Report from East Cornwall Hunt Point to Point meeting at Great Trethew held on Sunday 24^th February 2008. 

 

The weather is holding out fine for Point to Pointing here in the Westcountry and today for the East Cornwall meeting is no exception.  As we have had a few showers the course will race good and it is a little overcast with a keen nip to the wind we must remind ourselves it is only February.  We were a little later on scene today as we suffered a loss of life at home and matters had to be dealt with.  A bluebottle type fly with a drone level of plus five was circulating in the bathroom and the search for the fly killer spray took some time to find as after all it is winter and these low level noise machines do not normal invade until later in the year.  The large container was where it was last left but in the last place we looked, (as usual!).  Through lack of use the first six squirts of the 'Knock it Out' spray resulted in a sticky mess trickling down the tin, my hand, my arm and onto my cardigan which was recently knitted by Ruth. Eventually, after much shaking, a fine mist did arrive and was liberally sprayed around the bathroom.  With door closed this caused frantic coughing and I had to move to the sitting room to recuperate!  When all was well again I moved to slowly open the bathroom door only to be hit in the face by a blue bottle type fly with a drone level of plus five as it escaped to the kitchen area.  We then left for Great Trethew.  Having both had a desperate day investing in losers I was pleased on returning home to see the said bluebottle upside down on the draining  board with no sign of life left but I am sure I heard one more little drone as the corpse was moved to the sink.  Drone down there you little - b l u e b o t t l e!

 

The first race on the card was the 'Farmers' race with four runners.  The favourite was soon established in the Du Plessis's best turned out  KINGSMILL LAKE with Emily Noszkay up who was soon leading the field and repeating last year's achievement.  Dannie Smith on his LEGAL WARNING kept her company for about two miles of this circuit and in fact headed her for a while but did not stay to provide a challenge at the end.  Sue Young on The Civil Partnership's TREBLE TRIGGER completed the course but it was Jennie Carr on the Penhorwood's SHE'S ALRIGHT that gave Emily the most trouble and threatened to get to her all the way from the top of the hill on the final circuit.  Very exciting down hill and towards the last two fences but the mare failed to get to KINGSMILL LAKE who crossed the line to win by two lengths.

 

Next came FOUR divisions of four, five, six and seven years old maidens to be run over two and half miles.  To pick winners out of these four was difficult to say the least.  The bag and tin did not pick any; seconds, yes but winners - none!  An odds on favourite in the 13 runner division one, The Cash For Honours Partner's LORD SHARK (N Harris) could do no better than fourth where as R Barrow's MURDOL (Ian Popham) won in fine fashion for that very dedicated and in form trainer Marie McGuinness by three lengths from my choice Mrs S Trump's ASHCLYST (D Edwards) who had to fight out a good finish to get home by just half a length from Mrs L Fielding-Johnson's PRIMITIVE QUEST.  Keep an eye on the latter over three miles, no doubt, soon! 

 

Fourteen in division two with an uneasy favourite established in the jointly owned JUST GLADYS (W White) but again the investors had it wrong and this one failed to get home and another Marie McGuinness trained incumbent Mr C Moate's ARTHUR PARKER (I Popham) crossed the line twelve lengths ahead of his nearest rival, Mr & Mrs A Colwill's BROOK CASTLE (T Dennis) who fought out the finish with JUBILEE JACK (D Edwards) to get second place by a length. This was the fastest of the four divisions and the way the winner dominated this race, better things are bound to come his way.

 

The third division saw eleven go to post and we really need a winner before both bag and tin get a shaking.  The good rugby results put quite a bit in the tin but this is the surest way ever of emptying it, so a winner is needed.  Both bag and tin are investing on Sally Alford's KARLEY (P Gundry) who is available at a win price but not quite an each way investment but nevertheless we are both confident as 'the word' is this one is tuned up for a win and with Polly's stable in such form in we go with both feet tin and bag.  The even money favourite is Jill Dennis's CHASING THE STORM (T Dennis) who was going well on his last attempt but unseated on that occasion but this is a very poor price for any horse in an open maiden over two and half miles so we are sticking with KARLEY.  Off they go and from the start Polly had KARLEY in a prominent position which is good for the nerves if you have invested.  A line of three coming down the hill for the first time saw KARLEY, CHASING THE STORM and the Fisher's AND ALL THAT JAZZ (R Woollacott) in a line abreast.  Climbing out of the dip and going up the hill it was still KARLEY, CHASING THE STORM and AND ALL THAT JAZZ but closing up fast was Sam Allwood on best turned out S Callow's DUETTO.  Coming down the hill for the final time it was KARLEY, CHASING THE STORM, AND ALL THAT JAZZ and DUETTO who would fight out this finish.  Much shouting and cheering and it wasn't only me, honest!  An exciting race to say the least with Polly coming out of it the unfortunate loser.  She was treated badly by the men around her and it resulted in DUETTO crossing the line three lengths ahead of KARLEY with Mrs Dutfield's MAN OF LEISURE (M Woodward) getting up to be two lengths back in third.  Nothing for tin or bag but I think we were both very unfortunate. Nuff said!

 

Division four saw fourteen go to post and I remember reporting that I thought MR BENNETT (D Cook) would soon  be losing his maiden tag after a promising run at Wadebridge and a lot of others thought the same as his odds on price as favourite in this race indicated.  Not for me though as I fancy the second favourite in another Marie McGuinness trained runner.  D Churches's MAX'S CHOICE (I Popham) will be carrying my investment although this one had a heavy fall earlier in the season but I am sure this trainer will have taken all that into consideration and produced this six year old ready for today.  Well again I was wrong! MR BENNETT travelled in mid pack for the first circuit as Ros Newman's LUCKY MOJO (N Wilmington) took the field along. Several fell and a few pulled up reducing the field considerably (7).  Up the hill for the final time it was Alice Mills on S Reddaway's FAIRLY GLORIOUS now taking them along followed by LUCKY MOJO and MR BENNETT with my choice still tucked in behind along with Darren Edwards on Mrs Lawrence's THE BUDDLE, with me praying now that Ian Popham would soon make a move!  The group were tightly packed as they turned to race down the hill.  It was soon now that MR BENNETT started racing in earnest and FAIRLY GLORIOUS did so as well and they took the second last together but MR BENNETT came from here in fine style and went on to win by twelve lengths with MY CHOICE getting up to come in second overtaking tired horses in the process, MR BUDDLE was just a head back in third.  A good race but again the wrong one for me was over the line in first place and the tin is looking sad to say the least and the bag I am told is not better.  Thank goodness maidens are over and we move onto the Mixed Open where the tin is bound to, not only survive, but will be readily replenished.

 

Seven to post for a competitive Mixed open.  I, of course, will be investing in my recent money provider, Nute and Tomkins Partnership's WINTER SCENE (Lucy Gardner) and this one is flip flopping favourite with Ben Robarts's JALON STAR.  The others are available at considerable bigger prices.  Mrs Elliot's SARA MONICA (W White) at four to one, E Roberts's THE QUARRYMAN (R Woollacott) 16 to one.  Mark Munrowd will be trying to get H Channon's TOI EXPRESS home and is available at five to one and the possible complete outsiders at the off are likely to be Anne Baker's DARE TO DREAM (N Harris) or Sue Popham's GREAT MAN (D Edwards).  My choice took the field along or was up front for most of the first circuit but when passing me at the open ditch for the final circuit it was obvious to me that things were not going well for me or the tin.  Lucy had to ride around the top bend to keep in touch and it was going down the hill and into the dip that I was sure that the tin would be remaining closed and no deposit would be made.  THE QUARRYMAN and GREAT MAN both pulled up.  Going across the top and turning for the down hill run it was here that Neil Harris took it up and set DARE TO DREAM for home.  No one was going to catch him and he went on and crossed the line to win by five lengths from SARA MONICA and two lengths back in third was JALONS STAR.  Oh! Dear Oh! Dear what can we do?

 

I could not find any one to loan me a fiver so I had to play just a watching stand on this next race but I did cheer with the bag handler.  The Maiden race for eight years old and over saw fourteen go to post and Ruth chose best turned out C Lawrence's DURNOVARIA (D Edwards) to bring in a little and then I could borrow a fiver.  This one went off favourite and immediately set a good pace.  Down the hill for the first time with a six length lead went the bag handler's investment carrier.  Over the first open ditch, down the hill, ten lengths to the good.  Up the hill, across the top and down the hill for the second time.  Roger Knowles's RECTORY (R Darke), Mrs R Fell's LITTLE LORD LEWIS (V Shaw) and David Roger's FOUR OF A KIND (W White) followed some way back.  OUR money carrier took the final open ditch a complete fence in the lead.  Around the back and down the hill still a long way in front, about 35 lengths to the good.  I heard a zip being opened on the bag and I checked that the tin lid would still come off as we are about to pick up at last.  Up the hill - WHOOPS! Mrs C Lawrence's DURNOVARIA is upsides down and will NOT be crossing the line at all, leave alone in first place!  Oh! Dear!  This left FOUR OF A KIND out in front who went on to complete and cross the line five lengths to the good of Polly on D Ford's FINALLY SORTED with Alice Mills on Mrs Treneer's HANNAH BAY two lengths back in third place.  Gosh! What bad luck! 

 

Dilemma now!  The Restricted will be won (surely) by either P Gibbins's TANDORI (S Payne) or R Kelvin-Hughes's TOT OF THE KNAR (P Gundry) and as the latter is a big odds on I will choose TANDORI but first I have to find someone who will support me with a short term loan.  Next Friday is benefit day for those over a certain age and as I qualify I could borrow for a short term and return it today if I am eventually lucky or return it next Saturday at the Ottery meeting.  I sought out a very good friend (or at least he is now!) but some delay occurred before the loan transaction could take place as finding six witnesses to sign up that they saw the deal proved difficult.  The loan agent settled under duress for five witnesses and the deal took place with a terrific interest clause incorporated.  Unfortunately this entire process took so long I missed the off of the nine runner race so would have to wait before the final race before any investment now.  TANDORI took the field along for most of the first circuit and although TOT OF THE KNAR was in rear at the first open ditch by the time they crossed the course at the far end Polly had this favourite close up in second place behind TANDORI.  Down the hill and up to the final ditch which they all cleared and when they came back into sight TOT OF THE KNAR was leading followed by TANDORI, Miss Claydon's KING'S WOOD (D Edwards) Roger Oliver's CAPTAIN MACHELL (M Munrowd) and best turned out Mrs Heard's ON YOUR TOES (R Woollacott).  Up the hill they went and as TOT OF THE KNAR gained about seven lengths going up it last time it should be no trouble to gain some more here now.  Polly had it judged beautifully and extended her lead and made it a procession down the hill.  She went on to win by five lengths from a very good fast finish by Richard Woollacott on ON YOUR TOES who was two lengths ahead of KING'S WOOD.  Guess what?  I didn't loose anything on that race BUT didn't win either.

 

Here we go for the last one. The eleven runner Confined race sees John Pearn's KING GEORGES (R Woollacott) go off the well odds on favourite with the remainder available at much bigger prices.  Simon Beveridge is having a go again on his FORT OF GOLD and Vanessa Shaw is giving her GUDLAGE another chance as nothing could be found wrong after his poor run last time.  I am investing a small each way bet on Darren Edwards to bring Rebecca Welch's GUNNER'S MISTAKE home to put just a little back into the tin. It was GUDLAGE who took the field down the hill and up the hill to the first open ditch and around the top closely followed by FORT OF GOLD followed by James Cole on his JOLLY HOPEFUL and John Barnes on The Berwick Rock Partnership's PETER'S TWO FUN.  Across the top and down the hill and the positions haven't changed very much at all.  All over the open ditch but why did he (the commentator!) have to say that my choice was finding it hard to keep up with the pace at this stage.  As the pace increased GUDLAGE began to slip back and it was FORT OF GOLD, JOLLY HOPEFUL and then a line of three with Neil Harris on SZEROKI BOR now looking threatening.  The favourite was not going to win this one. It was close going across the top and then a very good race for home and eventually it was SZEROKI BOR (N Harris) who crossed the line in fine style to win by a length from FORT OF GOLD and then after a very good ride from Miss Cole came JOLLY HOPEFUL.  A very good race and the winner's price was anything from twelve down to eight but nothing, yet nothing, for tin or bag.  What more can I say!

 

It was good racing which provided us with nothing whatsoever investment wise but I still enjoyed it, although not quite so much as usual.  I do consider it all only loaned however and next week as we have over two hundred entries at Bishops Court we will have many chances of getting it all back plus a little more.  Not greedy, just a little more!

 

I have just been informed that another low flyer is in the outhouse so I had better deal with it before it dare come indoors.

 

East Devon Bishops Court and the dulcet tones of our host, Mr Oliver Carter beckon -

BE THERE!!

 

Ruth and Fred Sampson