Report from North Cornwall Hunt Point to Point meeting held at Royal Cornwall Showground Wadebridge on Saturday 3^rd February 2007. 

 

Lovely weather again as I walked the Showground course and I praise the organisers for getting this course back into fine shape again just six weeks after the previous meeting.  There is more grass cover; although this commodity doesn't normally grow much during December and January months, it appears it has here; but then this IS Cornwall, and the course will race with the going as 'good'.  An eight race, well sponsored card with quality and quantity.  We are in for a good afternoon.  Both bag and tin have ample to invest and are on the lookout for sure winners to keep up the present level. 

 

Only four for the Members with a sure winner in the Messer-Bennetts's SEA SNIPE (N Schofield) as this is the class horse of the four and Becky Kennen has her looking in tip top condition.  No investments possible as the odds on offer are far too skimpy for us so we will just take in a watching 'brief' on this one.  DIAMOND MONROE (Will Biddick) will no doubt come on for the race and best turned out OFF THE HOOK will also appreciate the chance to get round the 18 fences.  The locally syndicated horse THE ONLY OPTION (I Chanin) makes up the quartet and has taken some investment as her form states that she was in touch when falling on her previous run but I doubt she will master SEA SNIPE.  Will Biddick took them around for most of the three miles whilst Nick Schofield was prepared to take a waiting position in rear.  Passing the crowd for the final time and down the hill they go with SEA SNIPE now getting into it and being asked for her effort.  With three fences left to be jumped it was SEA SNIPE in the lead who took the next cleanly and the rest is history and came home like a three to one ON favourite should, to win by ten lengths from OFF THE HOOK  with DIAMOND MONROE three lengths back in third.  THE ONLY OPTION was pulled up.  The time was a little slower than when SEA SNIPE won in December last year and interestingly the horse that she beat then into second place by four lengths (ALAMBIQUE), is entered in the Restricted race later on today so I will be watching out for that one.  There is a whisper that Ross Oliver is qualifying LET'S FLY with the North Cornwall next year so who knows how the 'Members' will turn out then?

 

Seven go to post for the Men's Open race and Ashley Farrant has brought the Robarts family's MIOCHE D'ESTRUVAL (Ben Robarts) down from Exmoor to win this one and it goes off a firm favourite.  A few investors fancied The Nyland Partnership's SAMMY SAMBA from the Blackmore and Sparkford Vale country, to thwart  the attempts of all others and the Edwards's best turned out  MAXIMIZE (D Edwards) may surprise.  Will Biddick will be up on the consistent FRONTENAC for Mandy Hand who surely deserves a win after so many placings but my choice will be for Richard Woollacott to bring his winning total to one hundred on the Faulks's TONY'S TIME.  This one has beaten Ross Oliver's very good thing Let's Fly around this course and that will do for me.  The odds available are also encouraging as a dash along the line produces an investment at seven to one.  Off they go!  The favourite showed up well as did MAXIMIZE and TONY'S TIME but nothing in it really as they went off down the hill for the first time. Unfortunately MIOCHE D'ESTRUVAL didn't fancy the jump on the rising ground and went straight out through the wing showering plastic pipe everywhere. (Gosh! Aren't we thankful for that material?)  MAXIMIZE and TONY'S TIME brought the field up the home straight and out into the country again with FRONTENAC still there.  Passing the crowd and down the hill TONY'S TIME was travelling well and upped his position to a five length lead but MAXIMIZE answered the persuasion he was getting and closed up a little as did SAMMY SAMBA; FRONTENAC was a close fourth.  The fence that lost its wing last time round is being by passed so that helped my cause and a little shout began to get uttered as TONY'S TIME jumped well on the third from home and came up the straight with a lead over SAMMY SAMBA and MAXIMIZE.  Richard confidently brought home his 100^th winner some three lengths ahead of MAXIMISE with gallant SAMMY SAMBA a head back in fourth.  Well done Richard and I got a chance to personally congratulate him as I made my way to the investment area - yes Sir, to collect.  My only disappointment in the queue to load the tin was that I didn't spot the bag carrier anywhere! Pity!!

 

The Ladies Open brought up only four runners and with one of them a near racing cert, investing was going to be difficult.  The price of the favourite, Ross Oliver's LET'S FLY with Polly Gundry onboard was far too cramped for the likes of me BUT I did fancy a little investment on the straight forecast.  (First and second in the correct order). EXPRESSO FORTE (C Tizzard) was second favourite then came GET SMART (R Barnett) and finally VIRGOS BAMBINO (Vicky Heal).  At the odds of six to one I chose GET SMART to follow LET'S FLY home.  The favourite started by leading the field up the home straight but after the first open ditch it was VIRGOS BAMBINO that took it up.  Coming up the home straight for the second time it was surprising to see the second favourite EXPRESSO FORTE pull up and would take no further part in this one.  Just a tingle of excitement made me give a little Oh Dear! in a slightly louder tone than normal because my chances of picking up had now increased considerably.  As they passed me by on the final downhill run it was VIRGOS BAMBINO that was keeping reasonably close to the favourite with GET SMART some ten lengths off the lead.  Four from home, LET'S FLY, VIRGOS BAMBINO and GET SMART was the order.  Polly asked her charge for a little more and got it.  Look what I see - GET SMART closing up on VIRGOS BAMBINO and in very good fashion.  Closer, closer and then upsides and then - yes! You've guessed it - cruising by and was after LET'S FLY in no uncertain terms.  No chance of catching Polly but I was extremely please to see GET SMART in second place eight lengths behind the favourite and the tired VIRGOS BAMBINO ten lengths back in third.  I picked up well and I have a feeling that I will be watching this GET SMART closely in future as he is a sure winner in waiting.

 

 

This is a very competitive Restricted race that now goes to post with eleven runners.  The favourite and quite rightly so by the way he won his maiden is the Les Jefford trained BRENDAN'S SURPRISE with Darren Edwards onboard.  I took even money for my investment but did so with some fear as ALAMBIQUE (T Dennis) who has been round here before is also in this race and as previously mentioned, was second to SEA SNIPE.  Another one down from the Dufosee SILVER MONARCH (Ryan Bliss) is taking some money as is WHATS UP MAID (M Munrowd) but M Pidsley's BRENDAN'S SURPRISE is clear favourite. Off they go!  Emily Noszkay on KINGSMILL CREEK had a bit of scare and was impeded down the far end whilst leading the field and lost a place or two but it was not long  before she got back up and came along with WHATS UP MAID  and JOLLY HOPEFUL (J Cole).  WILLY FURNLEY (D Allers-Hankey) also took closer orders passing the judge and got up to second place behind WHATS UP MAID.  The favourite and second favourite were quite happy in the middle of the racing field.  The final time at the open ditch saw WILLY FURNLEY take the lead off WHATS UP MAID but by the time they rounded the top bend they had swapped places again.  ALAMBIQUE and BRENDAN'S SURPRISE were sharing third spot as they breasted the rise and came back to the crowd. WHATS UP MAID took them down the hill at a brisk pace but soon BRENDAN'S SURPRISE started to move up and got in front of WILLY FURNLEY who was in third place and was now pressing WHATS UP MAID for the lead.  The cross fence before the home strait saw ALAMBIQUE get up to challenge BRENDAN'S SURPRISE who brushed through the top but managed to stay just a little to the good.  SILVER MONARCH was not done for either and a great race was on over the last two fences with the result being that ALAMBIQUE got the better of BRENDAN'S SURPRISE by a length with SILVER MONOARCH in third just half a length back.  Very exciting and yes, I know, I choose the wrong one and so did Ruth who was on SILVER MONARCH. 

 

Ten to post for the Confined Hunts race with an open market proving that no one was very sure on the outcome of this one.  CORAL BAY (Will Biddick) held favouritism on the boards for a short while but it was TEDDY BOY (R Woollacott) who took that honour away and went off with that title followed by NDITLIR (T Dennis) and then CORAL BAY.  Others were available at much bigger prices but these were the ones that expected to be there on the line when it counted.   Off they go!  No not all as CORAL BAY did not get away at all so that is one less to beat my NDITLIR.  At the first open ditch it was DOOF (I Chanin) who faltered and unseated leaving eight to carry on and one more that will not be beating my choice.  The leader of the field whilst this was happening was Reuben Chapman's INDIAN RAIDER who Charlie Wallis was taking along at a good pace and keeping all others at bay.  My choice was happy to follow the leader and was keeping on the outside of him.  Passing the judge for the final time and out into the country there was a line of four abreast; NDITLIR, INDIAN RAIDER, UNUSUAL SUSPECT (C Heard) and PERTEMPS PROFILE.  The final open ditch saw INDIAN RAIDER take it first followed by the remainder.  At the far end of the course TEDDY BOY obeyed his pilot's instructions and closed up on all of them and took the field down the slope and over the fence on the rising ground.  Any of the three horses passing the judge in the van could win this race NDITLIR, INDIAN RAIDER and TEDDY BOY.  With two fences to go TEDDY BOY and NDITLIR rise over it together and race to the next.  UNUSUAL SUSPECT was staying on just a little better than INDIAN RAIDER and would take third place as the two main protagonists raced to the line with TEDDY BOY getting there three lengths to the good of NDITLIR.  Nearly a boost for the tin but not quite.  Must do better!  But the bag owner is now smiling as she DID back Richard this time.

 

Another good race coming up in the eight runner Intermediate.  Brisk punting on the boards saw FAUNTLEROY (C Heard) and a Welsh visitor in HOT PRODUXION (D Jones) vying for favouritism and I left the area before it was decided but it was certainly Colin Heard who made it look easy on FAUNTLEROY and came home to win by ten lengths from a very spirited run by Terry Long's BALDHU JAY ARR (D Edwards) and then, two lengths back was HOT PRODUXION.  The Exeter Racecourse Group's JOLI CHRISTMAS who served me so well when winning his Restricted came a cropper at the final open ditch and gave Ian Chanin no chance and another one who was expected to run well did not appear happy at all was LADY EDISON (R Bliss).  The latter being my choice left me not very pleased and the tin - less so!

 

Now two divisions of open maiden races with eleven runners in each.  I will be ignoring the favourite in division one as my investment, quite a considerable amount this time, will be going to Mandy Hands DANTE'S BACK (D Edwards) who ran so well at Chipley Park and owes me.  The one who will probably go off favourite is Stewart Pike's GUN COVER (G Weatherley) who is reported as 'promising sort' but no form at present.  Her mother was useful but mothers usually are or at least reported to be.  No, its DANTE'S BACK for me and also for the Ruth; if we don't collect it will be a very sad tin and bag on the short journey home and the dinner tonight will again be fish and no chips!  Will Biddick made the running on The Dilligaf Partnership's BRORA SUTHERLAND and this no doubt allowed by investment carrier to settle down quite nicely and followed in second along with GUN COVER.  All these maidens are jumping well; in particular, DANTE'S BACK (of course!)  Passing the judge with a complete circuit to race the field was led by DANTE'S BACK followed by BRORA SUTHERLAND, OHARA BROOKE (J Cole) GUN COVER and BONNY BUSONA (L Rowe).  Leaders are over the final ditch and on to the next.  Round the top bend and it is here you can get a good view of how your choice is doing as they are invariably in Indian file.  My choice is doing fine and I am watching so closely I can see a fly riding on his hind leg but it is certainly not impeding the situation.  Out of the dip and over that one and as they pass us for the final time and go down the hill Darren was beginning to ask for a little more as was Guy Weatherley on GUN COVER.  They proceed at pace alongside one another well clear of MOORLAND MONARCH (M Sweetland) and O'HARA BROOKE.  Darren got the reply he required and we needed.  On went DANTE'S BACK pulling right away from MOORLAND MONARCH who had now got the better of GUN COVER and confidently came home to win by a distance with four lengths between second and third.  A great result and smiles all round tell the obvious, the tin and bag are full again. 

 

Finally it was a great pleasure to see the owner/trainer/jockey combination bring his HOLLY WALK home to win by a neck.  The distance between the leading two might have been small as they crossed the line but stick waving Jimmy Cole was in no doubt that he had at last won a point to point race.  Numerous supporters would have been following the lucky trainer home after the racing as there would definitely be 'a party' to celebrate this one.  This six year old mare kept up to her work throughout the race and was never far away from leading the field at all times.  With only three fences to go and only five remaining in it, Guy Weatherley on the favourite PERFECT GEM and Darren Edwards on DOUBLE MEAD thought they were going to get to this game mare but not so.  Was it going to be another second for HOLLY WALK?  The commentator stated that the judges would have to sort this one out but Jimmy Cole was in NO doubt who had won this one - by a neck!  Great!  I didn't pick up as I fancied Charlie Rush's new horse BALLYBROWN for an each way investment but he came fourth, so nothing to collect but I have time on my side with this one and I will get it back for sure.

 

That was a great days racing and the tin is looking fine and tonight some of it will be passed over to one of our sponsors in the way of a meal at Hustyns.  I can now afford more than the coffee and Ruth might chip in too!  Tomorrow it is Black Forest Lodge again for the meeting of the Mid Devon Hunt.  Good racing assured - BE THERE!

 

Ruth and Fred