Report from North Cornwall Point to Point held at Royal Cornwall Showground Wadebridge on Saturday 2^nd February 2008 

 

The weather forecast for this whole week has not been good but what the forecasters forgot to state was that anything you hear is not applicable to Cornwall.  A little chilly but then it is winter but apart from one quickly passing shower the meeting was held in good conditions with the course racing as 'Soft' and they would certainly be digging in down hill.

 

After fixing up the Hunt Whisky (Port) Draw Stall; incidentally may we thank all the kind people who bought tickets it does really help to support the hunt; I was presented with a new pencil to replace the one of many pieces which was celebrated with last week.  The cause for that celebration is running at Black Forest Lodge tomorrow so the pencil will be preserved for that race.

 

The challenge is on again in race number one when three will race in the 'Farmers' race. David Bryant's MCILROYS BOOZER (Alice Mills) will be the outsider but once again H Messer-Bennetts's SEA SNIPE (Claire Allen) will take on Lucy Gardner on the jointly owned TSAR'S TWIST.   The odds-on price of SEA SNIPE tells me that followers think that it is the mare's turn this time but not for me as I have called on Mr Hong Kong (HSBC) and money is available, as the ten pound Christmas bonus from George has not yet been touched and it will all be going on Lucy at 6/4 to start the day off with a clatter of coinage striking the rusty tin bottom.  Off they go and the same tactics were applied as on the last meeting of these two here with Lucy soon taking up a lead.  MCILROYS BOOZER found the pace too hot and was soon pulled up.  A steady gallop was set by Lucy and when Claire closed up and joined her with a circuit to go, AND that Lucy had to provide a little reminder to keep her charge in order, the favourite backers thought their judgement had been correct but TSAR'S TWIST thought differently.  A little more persuasion at the final open ditch and TSAR'S TWIST made a command decision that it was easier to go quicker than to receive another smack across the ass and that is exactly what took place.  Home came Lucy without being challenged to win by ten lengths.  A little slower than their last encounter at 6.23 (6.15) but the going is that bit stickier.  Thank you George! more to the point, thank you Lucy!

 

With a little more funds to play with, the excitement grows and I placed most of it on the second race.  The Men's Open with four quality runners out of which I chose Darren Edwards to bring Reg Hand's DANTE'S BACK home to register his first win of the season.  The form says that he has chances if fit and Mandy (Hand) would certainly not let her charge leave the stable unless quite capable of winning this open race.  The chips are down but I have removed my new pencil from the jacket pocket to the glove compartment of the car IN CASE pencil breaking excitement is on the cards as the opposition is really competitive.  The renowned fast finishing NDITLIR (T Dennis) sent down by John Heard to collect the prize, Mike Ford's capable COMPLETE OUTSIDER, who although has won before has not raced over fences and then there is the odds-on favourite, Garry Wilson's TALIKOS with Will Biddick up, who new trainer Colin Heard watched whilst this progressive seven year old won his Intermediate here in fine style by ten lengths in December.  The latter is really expected to win today but not for me.  The really consistent DANTE'S BACK carries my investment - so there!  Off they go!  Will soon had TALIKOS up front, over the first open ditch and around the top with DANTE'S BACK in the slip stream;  NDITLIR in third followed by COMPLETE OUTSIDER who brings up the rear.  About twenty lengths now covered the field with TALIKOS leading DANTE'S BACK by about two lengths.  James Cole got unseated from the COMPLETE OUTSIDER and was out of it at fence 10.  Out on the final circuit it remained the same with TALIKOS looking good out front.   Over the final open ditch with TALIKOS and DANTE'S BACK practically together with NDITLIR still there with a chance if good enough.  Crossing the sand it was now that Darren asked his mount to go on and took the lead by a length; Will with Tim Dennis dropping back now.  Down the hill for the final time it was now drawing on all these riders' skills and courage as the first two were making a real good race of it with NDITLIR now beginning to reel them in.  With two more fences to go NDITLIR had reeled in TALIKOS (pu) and was after DANTE'S BACK, but my investment carrier was not to be caught and crossed the line six lengths ahead of NDITLIR and these two were the only two to finish.  Only just the fastest time for the day (Ladies 6.16) but it was fast enough for me to go off and collect - again!  The bag hasn't been touched yet so no lengthy conversation taking place at the moment having just got over the fact that "The Weekender" called her "Wendy", the situation has only just got over the almost mono syllable type of conversation. Yes Darling!, No Darling!, I will do that Darling! Has now progressed to 'you buy it Darling if you want it!' the latter being the most disastrous. 

 

Six will run in the Ladies race and I see no reason why Claire Allen should not bring home a previous winner here in Caroline Wilson's INNOCENT REBEL who got round here in just over six minutes (6.01) and beat another one of today's challengers, the Faulks's HAPPY SHOPPER by four lengths on that occasion but the 'going' is different today and so might the outcome.  Ross Oliver's LET'S FLY (Polly Gundry), Miles Pengelly's DOOF (Alice Mills), the syndicated MATRIX (N Rovai) and Mike Ford's PIC OF THE PADDOCK (Clare Ford) will all be out there trying to stop either Charlotte Tizzard or Claire Allen pulling this one off.  The bag handler informs me she has obtained the wicked price of eight to one for an each way investment on LET'S FLY so the situation at home could change somewhat if Ross has FLY ready for a start to his winning season and crosses that line before the others.  PIC OF THE PADDOCK got away to a slow start but got up with field very soon after the first couple of fences.  All safely over the first open ditch with INNOCENT REBEL taking them along followed by HAPPY SHOPPER and then PIC OF THE PADDOCK and the rest.  Down to fence eight with INNOCENT REBEL still taking them along.  With one more clear circuit to go it was still INNOCENT REBEL going well within himself, followed by DOOF, HAPPY SHOPPER, LET'S FLY, PIC OF THE PADDOCK and MATRIX.  All clear over the final open ditch but MATRIX needed some persuasion and then in fact unseated Clare Ford, possibly for daring to remind him of the job he should know.  Around the top and then down to the fence before the sand and downhill run.  DOOF, HAPPY SHOPPER and INNOCENT REBEL were three abreast as they raced down the slope.  It was a very good race from here on in but by the time they came up the finishing hill it was Claire Allen bringing INNOCENT REBEL away from the rest, but as we know, Polly Gundry NEVER gives up and brought LET'S FLY lately into second place just beating DOOF into third.  This caused a much happier bag handler to dash off and collect as with the six runners she will now get paid on second LET'S FLY whereas I will keep a silent tongue in my head in case of spoiling the celebration/excitement but I had the winner!  Well done tin and bag!

 

Now the five runner Restricted race when all eyes will be on Charlie Rush's BALLYBROWN (Will Biddick) to see how he returns to the course after a 'pulled up' and an 'unseat' previously. Also under eye will be Ross Oliver's WEE FLY (P Gundry) who was classed as an improving sort after coming third here, then winning his maiden at Ideford Arch and will go off favourite here. The field is completed with G Wilson and Mrs K Heard's RIVER HEIGHTS (S Alwood), B Robarts on his SARGENT MALARKEY and Frank Thorne's THE BUSY FARMER (R Woollacott). Off they go!  BALLYBROWN leading the field followed by WEE FLY and then came

SARGENT MALARKEY for the most of the way followed by RIVER HEIGHTS and THE BUSY FARMER.  Up to the final open ditch which they all cleared and on to the top end of the course where BALLYBROWN was still taking them along with not much between the others.  Through the sand for the final time and down the hill they went with BALLYBROWN still travelling well followed by WEE FLY and then SARGENT MALARKEY and THE BUSY FARMER.  After four from home Will sent BALLYBROWN on and there was no doubt about this one's capabilities as he raced to the line twelve lengths ahead of WEE FLY  and three lengths back was SARGENT MALARKEY.  A little more for both tin and bag so things are definitely looking up.

 

The six runner Confined hunts race saw a good mixture of capable horses go to post and I immediately chose Lee Glanville's LISHEEN STORM (Tim Dennis) to carry my investment and hoped this one could get out of the habit of coming second.  The remainder of the investors differed from me and made The G B Friends's UNUSUAL SUSPECT (Will Biddick) the even money favourite with John Pearn's KING GEORGES (A Pearn) and the syndicated CONCERT PIANIST(R Woollacott) available at much better prices and the rank outsider, Rev Simon Beveridge's FORT OF GOLD at 25 to 1.  This race saw the closest finish of the day with three of the six runners crossing the line together and CONCERT PIANIST was adjudged the winner by half a length from LISHEEN STORM who was half a length ahead of the even money favourite UNUSUAL SUSPECT.

 

The Intermediate had four runners go to post with a clear favourite in the visitor from Shropshire D Roberts's THE RANDY BISHOP (A Wadlow) who went off at the ridiculous price of four to five ON!  J Brake's DAD SAYS HEAZLE (I Popham) was declared second favourite followed by S Horsley's COFFEE MORNING (C Horsley) and the outsider of the field The Three to One Club's HUMBLEEXPECTATIONS (T Dennis).  What a disappointment for all which included me, who thought the favourite would have no trouble in picking this one up after winning his maiden and coming a good second last year.  It was noticeable from early in the race that this one was not trying very hard and as the race continued it was even more noticeable that he was not trying at all and was pulled up.  I think the stewards had an enquiry but I am not privy to the result as of yet!  I now have the result of the Stewards enquiry which was broadcasted but failed to reach my ears.

We interviewed the jockey Mr A Wadlow whose explanation, in short, was that the horse has always run "off the pace" but it was never travelling. It had run as described before. He said the horse appeared OK afterwards but that he intended to have a blood sample taken the next day. He added that he would not have travelled 265 miles to stop one horse let alone nearer to home. We, the stewards, accepted his explanation but NOTED same.

The other three made a good race of it and were in line abreast on several occasions.  This provided an exciting final with Charlotte Horsley riding out a first class finish to hold off the challenge of Ian Popham to win by two lengths, with Tim Dennis not able to match their final pace and came in eight lengths back in third.  At four to one some supporters of COFFEE MORNING picked up well but there was a lot of disappointment in the investors' ranks.

 

Next came two Divisions of Open Maiden races with nine runners in each.  A local horse, WITHIEL LAD, went off the favourite in Division One with a local man in Will Biddick in the plate.  This horse has been tried over hurdles with modest form so here is M Madden and S Skelding's chance to see if their Throwa gelding is a winner at this game.  Charlie Rush has his second string out here in the shape of WANNA DO A DEAL with Joe Tickle up.   B Kilpatrick's MR BENNETT (D Cook) is fancied by some but both bag and tin will support the newcomer to pointing and put a substantial investment on WITHIEL LAD.  There was never a doubt about the outcome but that is in hindsight which is easy to say, but Will made his double for the day in coming home nicely on WITHIEL LAD three lengths ahead of Danny Cook on MR BENNETT and  Joe Tickle on WANNA DO A DEAL two lengths back in third.  I would think that second and third will soon be claiming their maiden success.

 

Division Two saw a horse I have previously mentioned when I thought he was unfortunate to get beaten, P Gibbins's TANDORI (S Payne). He is going to carry my investment and I am happy to say at six to four I will be risking a considerable sum.  The favourite will be sorted out between Sally Messer-Bennetts and C Clarke-Hall's unraced COOL FRIEND (C Allen) and S Rowe and S May's CLASSIC RARITY with Sue Willcock's well bred CARDINAL SIN  (N Harris).  Off they go and I can honestly say I have never been so confident that I was on a winner than I was watching this race.  TANDORI never put a foot wrong, well, maybe one, and then came home, over the last two and up the hill to win by eight lengths.  Claire Allen rode a good race and picked up second spot on COOL FRIEND with MAJOR MATT (D Cook) two lengths back in third.  Tin now over half full and I only started with a tenner!  Great as this will replace what got away from me last week.

 

We enjoyed today and will travel home in the middle of winter with no mud on our boots, no hassle from car park attendants,  well fed and watered after seeing a good days racing and I did all my business in the comfort of the big shed.  Maybe one faller, but no horse or rider injured, but it may take more than a day or two to get the track back as is did cut up a bit but it will be perfect for the next meeting here on Saturday 15 March 2008. 

 

Tomorrow we will be off early to BFL to make sure we walk the course with the Pony Racing fraternity and to cheer home the winners.  They deserve our support and we will now keep their web pages up to date with Results and Reports and photos if possible.  I take this opportunity of apologising for a rushed report as this should have been up yesterday (Monday) but after completing a five page report, the journey from my desk to my internet host's server proved too much and the entire report was eaten by something and I have had to do it all again and believe me it is not so exciting the second time round.  We came out in pocket and now to take Wendy whoops! Ruth out to dinner as all's well ends well.

 

BFL tomorrow early - BE THERE!

 

Fred and Ruth