Report from the North Cornwall Hunt Club Point to Point meeting held at RCS Wadebridge on Saturday 16^th December 2006

 

I am so sorry for the P to P followers who were misled by the incorrect information in a 'racing paper' BUT the correct information has been front page on the P to P websites for quite some time.  You missed a great day's racing and I doubt it will be bettered this season.  The 67 runners provided first class competitive racing on ground that was 'good' and the whole course was spot on.  The hard work put in by a small select band of volunteers was well and truly rewarded by sport of the highest calibre.  You may say we are slightly biased but the amount of praise passed on to the P to P committee and supporters backs us up.  Lovely weather, good crowd and atmosphere AND Ruth won a large bottle of whisky from the Supporters Club raffle -but then she is the Secretary.  Plenty of stalls, sponsors exhibits, food and wine.  Mrs Pedlar's mince pies really were lovely with lashings of Cornish clotted cream.  What more could one want but a couple (or more!) winners. 

 

The Club Members Race saw seven go to post and a clear favourite was soon established in the investing arena in Mr Messer-Bennett's SEA SNIPE with a slightly odds-on price being the only one available.  I took advantage of this as surely this must be the class horse in the race and with the in form Nick Schofield onboard this must be a good wager.  Rundle Weldhen's CORAL BAY finished off last season with good form and Will Biddick would like to get this one home first again if he possibly could.  The best turned out Tim Dennis's ALAMBIQUE may surprise as might Charlie Wallis on Reuben Chapman's INDIAN RAIDER.  Mary Biddick would think all her Christmases had come at once if she could get her father's newcomer DIAMOND MONROE home in front of brother Will, leave alone in first place.  Off they go!  CORAL BAY set the pace past the judge for the first time followed by INDIAN RAIDER and SEA SNIPE and a good pace it was as well. The well bred DOUBLE GRACE was a little untidy at the open ditch but Ian Hambly soon put Mrs Ansell's mare on a steady course again.  Going down the slope towards fence eight Mary had closed up on brother Will and although CORAL BAY was taking them along DIAMOND MONROE was a close second. By the time the field reached the open ditch for the final time it was a tightly packed group that took the fence and because I had an interest I studied SEA SNIPE more closely than the others and I was quite happy the way the stylish Mr Scholfield was taking his charge along on the inside.  DOUBLE GRACE was soon to be pulled up.  Down the long hill to fence eight the race was between SEA SNIPE and CORAL BAY.  Tim Dennis was now asking ALAMBIQUE (watch this one in future - finished fast!) for this effort and closed up into third place on the outside.  SEA SNIPE kept to the rails with CORAL BAY continually challenging from the outside but not really getting the better of the duel.  Coming up the home straight with a couple to jump it was time to do a little shouting but with only one more fence to go Nick Scholfield kept SEA SNIPE up to his work and no really loud shouting was necessary.  Just a little 'coooeee!  Over the line to win by four lengths with ALAMBIQUE second and two lengths back in third place was CORAL BAY.  The tin lid rattles again!

 

Next came the Men's Open race. I doubt there will be a more competitive race than this twelve runner affair for some time.  Nine of the runners at one time were four to one or under on the bookies boards. Eventually the Emily Thompson trained CONCERT PIANIST (R Woollacott) and Ben Wallis's SELASSIE with Charlie Wallis up settled at five to two. Mrs Scudamore's GALWAY (M Scudamore) and D Edwards's MAXIMIZE also took plenty of money and Ken and John Heard's NDITLIR (T Dennis) was slowly pulling in the coinage.   The Robarts family were relying on JUST SALLY to start their season off on a winning note and a KNIGHTON COMBE win would make a happy Christmas for the Snowden family.  I had previously walked the course with the owner's wife, Mrs Gallagher of THIRTYTWORED (Guy Weatherley) and it was hoped that this one, now trained by Jonathan Apps, would carry on his winning streak from last season and better his second place at this course.  Off they go! Not quite, At the line the rank outsider BRUTHUINNE (J Barnes) failed to start and it was eleven good horses that cleared the first and on passing the judge for the first time it was JUST DIFFERENT (Bryn Wright) that led the field.  A decent gallop around the top and through the dip and JUST SALLY now took it up followed by KNIGHTON COMBE and MAXIMISE (my eventual choice at 4/1) with the tail enders being THIRTYTWORED and CONCERT PIANIST.  Passing the judge with a complete circuit to go it was SELASSIE who led the field followed by JUST SALLY, MAXIMIZE and KNIGHTON COMBE.  We lost SAILORS FOLLY (P Mason) after rounding the top bend.  Down hill for the final time Neil Harris began to give PERTEMPS PROFILE a message that he wanted more but only got a little.  JUST SALLY cruised up under Ben Robarts and took it up and looked full of running. SELASSIE was also going well on the inside and fed up with being in the rear, Richard Woollacott brought CONCERT PIANIST into it now as they approached fence 15 on the rising ground.  We lost SELASSIE at this fence.  NDITLIR was now getting into it but JUST SALLY was staying on well.  Two out it was JUST SALLY from NDITLIR with PERTEMPS PROFILE back in third.  Final fence and the leading position unchanged with CONCERT PIANIST surely closing from fourth position.  A great race for the line and CONCERT PIANIST under an inspiring ride from Richard Woollacott got past the others and crossed half a length to the good of JUST SALLY and a length back was PERTEMPS PROFILE; THIRTYTWORED was fourth.  Nothing for the tin but the smile as I returned to the car told me that the bag was just about to prosper.  Well done Ruth.

 

The Hustyns Ladies' Open race was another very competitive affair.  The Axe Valley Syndicate SPUDDLERS DREAM with top lady Rachel Green in the plate was the odds-on favourite to win this but I have since heard that some of the syndicate thought the meeting was Sunday and did not travel but not to worry there will be other times Irene!  Closely matched in the investment arena to start with were Ross Oliver's LET'S FLY (Polly Gundry) and Diana Hobbs on the family's DOUBLE HONOUR but at the off it was the latter that was a clear second favourite.   As expected this was an excellent race but I lost a certain amount of interest as my investment BALLY BLUE unseated Tabitha Cave at the open ditch.  Going down the hill it was almost a line of four challenging for the lead, DOUBLE HONOUR, VIRGOS BAMBINO, TOI EXPRESS and LET'S FLY with a six length advantage over SPUDDLERS DREAM and YOUNG GENERAL.  On reaching the open ditch for the final time SPUDDLERS DREAM had closed up into second place behind DOUBLE HONOUR; YOUNG GENERAL had tailed off.  Up the top end of the course LET'S FLY took up the running but there was only a whisker between the leading four horses.  At the start of the downhill run for the final time it was LET'S FLY, DOUBLE HONOUR, TOI EXPRESS and SPUDDLERS DREAM.  TOI EXPRESS fell at fence 15.  LET'S FLY began to increase his lead but SPUDDLERS DREAM under Rachel looked to be travelling with some in hand.  Round the bend and the steady climb to the winning line.  Plenty of shouting here now!  A very good race now as SPUDDLERS DREAM made his move but was still third over the last behind LET'S FLY and DOUBLE HONOUR. To the line it went to Miss Hobbs on DOUBLE HONOUR by two lengths and SPUDDLERS DREAM got up to be second a length ahead of LET'S FLY.  Would you believe it, the bag carrier is laughing again - I am not!!

 

A near maximum will go to the start for the Restricted Race - 14.  A very open race with no one sure who to make favourite.  Fred Hutsby has travelled even further than a fortnight ago and has brought his BFL winner down from Warwickshire so his POCKET TIGER will probably go off favourite but I am choosing Lucy Gardner to make amends for last week and bring in WINTER SCENE at a very sensible price of five to one. Darren Edwards up on JAYEMCEE BOY is also much fancied and Will Biddick on DAD SAYS HEAZLE could make amends and be placed.  Off they go!  At the first ditch AH YEAH gave Sarah Gaisford and uncomfortable moment but the partnership remained intact which is more than can be said for Will as DAD SAYS HEAZLE got rid of him. Down the hill they go with LORD FAUNTLEROY giving Colin Heard a tough time as he really wanted to get on with things, but meantime up front it was BACHOLARS WALK (M Wall) cutting out the pace with Lucy and my investment carrier, WINTER SCENE in second and the keen LORD FAUNTLEROY now up to third place.  At the final open ditch it was between LORD FAUNTLEROY and BACHOLARS WALK with JEMANNETTE close up and WINTER SCENE very handy.  WINTER SCENE and LORD FAUNTLEROY took them down the hill with JEMANNETTE and now POCKET TIGER disputing third place. After fence 15 where WINTER SCENE lost a length or two it was a battle royal between Colin Heard and Lucy Gardner to the line.  Tremendous support from the crowd for both riders but Colin got the better of the tussle by two lengths and Lucy was two lengths clear of LORD CODE (Rilly Goschen).  JEMANNETTE was fourth.  The 3^rd horse, the Alice Fox Pitt (Portman) trained LORD CODE was impressive the way he finished and will definitely be winning before very long!  (Next time out!)

 

The Intermediate Race saw six go to post and the favourite and one of the second favourites took this race by the scruff of the neck and the pace they set soon took them away from the remaining four runners.  At the first open ditch favourite INNOCENT REBEL (Colin Heard) was a shade in front of second favourite THEMATIS (Jamie Snowden) and Will Biddick was still in company on FORDHAM GLORY (later pulled up) but by the time they went down the hill to fence eight INNOCENT REBEL and THEMATIS had pulled ahead by eight or ten lengths and were making a cracking pace.  I had invested on THEMATIS quite heavily as if anyone can get them ready it is Caroline Keevil and I thought this one looked the part but I changed my mind as they passed me as Jamie was already working on his mount whereas Colin appeared cruising.  They rounded the bottom together, came up the straight together, jumped the final open ditch together and went down the hill together for the final time with Jamie pulling out all the stops and Colin appearing not to have to.  THEMATIS got away from fence 15 the better but they were almost together again on rounding the final bend and facing the two in the home straight.  Jamie was certainly earning his expenses on this one as he came up the home straight.  Over the last I thought all his efforts were in vain as Colin got a little more out of INOCENT REBEL and came up alongside but by industrious coaxing THEMATIS got to the line first by two lengths, Darren Edwards had kept BALDHU JAY ARR going and was the only other finisher, a distance back.  The competition, the pace, the thrill - THE TIN!   Super! And guess what - the bag as well!

 

A split was now necessary. Two divisions of Open Maidens were to follow with ten in division one and eight in division two.  Special thanks go to the sponsor of these two divisions, Mr David Heath of Home Furnishings Wadebridge who stepped forward when the split was necessary and sponsored both divisions.  Along with all the other sponsors it is support like this that is very much appreciated by the organisers.  Darren Edwards had compensation for his distant third in the Intermediate by bringing home the family KILLER CAT to win by ten lengths from Jenny Congdon on OH SO NAUGHTY who was not so naughty today and ran a good race with Mark Munrowd on Miss Kessler's DRUID GAZELLE three lengths back in third place.  

 

I went up to invest in division two and was nearly tempted to try Lucy Gardner again on her HI STAR who has run well this season but changed my mind and took three to one about SLEDGEHAMMER with Polly Gundry up.  The bookie confided in me and said he thought that this one should have been favourite so I promptly doubled the investment as I thought - they seldom get it wrong!!  It was James Cole onboard his HOLLY WALK and Lucy on HI STAR that nearly ruined my day.  These had led for most of the race whilst Polly had her mount going well but was back in the field, possibly waiting I thought!  Over the final ditch it was HOLLY WALK, HI STAR and SLEDGEHAMMER in that order with HI STAR travelling sweetly.  With just two fences to go Polly was closing slowly on HOLLY WALK having got the better of HI STAR.  Over the second last it was still HOLLY WALK by a length and half.  Over the last it was still HOLLY WALK.  SLEDGEHAMMER then gave Polly just what she wanted and gradually got the better of Joe Cole and crossed the line to win by a length.  Lucy was four lengths back in third with Will Biddick on TRAVEL DEHOUCHE in fourth place. 

 

This was truly a great day's sport and both tin and bag are looking in really fine fettle.  To those who are in Spain and should be in Wadebridge, you missed an excellent day at the Royal Cornwall Showground - serve your right, I told 'e it wasn't so good out there!

 

Next one - South Devon Hunts Club at Ideford Arch 30^th December 2006 - BE THERE!  Got that Roger?

 

To those in Australia - you keep the Ashes if you want but we will hang on to Point to Point racing.

 

Remember: "Marriage is a wonderful invention but then again so is a bicycle puncture repair outfit"

 

Fred and Ruth