Report from South Pool Harriers Point to Point meeting held at Buckfastleigh Racecourse on Sunday 18^th February 2007

 

Off course wagers as to 'its on', 'it's off', 'maybe off' etc. filled the ether on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday but the official voice came to the rescue and through all ports of the media the word was that it was ON and so the South Pool Harriers kicked off the first meeting of the season on this course without further ado and on time.  The course was surprisingly good considering all the rain that this part of the country had endured over the past week and apart from a couple of wet patches which may turn to heavy, racing on soft ground was the 'going' for today.  A good print in the ground should be what pointers expect and need at this time of the year. The course surrounds were well prepared and the fences, some of them new, were in really good order and thanks must go out to the dedicated team of volunteers who carried out these many thankless tasks.  The moving of the final fence will probably reduce the number of horses wishing to return to their boxes early but only time will tell.  What it will do is to catch out those jockeys who are not fit enough to race a long run in - this is excitingly long now! I noticed a new fence with wood (not metal!) supports, carried a lot less birch than seen on other courses and still provided a fence which would be the same obstacle to rider and horse.  With birch becoming more difficult to find and volunteers to cut it equally so, I took special note.

 

 Whoops! False start - take a turn, now they're off!  Seven run in the confined maiden with J Symes's WHIZZAAR (R Woollacott) going off the clear favourite at seven to four but I was a lucky one and got my investment on at three to one.  There was a joint favourite for a while in MOORLAND MONARCH (M Sweetland) but this one steadily drifted out to seven to two with Mrs J McCullough's SULAWACEE (G Weatherley) going off at three to one.  The last two mentioned took the field along the bottom straight some three lengths clear of the field and the favourite at this time was back in the field.  Climbing the slope for the first time saw R Dennis's NIGHT APRIL (Will Biddick) take over the lead but this was short lived as at the next fence Will left by the side door and 'unseated' will go down in the form book.  Will remounted and completed about another circuit before pulling up. MOORLAND MONARCH and SULAWACEE took the field safely over the first open ditch.  G Turner's MATATU (T Hayes) was the next to feel the pinch and pulled up on entering the back straight.  With a full circuit to go it was still MOORLAND MONARCH and SULAWACEE taking them along at a good pace. R Pike's RICKHAM GLORY (M Munrowd) and C Greenslade's BEACON EXPRESS (N Harris) were the next to find this too much and both pulled up.  Approaching the final open ditch the same pair continued to lead but it was obvious that the sweet travelling WHIZZAAR had progressed through the field comfortably and was now up into third.  Lucy Gardner on her HI STAR was travelling along in fourth and D Frost's WHATCANISAY (S Gaisford) was now making a better effort and closing the leaders.  Gradually Richard took WHIZZAAR up to lead the field and gained a three length advantage over the new second, WHATCANISAY.  These two made a good race of it for a while but were then joined by SULAWACEE.  With one left to jump it was WHIZZAAR followed by SULAWACEE, WHATCANISAY and David Rogers's FOUR OF A KIND (R Darke).  SULAWACEE tired on the run in and allowed WHATCANISAY up into second place but there was never any doubt (now!) that WHIZZAAR was winning this one, easily by 12 lengths. That has got the tin off to a decent start so long may it continue.  The other half of our household had taken MOORLAND MONARCH to enrich her bag but it was not to be! Ahhhh!

 

Ten to post for the Intermediate race and as Mark Munrowd has chosen to park next to me I chose that as a tip to his ability to win the next race as it is about time Mrs Murphy's WENDYS DYNAMO came into his own and sure enough he was promptly made favourite.  Ruth carried out her investment and she also picked the favourite but not for the same reason as me.  She followed the form book and this mud loving horse will surely prevail today after coming second at the Silverton meet to that progressive SWIFT WOOD who has gone on and won again since. I started to look for a bigger priced one that I could get a sensible each way investment on.  I chose Sarah West to bring ASK AGAIN into the frame for me but the price I obtained I was not going to get much for the tin but a little more that I would for the favourite.  This one impressed me when winning at Chipley Park.  Off they go! Will Biddick took best turned out  FORDHAM GLORY out to lead and Sarah Gaisford had WALTER DE WODELAND  close upsides and these two soon had a five or six length lead and went out to complete two circuits in this fashion with BALDHU JAYARR (D Edwards) back in third and then the field.  The Willey Win Partnership's THETHREERONNIES (Shaun Ellis) was having his first sight of a racecourse and he preferred to do this from behind all others.  All over the open ditch into the back straight when the dulcet tones of the commentator brought me the news that Sarah (West) did not have a chance as ASK AGAIN fell, crumpled on landing.  If I had not been so greedy I would now be on the horse that is travelling well in the centre of the pack.   THE THREE RONNIES pulled up, FORDHAM GLORY tiring, WENDYS DYNAMO taking closer order and Sarah Gaisford taking them all along at an increasing pace.  A little untidy at the fence in front of us was the favourite but he got away with it and carried on down to the open ditch with the remainder.  BALDHU JAY ARR fell.  It was WENDYS DYNAMO and SANDERSTEAD (N Harris) leading the field as they turned the bend and commenced the back straight.  Will White was now bringing The Exeter Racecourse's ON HIS TOES into the fray.  Soon the picture altered a little, it was now ON HIS TOES from WENDYS DYNAMO then SANDERSTEAD and Lucy (Gardner) now had her QUESTIONIT having a challenge.  Sarah on WALTER DE WODELAND now began another challenge and came up to take on WENDYS DYNAMO.  A real good race now and at the last it was WENDYS DYNAMO over first but only just, from ON HIS TOES and WALTER DE WODELAND with QUESTIONIT bringing up the rear of these four.  To the line it went with the favourite taking it by one and half lengths from ON HIS TOES and two lengths back in third was WALTER DE WODELAND.  The tin is sad but whoopppeee for the bag.  A good race in the fastest time of the day.

 

Two divisions of TBA/MFHA PPORA Club Members maiden for mares followed.  The first division was a very good race to the line between the favourite DOUBLE MEAD (D Edwards) and second favourite PERFECT GEM (Guy Weatherley).  Again I chose the wrong one of these but the distance of one and half lengths was all that separated the two and they were twenty five lengths clear of the third finisher Mrs D Treneer's RITEWAY ROUND.  It is worth mentioning the fourth in this race, HEIGHT OF MENDIP (V Heal) as the first four mares past the post are eligible for a £1500 final at Melton Hunt Club Garthorpe on 12^th May 2007.

 

Division two saw two horses take all the money in the investment area.  TAMAR MOSS (E Noszkay) was as short as two to one on at one stage but probably went off nearer even money (the bag carrier assures me that a little smile and she got eleven to eight! - keep smiling I say!)  with my choice, GUN COVER (G Weatherly) a shade better price at five to four against.  Well I have to report that my concern was not even in the first four after trying to get back to his box after the last fence when challenging for the lead and suffice to say that this distraction did not suit - her or ME!  To Ruth's delight TAMAR MOSS went on to win by a distance from Mark Munrowd on SLEEPYS GIFT with the Berry family's FEARLESS DAISY (Ms S Berry) a close third (one length). Fourth in this one was best turned out LADY CUTHAYS (C Dailly).

 

Next came the best race of the day with fourteen quality runners in The Totnes and Bridgetown Men's Open race.  Neil Harris will be attempting to make amends on The Exmoor Partnerships SOUTHWESTERN who got beaten at BFL; Mandy Hand will be hoping her FRONTENAC (R Woollacott) will keep up his record on a track he likes.  POLAR FLIGHT (M Hueff) is reported to go well fresh and the mare from Becky Kennen's yard H Messer-Bennetts SEA SNIPE has already won two this season, albeit they were Members' races, she won them well and is taking money at the investment centre.  Again I am going away from the favourite and choosing a little less fancied horse with hope that he is back to his best, in R Oliver's MISTER CLUB ROYAL (Will Biddick) at ten to one I see a solid investment.  Off they go!  My choice led the field and I did not worry too much about it as I was assured he was fit as a fiddle.  Neil had SOUTHWESTERN (5/6 on) at the back in his normal hold up position.  SEA SNIPE and FRONTENAC held positions midfield.  All over the first open ditch safely, led by MISTER CLUB ROYAL at a very good pace. THIRTYTWO RED (G Weatherley) is travelling easily as is ZESTA FIESTA (Darren Edwards).  Over the first in the back straight FRONTENAC had joined MISTER CLUB ROYAL and BED BUG (G Walters) was lying in third.  SEA SNIPE and PRIESTHORN (T Bishop) were about fourth and fifth.  We then lost J Frost's LORD KILPATRICK who got rid of Neil Tapping.  Lovely words spoken - MISTER CLUB ROYAL climbs the hill out in front!  The fence at the top of the hill saw BED BUG fall and in doing so brought down SOUTHWESTERN.  That was a great pity but that's racing for you!  On goes MISTER CLUB ROYAL with SARA MONICA (W White) in second place, SATSHOON (C Dailly) third, FRONTENAC followed by a line of three, THIRTYTWO RED, SEA SNIPE and ZESTA FIESTA.  Towards the final ditch and I am getting a little excited but there is a considerably distance to travel yet and there are fences to be jumped.  After the final open ditch it was obvious that SEA SNIPE meant business and was closing the leaders quietly. (Is it possible to do just that?) Down the back straight for the final time it was MISTER CLUB ROYAL, SARA MONICA and in behind was THIRTYTWO RED.  SEA SNIPE was back in fourth and had work to do followed by SATSHOON and FONTENAC.  Over the second one down the back and MISTER CLUB ROYAL is doing the front running act exactly as it should be done. SEA SNIPE getting a little closer.  Over the final one down the back and it is still MISTER CLUB ROYAL under a strong drive from Will Biddick with THIRTYTWO RED almost sharing strides with him; SARA MONICA in third.  As the commentator states - SEA SNIPE is not done for yet under Richard Darke. THIRTYTWO RED now takes it up and relegates my investment carrier. SEA SNIPE now closes up and grabs the second spot from MISTER CLUB ROYAL and is after THIRTYTWO RED.  Over the last and the race is now between Guy Weatherley and Richard Darke for the finishing line. One for the judge!  Several ardent gamblers dashed to the bookies to take what odds were available on the outcome of the finish.  Two to one against SEA SNIPE was the best I heard AND was taken. Here comes the result. First Number 25 (SEA SNIPE), second Number 30 (THIRTYTWO RED) and third Number 15 (MISTER CLUB ROYAL).  This surprised quite a few people as from some quarters it looked as though M Gallagher's seven to two shot THIRTYTWO RED had won it but the man with a red badge on his lapel with the words 'Judge' printed on it gives the final word and it was that SEA SNIPE had prevailed and won the open by a short head with my choice eight lengths back in third.  Well done SEA SNIPE but I will just go and pick up a little for MISTER CLUB ROYAL who will no doubt be giving me a little more throughout the season, but then so might SEA SNIPE.

 

A disappointing turn out for the Ladies Open with only four going to post.  Form was in short supply amongst the four of them so I decided a small investment was prudent and I would choose the form of the jockeys as opposed to the horses.  Lucy Gardner was my final choice so on it went on Mrs J Perry's MUST BE SO at seven to two.  Mr W Westacott's POLLIGANA (T Hayes) went off the even money favourite followed by Miles Pengelly and David Bryant's DOOF (Alice Mills) at two to one, then came my choice and finally at four to one, Mrs Berwick's best turned out YOUNG GENERAL. Off they went!  DOOF was the first to lead on their journey to conquer the nineteen fences and Alice Mills soon established a ten length lead followed by POLLIGANA then came the other two.  DOOF was jumping out to the left but with his lead it didn't bother the situation very much.  On turning the bend and entering the back straight for the second time Lucy got her charge up to join DOOF, then came POLIGANA and YOUNG GENERAL.   As they came off the back straight and came up the hill it was different and now you could throw a blanket over the four of them.  In front of the crowd and about to go out on the final circuit and MUST BE SO has fallen.  DOOF now kicked on and cleared the final open ditch well and set sail for home.  POLIGANA did not look like he was enjoying this at all.  YOUNG GENERAL soon overtook POLIGANA but DOOF had gone and would not be caught.  The result was that DOOF came over the line a distance clear of YOUNG GENERAL who was a distance clear of POLLIGANA.

 

Finally came the Restricted race and 16 went to post.  Joint favourites were established in Many Hand's progressive thing DANTE'S BACK (D Edwards) and Mr W Hooper's BONDSLEY (J Barnes).  I made a mistake in this one and although my choice was correct I did not register the jockey change and Sarah Gaisford who rode KINGSMILL LAKE to a distance win at the South Devon meeting was not up this time due to a bump early on and her replacement did not ride KINGSMILL LAKE the same way.  I am sure that Sarah would have been a lot closer at the finish, in fact, might have won but the pilot needed to provide a little more persuasion.  Coming up the back straight for the final time it looked as though she was riding with plenty in hand; coming up the hill she was closing but still riding with plenty in hand.  The plenty in hand never materialised and to be honest I have seen more movement in a nit comb than was produced by KINGSMILL LAKE'S pilot.   This game mare should have won. I think Mandy has a real decent pointer in DANTE'S BACK but I would have appreciated a better fight down the home straight.  The distance between first and second KINGSMILL LAKE was six lengths and a further four lengths back was Tabitha Cave on Mrs Trueman's MIRAMAR. 

 

The tin suffered a little at this meeting but the bag held its own but we are already beginning to make preparations for next weekend.  We travel up to Cloutsham for B & B on Friday and then look forward to the West Somerset and Minehead Harriers meeting at Holnicote on Saturday with a dash back to Great Trethew for the East Cornwall meeting on Sunday.  A great weekend is in store - BE THERE!

 

Fred and Ruth