene.  Two out the favourite and WHITES TOUCH took the fence together.  From here on in MAXOU DES BROSSES took charge, over the last and to the post to beat WHITES TOUCH by six lengths with BULLRUSH twenty five lengths back in third.  Keith Cummings certainly seems to have this winner in fine fettle and must be watched for further entries as all in this race qualify for Exeter Racecourse Intermediate P to P Series Final Hunter Chase at Exeter in May.

 

Ten will race in the Restricted race and again we have an odds on favourite in Lucy Gardner's WINTER SCENE who she will ride but I am not so sure and I am going to invest an each way punt on the best turned out, tongue tied, blinkered PHANTOM WALKER who I hope with all this paraphernalia Darren can at least make third past the post.  Ten to one is the odds I got so it could be quite profitable.  The favourite, WINTER SCENE took up the running quite soon and was followed as they past the post for the first time by PHANTOM WALKER, REDBERRY HOLLY, REAL SHARP and the tale end Charlie at this early stage was the one down from the Ledbury country WHISKY IN THE JAR (D Dunsdon) At the open ditch REDBERRY HOLLY had had enough of Guy Weatherley and promptly got rid of him but WINTER SCENE and PHANTOM WALKER took the remainder along.   Soon the lead had changed; WHISKY IN THE JAR now took over from Lucy.  Out into the country for the final time it was WHISKY IN THE JAR closely followed by Lucy on her WINTER SCENE, then came REAL SHARP (R Darke), RINGS OF POWER (A Tory) and the remainder well strung out now.  On they went but the leader began to turn this one into a procession.  David Dunsdon had it all sewn up by the time he reached three out and came on home in a time almost to match the Men's Open to win by ten lengths from WINTER SCENE and a determined effort by GREY KID (K Yates) came in two and half lengths back in third.  There was a spelling mistake of the winning jockeys name in the race card and was it not for this I am sure the winners return would have been a lot less than four to one as David Dunsdon is a highly rated jockey and he would not have travelled so far if his chances were not great.  He proved the journey was well worth while.

 

We finished the day with two divisions of maiden races and young Miss Gardner topped my tin up very nicely - thank you, by bringing home her MASSINI MAN to win by five lengths and this time I was quick off the mark and managed to invest whilst the odds were a very favourable five to four and they quickly went to evens and then probably odds on.  FORCE TEN (K Squires) is now beginning to get the hang of things and although five lengths back in second place, did run well and this aptly named  (out of WHERETHEWINDBLOWS) nine year old is sure to provide fun for all connections.  Sixteen lengths back in third place was KNICKERS giving Michael Miller yet another one in the frame.  The bag is also opened so we will be singing all the way home and will enjoy carrying this loot out of Devon and back to where it rightly belongs - Cornwall.

 

Finally I relied yet again on Lucy to really put the icing on the cake for me and the tin and I managed to get an each way investment on her HI STAR.  The favourite was the  best turned out the Ackner's KALABELL PRINCE (S Alwood) but it was Darren Edwards riding in place of Neil Harris on The Town and Country Partnership's EMANATE that eventually pulled it off.  There were unseated, pulled up, run out horses in this maiden but EMANATE held on to win by two and half lengths from Michael Miller on MERCUREY and of course, Lucy on HI STAR five lengths back in third.  Thank you for keeping going Lucy and getting the better of RYEMAN (Guy Weatherley). Off I go once again to pick up - not a lot but it's the difference between a MacDonald's and The Penventon Park Hotel for dinner tonight!

 

I feel I must congratulate one young man after today's racing.  Two winners, two seconds and a third. Not a bad days sport - well done Michael Miller.  Thank you!

 

Unfortunately we will not be a t Larkhill next week but for sure we will be at Buckfastleigh for the South Pool Harriers meeting on 18^th February 2007.  A really great meeting there is envisaged so you be sure you will - BE THERE!

 

Fred and Ruth