Report from the West Somerset and Minehead Harriers Point to Point meeting held at Holnicote on Saturday 24^th February 2007.

 

This will probably be the most depressing report I have had to write, firstly because I have a very bad cold, secondly the bag carrier has had to take up an appointment in Coventry for three days and left me with a large bag of 'Lemsips' and the encouraging words of 'get well soon, I will not be sending a card!' and thirdly, and more to the point, why oh why on earth was that meeting at Holnicote allowed to continue?

 

Besides depressing this report will also be short as nothing was achieved from running horses on this course.  We got up to Cloutsham (just on the hill behind the course) on Friday evening and expected the meeting to be cancelled as the rain bucketed down on our journey up and was still doing so throughout the evening.  A lovely dinner provided by Kath amongst friends passed the evening away but the rain continued and fair amount fell throughout the night. (So I was told!) At breakfast we were assured it was still on.  Early on course we were subjected to new parking arrangements in the field above the course and being early we slid into a good position next to the little entrance steps.  I walked the course immediately and found two long stretches (two hundred yards) holding water and would race nothing short of heavy.  The remainder of the course was soft and at this time I did think it was raceable as it did not appear to be holding ground.  The stick was recoverable from sinking in three inches without much effort being necessary.  I overtook a local trainer on the course and his horses won the first two races so he must have thought like me.  It did not last!

 

In the Farmers race two finished out of the four with the Hobbs's MOUNSEY CASTLE (two to one ON favourite!) getting home to win by a distance from QUANTOCK'S RETURN (M Wall) but, and here comes the 'should have been cancelled' governing factor in my eyes; the time taken was SEVEN minutes thirty-five second.  The average time for this course over the years has been SIX minutes thirty seconds but these horses finished at walking pace today.

 

The second race, an open maiden was also won by the Hobbs family but due to ingress of water the commentator was very intermittent, at least from the position of our vehicle and visibility was very poor in particular over at the open ditch area.  In this one, the Hobbs's FLYING FUSILLIER and Dia Brace's MEMBER'S ONLY (W Biddick) pulled away from the rest of the field and were making a go of it as joint favourites (6/4) should and the latter was carrying both tin and bag investment.  Just after the open ditch or as well as I could make out, Will decided to jump off, only for a minute, and I haven't had time to ask him  why yet, which allowed FLYING FUSILLIER to win a race he certainly was not going to had Will not performed his unseated/remounted trick. So once again the winner had won by a distance with just a half length between MEMBER'S ONLY second and VICS PRIDE (J Barnes) third.  Seven minutes twenty-seven seconds. 

 

Division two of the open maidens saw Tigger Barnes coax MISTER MAMBO around to get the better of ALBERT HOUSE (D Mansell) by two lengths on the line with the third COOMBE HILL (C Tizzard) a further two lengths back in a time of 7min 32 seconds.  There was so much mud on the winning horse that it was a wonder that he could see let alone race.  The handler was in tears and I am not sure whether that was for the win excitement or for the muddy state the animal returned in. 

 

The only horse I thought might have enjoyed his afternoon was the winner of the Ladies Open.  Caroline Farrant took the family's FATHER MANSFIELD around at his own pace and this one can stay and stay forever and did so to pass the post twenty lengths to the good of DOOF (A Mills) with best turned out POLKA (C Tizzard) another twenty lengths back in third.  All horses, except the winner, coming to a walk on the line. 

 

Will Biddick got a walkover in a different sense in the Men's Open race by bringing Dia Brace's BARNEY'S REFLECTION over the line as the only finisher from seven starters taking almost eight minutes to do it, although jumping the last well he then required company and without any he slowed to a walk and nearly pulled himself up but eventually strolled over the very important line.  He was available in the investment area at as much as 14 to 1 but the mud was too deep for me to get close enough to get any on. 

 

The remaining races are not worth reporting on; conditions were terrible, visibility almost nil and you can check the times on the 'Results' pages.  When did you last see and Intermediate that took well over eight minutes to complete?  The form of the placed horses unfortunately is very unreliable.

 

We spent some considerable time between races rescuing our car from spinning quads which were doing a good job pushing vehicles, yes, pushing vehicles, in and out with complete disrespect for other vehicles and spectators with the lumps of mud being slung about.  On getting a position quite near the exit gate I saw that we were sharing a parking spot with a jockeys parents so that was surely and indication to invest on that jockey in the last.  Our race cards were now of no use through my pockets filling with water and I now have a considerable distance to wade so I set off early and invested well on BARNEY BLUE (J Snowden) for both tin and bag at 7/4.  This one has come down from the Dufosee stable and it must be noted that they have a meeting (Badbury Rings) up their way tomorrow so there must be a very good reason to bring Jamie down for one ride.  It really was no fun trying to watch the race but the good news soon came to me (7 mins 50 secs) that Jamie had brought our choice home to win by two lengths from MASTER ACCORD (L Buswell) and best turned out Mrs Sanderson's KARANTAKA (Will Biddick).

 

We left immediately after the last for the somewhat uncomfortable two and half hour drive home.  We do have the correct wet weather gear for P to P meetings but there again it is so uncomfortable and water will get in.

 

Next week we are off to the East Devon meeting at Bishops Court where no doubt Mr Carter is working hard in preparing a course for us to enjoy ourselves on.  You make sure you are there, just BE THERE!

 

E&OE please, proof reader away!

 

 

Regards Fred