Report from Black Forest Lodge Club P to P meeting
held at Black Forest Lodge on Sunday 2nd December 2007
Here we are again and it's great to be back. The winter heating allowance has been cashed
and placed into the new bubble wrapped tin, (the rattle will not be heard now)
and it is in the back of the Jimny alongside a new bag with even more
zips. All foul weather clothing checked
and coffee making facilities have had their mot. Laptops in fine form and recording gear
batteries have been charged. We are
ready for a great season.
The weather forecast is certainly not good but we
braved the storm at Newquay and set off for BFL in atrocious conditions but
were assured by the radio that the afternoon would be fine. IT WAS!
The forecast was very accurate and apart from one shower we enjoyed a
super afternoon of high quality competitive racing. The weather had certainly put some followers
off and they did miss out. Eight races
with the majority leaving the last jump and the run in to decide the winner.
I will take this opportunity to congratulate the Club
on producing a very well laid out Race Card.
I may have forgotten to mention it last season but it is one of the
better- compiled cards with the most important details clearly and boldly
presented, except that a course plan for the newcomers would help.
The meeting kicked off with two divisions of Open
Maiden races for four, five, six and seven years old with thirteen runners in
each division. Off they go to start the
season. The pace was very quick and by
the time they got to their third fence the field was beginning to get well
strung out. At the far end of the course
the field was stretched to thirty lengths and being led by Miss Stirling on her
ex French horse GRANDEFI followed five lengths back by Miss Pearce on Dai
Brace's THE BROGUE ROGUE who was carrying my each way investment and then came Jenny
Carr on P Gibbins's TANDORI with the best turned out favourite Mr Westacott's
COME WHAT AUGUSTUS (R Woollacott) travelling well but back in the field. As they raced down the hill the commentator
announced 'Confusion! All the filed has gone inside the marker except the
leader'. This caused quite a stir as
words like - void, mix up, wrong course, stewards' enquiry etc. were being
banded around, but in fact I think only one rider passed on the inside of the
red flag at the top bend. On they went! Jenny Carr decided to get off TANDORI before
reaching the home straight for the second time and going out into the country
it was my investment THE BROGUE ROGUE leading the field from GRANDEFI with the
favourite COME WHAT AUGUSTUS now close up in third. WHITE TIE (N Williams) and
ANNIE'S ASSETS (D Procter) pulled up. FIND IT OUT (J Llewellyn) and WE GOT HIM
(Carey Buckler) both travelled well at this stage. As THE BROGUE ROGUE cleared the open ditch for
the final time I practiced my little each way up and down jump as my investment
certainly looked to be going well but four more fences to go yet. Now the commentator decides to call my
investment 'a sitting duck' and that is just because he is leading the field,
so some shouting-type encouragement is now necessary. Down the hill they come and the favourite
decides to keep mine company and does look to be going extremely well. These two were some twenty lengths clear of
WE GOT HIM back in third so I should at least pick up place money. FIND IT OUT in fourth, OH
SO NAUGHTY back in fifth (Jenny Congdon). Out of the dip and Richard Woollacott is now
looking to kick of the season with a winner and he gets his head in front but
Carey Buckler is getting a sweet tune out of WE GOT HIM and is closing fast
onto the leading two. Over the second
last and Richard was spring heeled at it with my investment tiring back into
third. WE GOT HIM is still closing and a
great finish was fought out over the last and to the line with the spoils going
to Carey Buckler on WE GOT HIM, second COME WHAT AUGUSTUS and third was FIND IT
OUT just getting home in front of my investment carrier who finished VERY tired
and decided walking was easier than - well, anything else!!! Tin remains empty
but nevertheless good racing. The
inevitable stewards' enquiry sorted out the hic-up on the first circuit but it
had no effect on the winner.
In division two joint favourites were established in The
House Family's WINNING CONNECTION (I Popham) and M J O'Connor's ANDARE A
BALLARE (Miss S Berry) with the former carrying my win investment. Rachel Green on S Pike's GUN COVER led the
field out into the country but after going right through the birch at one fence
Rachel must have got the message that GUN COVER would have preferred to have
been somewhere else today. At the first
open ditch GUN COVER led and gave it plenty of air so the message has got
through. ANDARE A BALLARE was up in second place followed by visored LIVIA (I Thompset), FLEETING MAGIC (C Allen) and the WINNING
CONNECTION. Across the top they go with
little change to the runners but the shape of the fence has taken a hammering.
Birch flying! GUN COVER, FLEETING MAGIC, ANDARE A BALLARE
and KNIGHTSBRIDGE HILL (D Edwards) take the field out into the country on their
last circuit. The pace is a more sedate
one than in division one but they are showing no respect whatsoever for the
birch in the fences. It is being thrown
everywhere! They will surely learn! On they went and towards the final open ditch
it was Darren Edwards on KNIGHTSBRIDGE HILL that now led the field followed by
ANDARE A BALLARE and these two were gradually pulling away from the remainder.
With four to jump KNIGHTSBRIDGE HILL took them along with WINNING CONNECTION
now in second and TWO MILE OAK (R Woollacott) up into third. There was good race to the final fence but
KNIGHTSBRIDGE HILL proved too good for my selection and went on to win by ten
lengths with ANDARE A BALLARE a long way back in third. TWO MILE OAK, GUN COVER and best turned out PRESENT OF FLAME (
The next race is the BFC Members race for Novice Riders
with nine going to post. A clear
favourite is established in R Flint's IRIS'S PRINCE who will be ridden by the
owner. A lot of money fed to the bookies
makes this an odds-on shot but his form warrants it as he has won hurdles and
chases on the NH circuit. All the others are much bigger prices with FANTASTIC
CHAMPION (Miss S Carter) probably the second favourite at four to one. This one will carry my investment and if
things don't alter soon it could be a cold winter at home for me. I hope I can borrow from Ruth's winter
payment but I haven't seen her going to the bag yet! Off they go!
Miss O'Neill's CROSS THE HIGHMAN (Clare Mitchell) soon makes the running
followed by J Hanmer's CANDARLI (Chloe Boxall) and W Potter on his CLONSHIRE PADDY. Across the top and down the hill the order
hasn't changed with DIAMOND MONROE (P John) and best turned out MOONLIT KNIGHT (G Hall) moving up into fourth and
fifth places. Favourite backers are now
getting worried as IRIS'S PRINCE is back in ninth place and he is given a few
reminders as he is not travelling well at all. CANDARLI took the field out into
the country for the final time followed by CROSS THE HIGHMAN, MOONLIT KNIGHT
and DIAMOND MONROE. CLONSHIRE PADDY was
pulled up. Cloe
Boxall on CANDARLI now set about the job of getting
this one home and increased the pace but Clare Mitchell on CROSS THE HIGHMAN
does not let her get too far away. My
investment carrier is now beginning to get going and closes up a little. Across the top CROSS THE HIGHMAN is now up with
CANDARLI and takes the fence together with FANTASTIC CHAMPION back in
third. Although Mr Flint is trying to
get a run out of the favourite he is well out of it. There then followed a very exciting race to
the finish with much cheering and shouting with CANDARLI getting home ahead of
CROSS THE HIGHMAN and FANTASTIC CHAMPION back in third. The favourite was fourth. The time of six
minutes twenty four seconds proved to be very good as the ground began to slow
things up considerably from here on.
Again nothing for the tin and I have not ventured to enquire how the bag
is going yet as it is a little early in the season.
The Hutsby family have again brought down runners from
Warwickshire for the next three races and if last year is a pointer, they
intend to win them. The first is the
Restricted race and Fred Hutsby will be onboard their RASH MOVE and although he
is made favourite and also Ruth has chosen him to win, I am going to settle for
a little investment on Mr E Ford's LITTLE ED (Rhys Hughes). Off they go and ten runners jump off at flag
fall. Rhys must know that I have backed
LITTLE ED and he immediately puts him into a five length lead and is there when
they pass the crowd followed by Fred Hutsby on RASH MOVE with Darren Edwards on
BLACKCOMB MOUNTAIN and on out into the country.
Over the ditch, across the top, down the hill and passing the start area
the field had changed very little. RASH
MOVE had the lead by about two lengths as they went out into the country but
Rhys was giving LITTLE ED a breather and IOCHTARAN (T Weston) had taken up the
second spot and Richard Woollacott up into third on RUN OF KINGS but my
investment looked to be going ok in fifth place. As they approached the final ditch the man
with the mic announced that 'weakening back in fourth was LITTLE ED', but I
took no notice as through my glasses he looked to be doing fine. Next statement from mic holder LITTLE ED is
now travelling fine and is second'. Across the top and four to jump. RASH MOVE is now being tackled by LITTLE
ED. No shouting yet!!! But a little jump
or two is permissible! RASH MOVE and
LITTLE ED together followed eight lengths back by RUN OF KINGS and IOCHTARAN. A great race over the last and to the line
and Ruth has all the smiles - and I came second. Mr D Aldridge on his DRACAENA came in third. Well at least I know where I can borrow from!
Ruth again backed Fred Hutsby to win the sixteen
runner Mixed Open race. Incidentally
great credit to all concerned to put together a 16 runner race of this quality
so early in the season. TSAR'S TWIST (L
Gardner) is back to pointing again but I wonder if the going will suit this
one. WENDY'S DYNAMO, WINDY SPIRIT, ZESTA
FIESTA all good open horses. Fred
Hutsby on LORD TRIX goes off favourite
with Sarah Hobbs's FOOL ON THE HILL (K Hobbs) second favourite but I have
chosen Mr Parry's GILZINE (J Llewellyn) to carry my investment as I believe he
has the best form to date and should fill the bubble wrapped tin or at least
cover some of the bottom. Off they
go! All together as they pass the crowd
and onto the fourth with GREGORY PECKORY (R Morgan) perhaps just a nose in
front. The same leader over the ditch
with JUST REUBEN (I Chanin) getting in a little closer and Lucy a close up
third on TSAR'S TWIST and the remainder in a bunch. Coming down the hill for the first time Lucy
took it up and led the field. Out into
the country and Lucy was still taking them along with the Mason's MEGGIE'S LAD
closing up on the inside, BAR GAYNE (S West) on the outside and LORD TRIX is
now making his move. C Cox's best turned out COWBOYBOOTS (G Hall) now
also moving up.
Now across the top LORD TRIX goes on from TSAR'S TWIST with COWBOYBOOTS
in third. These three now made a race of it with TSAR'S TWIST the first to
weaken but the other two made a great race of it to the line with just a half
length between them and RASH MOVE (and Ruth!) was the winner with COWBOYBOOTS
second and TSAR'S TWIST back in third.
Now I don't mind losing sometimes but when I lose and my horse has run
reasonably well and was NEVER mentioned by the commentator I begin to think I
have done something wrong. I was
surprised to see my number seven cross the line in fifth place, as not having
heard his name mentioned I thought he had pulled up but that was not the case.
You did well GILZINE and I will support you again! The zip on the bag is now being tested again
and purposefully in front of me! My turn
will come! (I do hope it is soon!)
Six will run in the intermediate and Fred Hutsby will
be trying for his treble. His OSCAR
ROYAL will go off odds-on favourite closely followed by Mrs P Duncan's FERGAL'S
FIND (R Morgan) and the remainder are much bigger prices. Off they go at a very sedate pace with the
favourite anchored in last place. Over
the third fence in front of us and it is obvious that OSCAR ROYAL is taking a
hard pull and he really doesn't want to be doing that as this
three miles will take a bit of getting now the ground has succumbed to the
galloping hooves of the previous races. The first casualty was J Jones's MR
EVANS (R Hughes) who just caught the top of the fence and over he went. C Cox's FRAZERS FORTUNE (G Hall) led the
field over the first of the ditches followed by best turned out GUTHRIE (R Woollacott) and
Mrs J Holloway's GREET YOU WELL (M
Wall). OSCAR ROYAL and FERGAL'S FIND
bringing up the rear. Passing the judge
and out on the final circuit it is GUTHRIE and GREET YOU WELL taking the field
along to the next fence with a three length lead. OSCAR ROYAL in third with
FRAZERS FORTUNE likely to be pulled up.
Over the final ditch and out across the top with the conditions now
really testing it was GREET YOU WELL leading from OSCAR ROYAL with FERGAL'S
FIND back in third and GUTHRIE finding nothing back in fourth. Three to jump and over went GREET YOU WELL in
front with OSCAR ROYAL now being asked to go and get the race. Ah! Ah! Not so - a good race and although
Fred got his mount some four lengths in front and jumped the last half a length
up, it was GREET YOU WELL that stuck it
out and crossed the line five lengths to the good of OSCAR ROYAL and FERGAL'S FIND was some twenty five
lengths back in third. A good race and
these will surely go on to win again.
Two divisions of maiden races concluded a great
afternoon's racing with Rachel Green bringing home Mrs J McCullough's SULAWACEE
to win division one by a length from WKP Partnership's HUGO HACKENBUSH (W Hill)
with Rhys Hughes on best turned out J
McMahon's PRESENTING STAR twelve lengths back in third. This was a good win and we will no doubt be
seeing more of this winner. Division two
saw Rhys Hughes do better on W Edgington's JOBSWORTH
who came home to win by seven lengths from the likely looking winner at one
time, Ryan Bliss on Mrs P Dod's JACOBIN and Lucy was
on Paul Tylor's MR WOODROW back in third. More smiles from the other side of the
vehicle as the bag was unzipped once more and a deposit made. Three times at one meeting is not bad and it
has made it all the better for the bag carrier as the tin collected NOWT!
A GREAT day out and surely more winners must
come. Next meeting on
home ground at the Royal Cornwall Showground where the NC Club hold their first
meeting of the season. Saturday 15th December 2007 - BE
THERE!
Fred and Ruth