Report from the Tiverton Foxhounds Point to Point meeting held at Chipley Park, Milverton on Sunday 28^th January 2007

 

There were a few wet patches around the Chipley Park course but this did not stop 94 horses racing throughout the afternoon.  Good with Good to Soft in places would be my assessment of the 'going' today and, although a little patchy, there was a good grass cover around most of the course. 

 

Tin and Bag have arrived with ample contents but plenty of endeavour to fill up again as a few deductions have been made to cover the cost of travel.  So with room for plenty of good luck we start the day off with a closely contested five runner Members race.  Normally these are easily predicted races but not so here at Chipley Park.  Neil Harris is up on the favourite BEAU SUPREME and available at even money.  Initially second favourite is Darren Edwards up on Mr Finch's useful ZESTA FIESTA but this one drifted out and allowed best turned out THIRTYTWO RED to go off with that honour at two to one.  Mrs Sanderson's KARANTAKA (Will Biddick) is fancied by some but Mrs Greenslade's BEACON EXPRESS (C Wallis) is not fancied by many as he is reported as being unraced.  Off they go with the dulcet tones of Mr Sherrin calling the race.  On this course after the first fence there is a large gap, reported as over five furlongs, before the next which gives the field time to settle into their stride and it is BEAU SUPREME who soon takes a five or six length lead across the bottom followed by ZESTA FIESTA and the others.  Passing the judge with two circuits to go the field had not changed much and was travelling at a steady pace. All over the first of the open ditches with THIRTYTWO RED having relieved ZESTA FIESTA in second position but it was still BEAU SUPREME who took them along.  As they turn at the bottom end of the course the field was now well spread out.  BEACON EXPRESS was well behind; KARANTAKA didn't seem to like the world today so the race looked really between THIRTYTWO RED and SUPREME BEAU.  Going down the far side for the final time KARANTAKA was pulled up and this saw my investment entered under the 'LOSS' column but it was THIRTYTWO RED having a go at leading with BEAU SUPREME in second place.  At fence 14, the final open ditch there was little change but after fence 15, THIRTYTWO RED put plenty of daylight between himself and BEAU SUPREME with the remainder out of it and this was how it finished.  A clear winner by ten lengths with a distance between second and third.  Only three finished.  Not a good start for tin or bag!

 

The chance of seeing Branwell Racing Partnership's best turned out CHITA'S FLIGHT

in action was looked forward to as this one has won her last four races and is rated as 'Useful and improving' and others thought the same as she went off favourite but only just, as Kath Hobbs on the family's SAINT ROMBLE also took plenty of investments in this ten runner Mixed Open.  Charlotte Tizzard on PHAR CITY might upset the books as well as Michael Miller on TOUCH OF FLAME.  I am going for G Foot's ASKERS JACK (J Snowden) as although absent since 2005, when he was here he won several.  I have an each way investment which will give me a better chance in case he needs his first run back.  A close bunch crossed the bottom and up the home straight for the first time but on passing me (by the finishing line - where else?) the joint leaders were TOUCH OF FLAME and SAINT ROMBLE but five lengths would cover the field.  These two led over the open ditch but the lovely words of news were that ASKERS JACK was travelling in third position at this stage.  The Squire's VANORMIX (T Squires) got rid of his pilot at the ditch.  SAINT ROMBLE was soon to up the pace a little but nothing too strenuous at the moment; ASKERS JACK still thereabouts.   Down the far side it was SAINT ROMBLE by two lengths from TOUCH OF FLAME now followed by CHITA'S FLIGHT with ASKERS JACK in close company, then came PHAR CITY and KINGS TRAVEL (M Woodward) and this group have pulled away from any of the remainder.  A good race for the remainder of the course saw SAINT ROMBLE come home a worthy winner by three lengths from CHITA'S FLIGHT, I was busy cheering on ASKERS JACK who was coming to the winning line in third place and would have let me collect a little but not to be as PHAR CITY crossed the line just in front (a very short head!!) of my very tired investment carrier.  I am sure now that ASKERS JACK is getting back to winning ways so my investment is classed as a 'future'  and is only loaned.

 

The Intermediate saw seven go to post and once again it was difficult to select a winner out of these.  The Cookson's MR AUCHTERLONIE (E Cookson) has won this season, SLIEMA finished up well last season and if best turned out  FORDHAM GLORY (Will Biddick) has an on day and allows his pilot to remain at the controls - who knows? Another visitor from Weston & Banwell area Mrs Kelway's ELLE ROSEADOR will try and better their representative in the previous race by crossing the line first.  I am on for SLIEMA to start my running win!  They are off!  Within the first furlong Will Biddick had made his intentions quite clear and was off on his own to create a ten length lead in no time at all.  My choice was in second place as they passed the judge on the first circuit.  BRIDES LEGACY (R Bliss) and MR AUCHTERLONIE followed but it was FORDHAM GLORY that led the way.  Over the first of the open ditches and passing the start area the order was not changed but the lead had shortened to about two lengths now.  By the time they had reached the home straight of three fences Will had increased his lead again now and was about ten lengths up on his followers who were now led by MR AUCHTERLONIE with SLIEMA back in third.  On their way down to the final open ditch it was now BRIDES LEGACY who was chasing FORDHAM GLORY but at the ditch it appeared that this front runner did not want to run any more of this race and ditched Will unceremoniously on the deck.  This left it wide open now but coming up the home straight it was between SLIEMA and ELLE ROSEADOR with MR AUCHTERLONIE close up in third.  This is a strenuous run up here, some soft ground and three fences and fit horses are needed.  A very good race then and unfortunately my choice did not quite manage it and was second behind ELLE ROSEADOR by four lengths with MR AUCHTERLONIE twelve lengths back in third.  This was the fastest time of the day by far and followers should note this as the first two are definitely fit and will go on to win again.  That note does nothing for the tin at this stage and the bottom is clearly visible!  I don't think the bag owner has been doing much either!

 

Sixteen to post in PPORA Club Members Conditions Race. A clear favourite was soon established in the Hobbs's blinkered ORSWELL CREST (K Hobbs) at two to one closely followed by a visitor from Wales MRS C E Breese's HOLLYWOOD (J Sole) and Mr B Pike's WHO ELSE KNEW (J Snowden) both at 3/1.  Another good horse with form is Mrs L Edwards's ROYAL SCANDAL (J Barnes) but I see he has drifted out to 4/1.  I have checked them all and returned to draw from the tin and will be putting a little more than usual on an each way investment on the Wallis's SELASSIE (Charlie Wallis).  The twelve length second to Southwestern has encouraged me somewhat to do this and also I cannot settle for anything else and the price on the favourite is too skimpy.  There is a whisper that Polly has brought one of her own trained horses here for this one and it should go well, Mr R Maggs MISTER PUTT and we all know how dangerous Polly can be. It has past form but might need the run. The price of ten to one allows me to invest just a little each way.  Gosh two bets on the same race!  Off they go!  Charlie soon had SELASSIE going extremely well and took the field around and although joined by ROYAL SCANDAL at the seventh soon made his presence known again and was back in front.  A couple of loose horses by this time and one noticeably is Mr Pearn's best turned out FINEWOOD.  This one is not doing so well this season and this is the third unseat in a row. Can only get better!  Another one is Y Goss's POLONIUS (J Goss).  With one complete circuit to go it is still SELASSIE followed by ROYAL SCANDAL, CASTLEMORE (R Bliss) and WHATASHOCK (E Tory).  Too early to shout yet!  ROYAL SCANDAL led from SELASSIE over the final ditch but only just.  In third place and improving is WHO ELSE KNEW and here comes MISTER PUTT cruising.  Too early to shout yet!  At the bend before starting the long run to the last three fences ROYAL SCANDAL slipped and fell.  I never like to see horses and/or jockey on the deck but a little sigh of relief was cast up as SELASSIE was left clear and although tiring and jumping left came up the hill to win by just half a length from whom - Polly on MISTER PUTT!  Dominic Allers-Hankey on CATCH THE BUS kept on relentlessly to get third just two lengths back.  A great race but I think possibly ROYAL SCANDAL was very unfortunate and might have pipped SELASSIE, but one has to cross the line with pilot onboard having jumped them all - as I whistle my way to the investment area complete with tin as my pockets will not be big enough!  The stewards had a chat about the running of the favourite ORSWELL CREST and the statement that 'was never going and disliked like the ground' seemed to satisfy them.  Josh Guerriero didn't have any problems last year!

 

Two divisions now of Restricted races and eight go to post in division one.  The best turned out J O'Connors MINELLA LODGE (J Snowden) went off favourite but only just as some fancied the jointly owned FREEMANTLE DOCTOR (D Edwards) equally as much.  The other six horses didn't have a chance accordingly and were available at much bigger prices.  I selected M Daniels's COVERDALE (J Barnes) each way to bring in a little as someone has to be third and he stayed on well to win his maiden.  Well BUCKINGHAM BILL (M Wilesmith) did the majority of the work for at least the first circuit and half, closely followed by LAZY LEMON (V Heale) but MINELLA LODGE and FREEMANTLE DOCTOR were not far away at any time nor was COVERDALE.  The final open ditch saw a group consisting of BUCKINGHAM BILL, FREEMANTLE DOCTOR, MINNELLA LODGE and COVERDALE all clear it well and go on to the next.  At the third from home it was still BUCKINGHAM BILL closely followed by FREEMANTLE DOCTOR but gradually the scene changed.  The long time leader BUCKINGHAM BILL was taken by MINELLA LODGE, FREEMANTLE DOCTOR and now on the scene was the Sarah West trained and ridden 25 to 1 shot ASK AGAIN in third place.  An excellent race over the last couple and to the line saw ASK AGAIN steal the show and come home to win by three lengths from MINELLA LODGE with FREEMANTLE DOCTOR five lengths back in third.  COVERDALE was not placed and I certainly did not have the big priced winner - there wasn't room in the tin for that much!!

 

We were now treated to a change in commentators and it was lovely to hear a broad Irish dialect reading out a truly Welsh name of LADY MYFANWY!  In this division two we saw Isobel Thompsett at her best in bringing home P Miles's LADY MYFANWY to win again, this time by a length and half from Charlotte Tizzard on C Davis's LUTTEUR BLEU with the Hawker's SWEET SHOOTER another half length back in third.  This winner is definitely one to keep your eye on and this six year old mare is running really well.  The even money favourite LIGHTIN JACK (N Sutton)  looked to have had a chance whilst going down the back and an even bigger chance coming up the home straight as he led the field over the second last.  Unfortunately he tired very quickly and the three followers took advantage and got past him and he was relegated to fourth.  Much rejoicing by the bag carrier as this mare had been her choice so the proceeds from a three to one winner are entered into the bag.

 

Next came three divisions of Open maiden races.  This now needs concentration as the easiest way to empty the tin which is sitting quite nicely at the moment is to get things completely wrong in the running of three open maiden races.  I didn't do too badly; I just missed out in division one as I thought Mandy Hand's DANTE'S BACK (D Edwards) looked the part but although he ran well he could only manage second and the price did not suit an each way investment.  The winner BARNEY BLUE (Ryan Bliss) down from the Dufosee stables held on well to get over the line three quarters of a length to the good of my choice.  A steward's enquiry concluded that Ryan had committed a whip offence in winning this race and fined him for that but nevertheless he picked up the Fleetwood Hesketh Challenge Cup  and a memento for winning in the fastest time of the three maiden races.  Sarah West brought in the third, F Tucker's DUNNICKS FIELD at the rare old price of twenty to one. 

 

In division two again the favourite was turned over. THE WALNUT TREE (I Chanin) was touted as being the sure winner, although no form from previous outings, as from the stables of Sally Alner who no doubt has got him working well.  Alice Mills had different ideas.  The form of her horse, J Cole's TRICKY LYPS can be pronounced as it consists only of letters and not very good ones at that '-rrp' .  Refused 1^st and 3^rd in first two runs, pulled up 2 out in maiden latest. Now that is not the sort of form one would like to make an investment on.  This game little mare answered all Alice's prayers and came up that final stretch giving her all.  The look on that young lady's face as she crossed the line three lengths to the good of the favourite was a delight to see, with the third horse being twenty lengths back.

 

Finally came the last chance saloon for the bag carrier as winners had not been her forte this day (except one!) and a good investment is necessary.  I had a little each way on VICS PRIDE (J Barnes).  Another from Sally Alners stable was made the favourite, RUNNING SPRING (I Chanin) closely followed by Josh Guerriero on CANDLELIGHT VALLEY (fell)  and the remainder were not considered winners, at least, by their prices on the boards.   There were times when I thought I might have chosen the winner but not to be and also another favourite was turned over when LUCKY THIS THYNE, from flag fall to finish (practically!) crossed the line to take this one by a head from RUNNING SPRING with VICS PRIDE in third.  Just a little to be collected but by the look of the bag carrier more success has come her way.  Not even an each way bet but all her money went on TO WIN on LUCKY THIS THYNE at the lovely price of seven to one.  Lucky ours is a four wheel drive as we are so laden down with winnings we will need this facility to get out- thank you Chipley Park.

 

Next week we will be at our home meeting, the North Cornwall Hunt meeting at the Royal Cornwall Showground at Wadebridge and then on to Black Forest Lodge for the Mid Devon meeting.  Good racing is assured so just - BE THERE!