Report from The South Tetcott Hunt P to P meeting held at Upcott Cross on Monday 26^th May 2008.

We joined a queue of soaking wet visitors leaving Cornwall on our way to Upcott Cross as it had rained most of the night in no uncertain fashion and continued to do so for the length of our journey. Hard work had gone into preparing a mud free entrance to this course and this was really appreciated and the course itself would race good with good to firm patches which is remarkable considering the amount of water falling from the sky of late. Bright patches appeared on the horizon but very few of these reached the racing line and what would have been a perfect holiday afternoon’s sport was ruined by the heavy cold rain that persisted for most of the day. Now for the good side, there were seven good races and apart from there being only three runners for the Ladies’ open race the remainder were well contested.

The meeting kicked off with a Confined hunts race with ten going to post. I sorted this one out very quickly and although the tin has suffered over the last week with Hunter ‘Chases taking some of its contents (temporarily replenished when TOT OF THE KNAR came in at nine to four!) there is enough for me to invest considerably on one of my favourite money suppliers. We haven’t seen a lot of Charlie Rush’s BALLYBROWN but today with Polly up the betting public are wading in and the price available is soon down to even money or less and this one will go off clear favourite. The blinkered jointly owned CATTLE CLASS (R Woollacott) is second favourite and then my choice comes into the reckoning. I have grabbed six to one for my wager on Nute & Tompkins Partnership’s WINTER SCENE who has been extremely kind to me this season and I am sure the mare will see off all comers as she did when winning the Silverstone open. Lucy (Gardner) had to go back for a re-weigh and instead of the advertised eleven ten WINTER SCENE will now be carrying twelve one. Not meaning to convey anything other than the truth, but that is a lump for this not very big mare to carry around here, but I am sure she can do it – Off they go! Very quickly WINTER SCENE was up front and taking them along and as they went across the top for the first time the lead was about three lengths and as they passed the judge for the first time this was still the scene! The second favourite followed and in fact on the second circuit saw all ten still in with a chance. Mrs Robert’s THE QUARRYMAN (W White) had a challenge, Richard Woollacott on CATTLE CLASS had a go and BALLYBROWN was thereabouts all the time but none had the class of the little WINTER SCENE who kept up a very good pace and on reaching the top of the back straight for the final time the lead increased. It was now that the firmly held pencil in my water logged pocket took its first squeeze and the decision was made that two pencils, although short, would be better than one. On went Lucy and faced up to the race home. Polly now became a threat on BALLYBROWN and was chasing hard and with two to jump, was closing the gap. Suddenly three pencils were evident in the right hand pocket and the biro in the left hand pocket was having quite a rough ride as well. The gap was closing! Lucy took a peep and was aware that Miss Gundry would like to overtake at this stage, but first she had to get close enough to do so – she never did and WINTER SCENE went on to win by four lengths from BALLYBROWN with CATTLE CLASS six lengths back in third. One of the loudest cheers I heard was from the bag handler as she had followed me and chose Lucy to get the bag off to a decent start, well done! As I congratulated the owners of this gallant little mare I was presented with a brand new pencil complete with a small eraser which will be tucked away and not used until next season. I don’t expect we will see WINTER SCENE again this season but she has had a very worthy season and I look forward to her next set of battles. A big thank you to all her connections, you have done us proud.

Ten runners for the Men’s open race and the boards show that a clear favourite in Lucy Dickinson’s RANGE ROVER (R Woollacott) is soon established. Two to one ON! I chose C Dupont’s BRAEROY (I Chanin) who I thought had a good chance and I thought his form should ensure me of at least a place. D Staddon and C Parson’s LORD OF THE ROAD (Ryan Mahon) was fancied by a few and would go off second favourite with the remainder classed as outsiders; big prices. Visibility was sometimes poor in the continuing rain but by fence four Mr & Mrs Elliot’s SARA MONICA (W White) was leading the group. Over the first of the open ditches and SARA MONICA had no problem here followed by Miles Pengelly’s DOOF (D Edwards). J Newman’s FRUIT DEFENDU (Josh Newman) was a little detached and found the pace too hot. Later pulled up. After fence twelve DOOF made an effort and got up to SARA MONICA but only for a little while and then Will went on again. LORD OF THE ROAD and DON FERNANADO (Ben Robarts) were travelling well with the favourite yet to make his move. J Brake’s DADSAYSHEAZLE (I Popham) is travelling well also but needs to pull up a bit if he is going to be in the race to the line. Sue Condry’s COOKIES BANK (Alex C-Jones) is pulled up which brought a large sigh from the bag handler. Oh! Dear! SARA MONICA kept up the lead. Visibility is poor but three from home and SARA MONICA continues to lead. RANGE ROVER is moving up quite quickly and will soon be challenging SARA MONICA who is running a very brave race. To the final fence and the confident looking Richard popped over it and went on to win by six lengths whilst there was a good fight for second place which went to the very gallant SARA MONICA who was a length up over DON FERNANDO with LORD OF THE ROAD back in forth place. Nothing for the tin or bag this time!

Only three for the Ladies open race and although Vanessa had a good race and her GUDLAGE jumped really well including some fine ones at the open ditch and led for some time, she was no match for the other two who made a very good race of it. Rachel Green on C Dupont’s BROWN COCKLE went off the clear odds on favourite followed by Polly Gundry on blinkered best turned out The It’ll Be A Long Night Partnership’s LONG NIGHT who was available at times at seven to four but five to four was more general. Polly stalked Rachel for most of the race after Vanessa dropped back, just a couple of lengths away and it was obvious that a good race to the line would take place once they start the run for home. Three out BROWN COCKLE leading by a couple of lengths and set off for home; Polly now getting to work. Final fence and Rachel was over first but hard riding by both saw Polly take it by half a length on the line. Those that took the seven to four cheered loudly but those that took the odds on price had very little to say!

The Restricted race saw almost the maximum (17) go to post and Neil Harris on R Perry’s JACKS TAXI went off the favourite, but this is a very competitive race and many are surely in with a chance not least Polly on M Tozer’s TRES BIEN and Richard on Parkham Farms’ PARKHAM FLYER. Jim Cole on R White’s DUTCH BILL took up the leading position and went on with a steady pace and soon had the field stretched. C Holmes’s ORINOCOS FLIGHT (M Griffiths) followed by The Kitford Club’s HESAWIZARD (M Miller) and R Oliver’s CAPTAIN MACHELL (M Woodward) chased the leader. On the final circuit CAPTAIN MACHELL got up to head DUTCH BILL for only a little while as Jim Cole urged his charge to go on and this he did. Across the top DUTCH BILL took it along from CAPTAIN MACHELL and now Rita Heard’s best turned out ON YOUR TOES (W White) closed up into third. JACKS TAXI was seen to be making progress as well. It was a super finish! The favourite was out of the final dash as it was all between ON YOUR TOES and DUTCH BILL. Jim Cole I believe thought he had the race won but Will White thought differently and kept at his work and as they crossed the line it was one for the judge. ON YOUR TOES by a head from DUTCH BILL with JACKS TAXI four lengths back in third. Neither bag nor tin had that one!

A six runner Intermediate saw the layers’ boards going up and down as they attempted to sort out a favourite. Eventually A Tizzard’s COOMBE HILL (Charlotte Tizzard) tussled with LORDS BRIDGE but it was the latter that went off with that honour and it was P Harvey’s APOLLO BLAZE (V Shaw) that was first to lead at the off and went some way ahead at a good pace. Mrs Shaw and Lady Acland’s SLIEMA (N Wilmington) followed in second place; then came the favourite, then The Two Counties Partnership’s MOORLANDS RETURN (R Hawker) and N Thomas’s FREEDOM OF THE CITY (P Mason). D Underhill’s best turned out LORDS BRIDGE (R Woollacott) was the back marker of the six. APOLLO BLAZE went wide on the turn and allowed most of the others up on her inside and it was now SLIEMA up front from MOORLANDS RETURN, but by the time they reached the first open ditch Vanessa was leading again. Going out into the country for the final circuit the group of six were quite tightly bunched. Up the back led by SLIEMA followed by FREEDOM OF THE CITY and APOLLO BLAZE then came COOMBE HILL. Approaching four out COOMBE HILL made his move and took the bull by the horns and went for home in no uncertain fashion. The rest is history as Miss Charlotte Tizzard crossed the line twenty lengths ahead of SLIEMA who was two lengths ahead of FREEDOM OF THE CITY. Whew! That one needs to be watched seriously!!

Two good maidens followed with ten in division one and fourteen in division two and Richard Woollacott won both of them. I was very pleased about the win in division one as that was my choice that crossed the line after much shouting and jumping up and down. J Frost’s BETHEBESTYOUCANBE who ran a fair third at the Dulverton West meeting did it better here and crossed the line a length to the good of Darren Edwards on Mrs Trump’s ASHCLYST and Polly was ten lengths back in third place on Sally Alford’s KARLEY. The bookie’s satchel was full of water and the money was all stuck together and soaking wet, but this did not deter me from collecting and I dried them all out on the car heater on the way home.

Another terrific fight to the finish in division two and we had to wait a considerable time, along with others, before the stewards could come up with a decision on who had won the race. A little infringement on crossing the line was the whisper but eventually it was given to Richard Woollacott on G Gillard and G May’s STEPH’S DREAM with Ryan Bliss on G Brown’s SLIPAWAYON by half a length with Polly on W Jordan’s ASHWOOD two lengths back in third.

The tin is healthy and the bag didn’t suffer too much but what a pity about the rain, BUT where again could you find ground as good as this so late in May. Sixty-nine runners over seven races – GREAT! Thank you South Tetcott, what you did was great and provided exciting racing and the Committee that can control the weather hasn’t been designed YET!

Next week it’s back to Bratton Down for the Exmoor Hunt’s meeting on Saturday 31^st May 2008 and IF the weather is kinder than of late we might even go on into Wales for a re-arranged Sunday meeting of the Countryside Alliance Club P to P at Bonvilston. Who knows, but most importantly at either meeting – BE THERE!

Fred and Ruth