Report from Stevenstone P to P meeting held at Vauterhill on Monday 5^th May 2008.

It looked a little dull when we arrived at the Vauterhill course but it soon brightened up and it was quite warm as I walked the course. There were wet patches and the need to fit in a dog leg was evident prior to the run through approaching the home straight as considerable water lay up there but the majority of the course was good/good to soft in places. They have the entries and all we need now is for the runners to turn up.

The members race brought four to the post and a very clear favourite was established in Neil Harris riding R Perry’s JACKS TAXI which has some form and should add to it with a win as the others have no great ability according to the form book but I fancy Claire Ford up on best turned out CONTRARY KING might surprise Neil so he had better watch out. Jenny Congdon on Horwood Hopefuls APPLEPIE LADY has been disappointing since winning her maiden and D Fort’s ROMANY ROCKET (J Courtenay) is desperately looking for a figure to add to the list of letters that she has in the book. Off they go and the field is led initially by ROMANY ROCKET with a steady pace. Through the dog leg, past the judge and out into the country. First one we lose is Jenny Congdon who waited until she got as far away from the crowd as possible and then decided to walk back. I was too far away to see what happened but fancy that, Jennifer not making it on sweet little APPLEPIE LADY! JACKS TAXI now had the lead and increased the pace a little. Claire Ford having regained her irons prior to the run through and dog leg now had CONTRARY KING upsides JACKS TAXI and these two made a race of it. ROMANY RACKET either fell or unseated but the two main protagonists were really going for it and surely Neil must have had a little worry when Claire would not go away. Eventually the favourite got the better of the duel and came home, to the delight of the favourite backers to win by three lengths in a time of seven minutes 19 seconds.

The Parkham Farms Restricted race had one more runner and the five that went to post were all entitled to win on their past form. The boards were definitely not sure but I had made up my mind after seeing APOLLO BLAZE run at Trebudannon and I thought he was set to win there but Vanessa chose to walk back after going so well for most of the race. Three quarters of the tin will be on Miss Shaw today and although there are others who might challenge her, she will surely win for me and Mr P Harvey and the trainer, especially the trainer (Mum). Well I did have a worry really as the first leader that I saw crossing the top and over the ditch was none other than APOLLO BLAZE blazing off out in front leaving the remainder strung out behind her. Twelve lengths to the good of best turned out MY BIG SISTER (Nicky Rovai) then another four lengths back to The Mills Family’s SIGFORD’S WAY (Alice) and the other couple, R Alford’s OH VLO (Guy Weatherly) and D Summersby’s LOUP DE SUD. With two clear circuits to travel it was Vanessa leading them but having steadied a little she allowed MY BIG SISTER to close to about five lengths. We lost Dean Summersby’s and I think it will go down as an unseat. Having had a breather Vanessa then increased the speed a little and increased the lead again. She got in a bit tight at one fence and I was wondering whether she had chosen to be out in front for too long and was tiring but on she went. On she went now out on the final circuit and jumped the one in front of us very well. Six from home and jumping very well and went on again. The hands are now pressed firmly together, a little jump at the fence and a small shout or two. MY BIG SISTER now going backwards. Three from home, the ditch, APOLLO BLAZE up and over but the others or at least OH VLO and SIGFORDS WAY are now packing up behind but there is still five lengths in it. Two from home, shouts galore now and jumping up at least three feet. Over that one and now coming down the straight well clear, every post has been a winning one and over the line to win by five lengths from OH VLO and Alice brought in SIGFORD’S WAY some way back. How impressive was that? Good for Mr P Harvey, good for Mrs Shaw, good for Vanessa and really super for Fred and the tin! That is looking better!

Five again for the Mixed Open and although J Gallagher’s THIRTYTWORED (G Weatherley) is a clear favourite and odds on, I will go back to my little bay mare who did me well at the beginning of the season and has had a little break. So it is the Nute and Thomkins Partnership’s WINTER SCENE with Lucy up that will be carrying a small handful from the tin. Once again it was an exciting race. Oh no not again! Out in front is WINTER SCENE heading for the open ditch but Vanessa is there again on her GUDLAGE this time challenging for lead position. WINTER SCENE got in a bit close and Lucy gave her a wake up call to make her pay attention which she immediately did and went up to take on GUDLAGE with THIRTYTWORED also on the scene. Through the run through and WINTER SCENE and GUDLAGE went over fence nine together. Around the top and onto fence ten, the open ditch WINTER SCENE and GUDLAGE over together. All five still in it but J Newman’s FRUIT DEFENDU is having difficulty maintaining the pace. D Congdon’s JAUNTY JANNER is now being urged to get interested by Will Biddick and has closed up into second place behind WINTER SCENE. I must say that JAUNTY JANNER was a threat I never considered but this one is looking keen right now. GUDLAGE is back in third place. WINTER SCENE now has an eight lengths lead. Lucy appears to have all the angles covered now and over the third from home she then takes a peep and sees her nearest pursuer is getting closer. Will is getting a little more out of JAUNTY JANNER and my hand tightens up a little on the pencil in my right hand pocket and surely I was not going to break this one to pieces now. The cheering started, the pencil in two pieces, the jumping started and it was only then I realised I was standing on the boot of the Jimny and I crashed to the ground in a heap. Up to cheer again only to hear the bag handler cheering for Will (as nearly always!) Over the last and although I continued to jump and shout it was never a worry really (whew!) as Will had drawn his lot from game JAUNTY JANNER and Lucy got to the line to win by two lengths. A place again for THIRTYTWORED, five lengths back in third. Now the tin is really smiling and another deposit is made but still room for more. I went off to congratulate Lucy and all the connections of WINTER SCENE as they are really appreciative point to point supporters.

Six to post for the Confined hunt race and I waited to get even money about Mrs Trump’s McSOLO (D Edwards) before making my final decision to invest on this one. Nearest rival in the arena is Ken and John Heard’s NDITLIR (W Biddick) and M Haywood’s PHILOMENA (E Glassonbury) who won the Spooners confined. Mr D Ford’s best turned out HAZEL MERE (A Mills), B Wright’s MAXIMUS and the Allin’s ECCLESWALL LADY (S Parrish) make up the field. MAXIMUS led at first and set a good pace but as the race progressed McSOLO and NDITLIR got away from the remainder and made a race of it between themselves. So going down the back straight for the final time McSOLO took it up and NDITLIR followed and these two were at it for the remainder of the race and it was McSOLO who got the better of the argument and crossed the line to win by two and half lengths. MAXIMUS was a distance back in third place.

Unfortunately only three declared for the Intermediate race and a very clear favourite in D Staddon and Miss C Parsons LORD OF THE ROAD (R Mahon) was soon established so no investing this time. The challengers were the Prouse’s TED ONE (C Farrant) and The Two Counties Partnership’s MOORLANDS RETURN (R Hawker). It was not a lack lustre race but finished up just as the bookies and most of the spectators predicted when the favourite crossed the line ten lengths ahead of his nearest rival, TED ONE with best turned out MOORLANDS RETURN four lengths back in third.

I am beginning to rush now as the bank holiday has made this week a tight one as we will be leaving again for Exmoor on Friday to take in another two days racing over a long weekend.

Two divisions of Open Maiden races followed with just four in division one and it was here that Lucy Gardner made amends for her ride on MISS PURDY at Flete the other day when she had to pull up, as this time Mrs J Keenor’s bay mare scooted home like a two to one on favourite should. J Smith’s ROYAL APPOINTMENT (W White) was the only other finisher and came in about twenty lengths back.

Division two was a different race all together. Nine to post and it was difficult to sort them out. Eventually it was The Sweetland Family’s best turned out FENNY LILY who went off with the honour of being the five to two favourite. The Turner’s GLOBAL PARTY (D Edwards) looked a good thing and at one time he was available at five to one which was very tempting but the price closed to three to one and I left that along. Will Biddick will be riding ANY JUSTICE for Mrs G Green for trainer Ollie Jackson and will be replacing Dan Cook. Now being at this game for a while I worked out that Mrs Green is Ollie Jackson’s mum and also Dan Cook is from the Pipe yard. These details convinced my that I should invest in ANY JUSTICE and took the price of seven to one. There was some shouting and jumping (without falling this time!) in this race and it paid off. Off they go and we lost J Smith’s MILL HILL (J Courtenay) at the first. Around the top for the first time and it is now reported that C Budd’s LOOK AT ME LANTA (N Harris) who is taking the field along is the favourite. Ah well let it be! It would not have made any difference to me as this one has no P to P form at all. Coming down over the ditch it was now ANY JUSTICE leading with QUANTOCKS RETURN (Georgina Langley) following then came FENNY LILY. Some untidy jumping but all eight go on. All eight over fence six and ANY JUSTICE was still taking them along. LOOK AT MELANTA travelling in the hold position at the rear. Fence eleven and the leaders didn’t take it too well but Will Biddick now had ANY JUSTICE some fifteen lengths clear. A little early yet for any gymnastics, vocal or otherwise. The last fence on this circuit and Will went through that one but didn’t lose a stride but a little worrying as there is a complete circuit to go now. Just a little louder shout than usual as the field passes by. FENNY FEET in second and FIDGETTFEET in third and Ed Glassonbury is tickling this one up a little. GLOBAL PARTY in fourth and travelling well!! FLASH THE CASH (C Ford) is in fourth and maybe a threat. LOOK AT MELANTA is pulled up and so is QUANTOCKS RETURN. Into the back straight and six from home and Will is clear by twenty lengths. Just a smile at the moment, no shouting but a continuous smile! Up the hill, five from home, no change. GLOBAL PARTY is closing! GLOBAL PARTY is in second position. Running down now approaching two from home and GLOBAL PARTY is fast closing Will but he is working away and remains clear by a couple of lengths. Two from home and GLOBAL PARTY is upsides ANY JUSTICE but crumples on landing. There is no doubt the Turners were about to have a maiden winner but such is racing (eh!) and the tin and bag are doing handstands, cheering home the winner but FENNY LILY is fast closing and we are going to lose this one yet. Shout, yodel, scream, wave, jump without falling, do what you like but get Will home – and it worked. Just by three quarters of a length but enough. That was really lucky but the tin doesn’t care where it comes from as long as it comes and I think I speak for the bag as well. Oh! FLASH THE CASH was third quite a way back. We are off to collect. Cold coffee will taste like champagne, believe me.

Off home now, singing all the way and have a busy week preparing for our departure on Friday when we will be back next week for EXCELLENT B & B at Cloutsham with Kath and David on Friday/Saturday and then down to Holnicote for the Minehead Harriers and West Somerset meeting on Saturday 10^th May 2008 so – BE THERE!

B & B again with David and Kath at Cloutsham. At Holnicote on Saturday and Vauterhill on Sunday, all paid for by Will Biddick and ANY JUSTICE, what a lovely name and the champagne was provided by Vanessa (APOLLO BLAZE) and the fish and chips( at Rick Steins, none other!) by Lucy (WINTER SCENE) – BE THERE!

Fred and Ruth