Report from FBH P to P meeting at Trebudannon on Easter Monday 24^th March 2008

 

The four runner 'Farmers' race kicked the day off at Trebudannon for the first meeting of the Four Burrow Hounds P to P at this lovely course.  The drizzle soon cleared away and the sun almost shone as the day progressed and good racing was provided.  The course along the bottom was protected by leaving out the first fence after the first circuit of each race and this proved very worthwhile on ground that was racing good to soft with soft in places. 

 

At the off the price of four to one and five to one ON put must investors off investing but then Ross Oliver's LET'S FLY (P Gundry) is a lot better than one would normally expect to find in a Members and Subscribers race so the price was probably about right and Polly made no mistake when getting this one home to win by six lengths.  A good run by D Congdon's JAUNTY JANNER (R Darke) gave supporters of this one some excitement as he ran well just behind the favourite for quite some time but there was six lengths between these two when LET'S FLY crossed the line.  Seven lengths back Joe Tickle brought Ruben Chapman's HUMBLE FARMER into third place.

 

The Open Maiden race for younger horses saw ten go to post in each of two divisions but the results could not have been more different.  Division one saw Richard Woollacott ride a very good timed race on D Willes's four year old PARKHAM FLYER who I had invested on.  Richard was lying fourth to Sue Young on B Scholfield's IT'S A ROLL OVER, C Popham's BERKELEY COURT and the Humphrey's LUCETTE ANNIE (S Payne) at the final open ditch,  but around the final bend and over the two fences in the home straight PARKHAM FLYER gradually got the better of the field and came home to win by three lengths from LUCETTE ANNIE.  Needless to say the required amount of arm waving and shouts of encouragement were plentiful during this run to the line.  Mary McGuinness's DEE VALLEY BOY (M Griffiths) who had made up some ground was five lengths back in third relegating BERKELEY COURT to fourth.  A good race and nice to see a four year old come out on top and very nice for the tin as I managed to get six to one at the off. 

 

The second division in which I fancied Richard Darke to bring home T Hughes's OSCAR IRELAND (fav) saw only two to finish.  Mrs Brenda Russell's STICH UP LADY (J Monk) led the field at a very good pace and soon had the field stretched out.  The first one to go was H Power's LUCKY DEVIL who decided Alice Mills was in the way and deposited her on the deck; a happening that Alice was not too pleased about.  On went STICH UP LADY with a gap of fifteen lengths between her and Mrs J Ackner and Mr & Mrs R Harvey-Bailey's KING OF THE ROAD (M Griffiths) in second place followed  by OSCAR IRELAND and I think it was GRAFFITY (P Gundry) in fourth.  Down the final back straight STICH UP LADY was now getting tired and KING OF THE ROAD went into the lead and travelled really well to the final ditch.  Up and over and the favourite, OSCAR IRELAND was in second place but had no chance of making up the distance to catch KING OF THE ROAD.  To the line to win by twenty lengths and to give Matt Griffiths his first winner.  The only other finisher was the favourite OSCAR IRELAND.  Nothing for the tin and there is no noise from the bag handler so I presume no collection is forthcoming there.

 

Only four for the Confined Hunts race and a very clear favourite was soon established in Mrs Roberts's THE QUARRY MAN (R Woollacott) who would have to beat M Trueman's best turned out  MIRAMAR (Gordon Gallagher), David Roger's FOUR OF A KIND (Alice Mills) and Ross Oliver's SLEDGEHAMMER (Will Biddick) to pick up first prize money.  A slow pace to start with as MIRAMAR led the field on the long run to the first.  MIRAMAR continued up front and was tracked by FOUR OF A KIND for quite some way but with a complete circuit to travel SLEDGEHAMMER had moved into second place with QUARRY MAN now taking closer order and moved into third.  Passing the start area for the final time it was now QUARRY MAN and MIRAMAR that drew away from the other two and went on to make a very good race of it.  Final open ditch and the QUARRY MAN was out in front followed by MIRAMAR who Gordon was persuading by all possible means to get to the leader.  Needless to say there was much cheering and shouting as down the home straight came Richard Woollacott holding onto his five length lead as he crossed the line.  FOUR OF A KIND was a distance away in third and I think SLEDGEHAMMER pulled up.

 

There was a disappointing turn out for Cornish National Mixed Open Race over 3 miles 4 furlongs of only two runners.  Miles Pengelly's DOOF (D Edwards) went off the two to one ON favourite with best turned out STONE VALLEY (Tom Channin) available at even money.  I didn't invest on this one but the bag handler has chosen Tom Channin to achieve his very first win by bringing STONE VALLEY over the line first.  Well it was a good race and although DOOF did the donkey work by leading for most of the way it was STONE VALLEY who had that extra when called upon to produce and crossed the line to win by six lengths after jumping the second last together. Much cheering and many smiles from the bag handler as a deposit was made.  There were only two runners after all!

 

The Restricted race saw twelve go to post and it was really difficult to pick a winner here.  I chose the front running best turned out Mrs Truman's DE LUAIN GORM (R Woollacott) as I liked the way this one runs away from the remainder and hopes not to get caught.  He would have won at Ottery apart from a small mistake at the last.  Others fancied by investors were R Perry's JACKS TAXI (N Harris) who won his maiden the other day, the House Family's WINNING CONNECTION (Will Biddick), and some late money came for Ross Oliver's WEE FLY (Polly Gundry).  Off they go and my choice did exactly as expected and built up a decent lead from the pack but not from P Gibbins's TANDORI (S Payne) who tailed him quite closely (two or three lengths) for almost two circuits.  Five from home and DE LUAIN GORM was still out in front and looking good.  Four from home and my choice is now looking a little weary and I am afraid the writing is on the wall as TANDORI gets up alongside.  Final ditch and TANDORI takes it in the lead but only just.  S Elford and R Black's UNFINISHEDSYMPHONY (M Griffiths) is back in third.  Two from home and TANDORI is joined by Hugh Thomas's MASTER KEVIN (D Edwards) and they race towards the final fence.  Over they go but hang on - here comes The Three to One Club's  HUMBLEEXPECTATIONS being produced by Tim Dennis simply flying down the outside to get up to TANDORI and MASTER KEVIN and provide a great spectacle as all three race to the line.  Tim was rewarded for his endeavours by crossing the line to win by half a length from MASTER KEVIN with another half a length back to TANDORI.  Only three finished but it was such a good race in the fastest time of the day - 6m 36sec.  Great!

 

Finally a seven runner Open maiden race with both The Primitive Partnership's PRIMITIVE LASS (D Edwards) and Sue Willcock's best turned out  CARDINAL SINN (N Harris) being the pick by the investors with Ross Oliver's MISS PRETTY (P Gundry) also taking some money.  I chose CARDINAL SINN and was happy with the price of two to one and thought that would finish my day off nicely.  A slow start with D Ford's DAME EDNA (Clare) taking them along, way out front for quite some time and then waited until she was in front of the crowd and tumbled over the fence very winded.  Clare was up quite quickly but it took some time before DAME EDNA got her breath back and a loud cheer went up to signal she was on her feet.  In the meantime CARDINAL SINN now decided to lead the field, a little matter I was delighted with, followed by The Sweetland Family's FENNY LILY, then came ABBEY SHADOW (B Robarts).  Towards the final ditch it was all change except the most important one CARDINAL SINN who continued to lead with now Jane Keenor's MISS PURDY (J Monk) challenging along with PRIMITIVE LASS and FENNY LILY back in fourth.  Two out and Neil was travelling well on my choice and surely all was in the bag.  Over the last and CARDINAL SINN was on the way to the line.  PRIMITIVE LASS fell at the last allowing MISS PURDY to get second eight lengths back followed by FENNY LILY a further ten lengths in arrears.  Well done and I am sure the bag handler won't mind waiting until I go and collect a little more.  The tin is looking really good after a lovely Easter weekend racing with varying conditions, different venues, good company and a variety of races to please all.  Congratulations to Matt and Tom and may there be many more winners.

 

Next we move to Great Trethew for the second meeting of the East Cornwall Hunt on Sunday 30^th March 2008.  First race is scheduled for 12 noon and will kick off with a young horse race over two and half miles. Don't miss it BE THERE!

 

Fred and Ruth