Report from Tetcott Hunt P to P meeting held at Vauterhill on Sunday 11^th May 2008

A quick run down over Exmoor after a super breakfast and out to High Bickington and all set for a day’s racing and the weather forecast is sunny for the day. The dry weather has altered the going here since last week with some patches now nearing firm but the majority of the course should come into the good category. As one very knowledgeable lady rider said after walking the course, provided the jockeys ride with due care and attention all should be well.

There were plenty of entries but some might not be turning up due to the firming of the ground, but there are nine going to post for the Open maiden race for mares only. The favourite at the off was D and Mrs T Fisher’s best turned out AND ALL THAT JAZZ with Richard Woollacott up. Because Ross Oliver’s MISS PRETTY with Polly up was also running, the price remained a favourable one and I grabbed the price of seven to four on the favourite but kept stakes to a minimum as maiden races can hurt the pocket and as this is the first race of the day I remain careful. MISS PRETTY was available at two to one but the remainder were five to one and above. Off they go! MISS PRETTY led the field up to the crowd on the first occasion followed by Douglas Proctor’s ANNIES ASSETS (R Bliss). The commentator stated the field was led by the favourite so maybe they loaded some more money on MISS PRETTY but for me it is AND ALL THAT JAZZ that will need to cross the line first. A reasonable pace and all going well as they completed a circuit and went on past the starting area with no change up front. Michael Coate’s LADY GARLANDHAYES (Jo Buck) travelled well in third and then a line of three, AND ALL THAT JAZZ, AMY’S FUTURE (Richard Bandey) and COUSIN JENNIE (E Glassonbury). The second open ditch and no change up front. With a circuit to go it was still MISS PRETTY who was now joined by the Hayes’s GETAWAY GIRL followed by LADY GARLANDHAYES and ANNIES ASSETS. Jenny Carr was seen to be making progress from the rear on The Haldon Partner’s INCHING WEST. With four fences to go it was ANNIES ASSETS having a go, but coming to the final open ditch MISS PRETTY was also interested again with AND ALL THAT JAZZ seeming to stalk these two leaders. From the back of the field now came Jenny Carr on INCHING WEST, closed up and was in contention. There seemed to be come confusion from here on because it could have been AMY’S FUTURE or ANNIE’S ASSETS but it could not have been ANNIE’S FUTURE that was challenging but nevertheless it was quite clear from where I was standing that it was AND ALL THAT JAZZ who crossed the line first by a head from INCHING WEST and ten lengths back in third place was ANNIE’S ASSETS.

Just five for the Confined hunts’ race and Mrs Condry’s COOKIES BANK went off the untouchable price of three to one ON or maybe four to one ON in some places. Three of the opposition were the same price namely six to four against with The Amsell Partnership’s DOUBLE GRACE (R Darke) the outsider of the field. There were opportunities to wager without the favourite and I took the chance that The Three Bobs’s MENEUR DE JOUR (D Edwards) would be the one for me whereas the bag settled for a place on P Green and D Lovell’s best turned out NEWSPLAYER (N Harris). Off they go! The Chanin Family’s JUST REUBEN (T Chanin) led the field followed by DOUBLE GRACE and the others. Through the start area and no change in the order and there must be about eight lengths between first and last. JUST REUBEN, DOUBLE GRACE, MENEUR DE JOUR, COOKIES BANK and then NEWSPLAYER. Second open ditch, no change. One more clear circuit to go and as they took the fence in front of the crowd DOUBLE GRACE thought this a good time to get rid of Richard Darke and did so in an unceremonious fashion. Down the hill and through the start area and it was about here that Richard asked for an effort from COOKIES BANK and got the response he required. Final open ditch and it was between COOKIES BANK, MENEUR DE JOUR and NEWSPLAYER. With one fence to go NEWSPLAYER was alongside COOKIES BANK and racing for the line. My choice was ten lengths back in third but it was COOKIES BANK that got the better of the tussle and crossed the line to win by one and half lengths. A good race and the bag handler would collect and I wouldn’t.

Only two for the Men’s open race and a match between Ian Chanin riding Mrs S King’s VIGZOL against best turned out R Grant’s SPINNING SILVER with Merv Woodward up. Even money SPINNING SILVER and four to six ON for VIGZOL. There were a variety of bets available but most of them referred to the winning distances except the straight forecast was again available and I took this up. After a very uneventful three miles around Vauterhill in the slowest time of the day, there was a little dash in the end and to my delight it was VIGZOL who came away to win by twelve lengths from SPINNING SILVER. I collect a little again.

Four for the ladies’ open race and at the off again there was a clear odds on favourite in the Polly Gundry ridden, Ross Oliver’s LET’S FLY. This one hasn’t been so prolific this season but should see the other three off with very little trouble. There was a wager at four to one against any horse finishing in third place. I took some of this and was more than a little excited when R Grant’s best turned out DELIGHTFULLY ran out and was pulled up by Caroline Farrant. Unusual to see Mrs Fell with a runner in the Ladies open but here was Vanessa Shaw taking her LITTLE LORD LEWIS gently around this course some way behind LET’S FLY and The Berwick Rock Partnership’s MATRIX (Nicky Rovai). I have cheered Vanessa scores of times into winning and place positions but here I was praying she would pull up and then the third place would be vacant and I would collect at four to one. LET’S FLY answered Polly when necessary and came away from MATRIX to win by seven lengths. I patiently waited as LITTLE LORD LEWIS was a fence at least in arrears and maybe would pull up at the last. No such luck as the plucky bay gelding trotted over the line to deprive me of any winnings.

Two to post again for the Novice riders race and the match would be between Sam Allwood on D Congdon’s best turned out JAUNTY JANNER who ran such a good race here last time and Paul John on R Woollacott’s RUN OF KINGS. The favourite, JAUNTY JANNER, went off the four to one ON favourite and the other was available at six to four against. Again a variety of wagers on distance etc were available but I kept a watching brief on this one this time. No speed limits were broken but a sensible ride by these two novices saw a good race to the line and it was the favourite who crossed the line four lengths to the good of his challenger. I am sure there was more available if required but a win is a win and that is what it was for JAUNTY JANNER.

A few more to post in the Restricted race but only just, as six line up. Richard Woollacott has notched a double so far and is trying to make it a treble as he goes off on the favourite, D Underhill’s LORD’S BRIDGE at two to one against. Polly is attempting to make a double for the day with Bradley Clarke Racing Club’s BLACKCOMB MOUNTAIN, who has a seven pound advantage over the favourite. Ross Oliver’s HARDKNOTT (M Munrowd) ran a good race to win the short race at the Four Burrow meeting so surprises may be on the cards. Off they go and it is RIVER HEIGHTS (Sam Allwood) that takes them along followed by MENAROW (L Gardner), BLACKCOMB MOUNTAIN and HARDKNOTT then a small gap and HEAVENLY GREY (R Bliss) and LORD’S BRIDGE bring up the rear. RIVER HEIGHTS fell. This left the other three to proceed up front with LORD’S BRIDGE soon to take up fourth position. HARDKNOTT pushed on and the pace quickened and Polly kept tabs on this one and Richard kept more tabs on the two of them and did not let them get away. Final open ditch and LORD’S BRIDGE moved up to the flanks of HARDKNOTT with Polly close up in third. Round the bend and it was Richard who was spotted first but Polly was there beside him. HARDKNOTT fell. A great race to the line but the gentleman that he is, was not giving way to a lady today and Richard clocked up his third win by three quarters of a length. Only two finishers. The horse that I invested on was not mentioned and I thought it might have been that the commentator had difficulty pronouncing his name but it was not so, it was just that he never ever got into the race and was pulled up so HEAVENLY GREY you owe me!

Two divisions of Open maiden races follow with six in division one and four in division two. Would you believe that Richard Woollacott took B Heath and R Westacott’s blinkered TWO MILE OAK around this course in fine style and at the value of three to one, to win by ten lengths. A four timer for a very much in form jockey from a very much in form stable. What a very successful season they are having. I had invested on Jimmer Cole riding best turned out T Boon’s COLLEGE TIME and at twenty to one I did a bit of shouting and thought I was in with a really good chance but when Richard asked for more from TWO MILE OAK with three fences to go, he got just that and came away and left me in second place but I still picked up a nice little earner for the tin. The bag handler had invested in FINAL DEAL (S Allwood) and picked up as well as this one came home in third place. The odds on favourite W Turner’s BRIMLEY (J Carr) was very disappointing.

Finally I picked up some more and the tin was going home with the lid just fitting. Another odds on favourite, Charlie Rush’s WANNA DO A DEAL (Joe Tickle) was turned over and I was fortunate to have picked the Farrant’s best turned out PARTY PICTURES to finish off the day’s investing and at six to four. Darren Edwards did a good job in hanging on to this one and his arms must have been stretched a little as from flag fall to finish this five year old needed attention and certainly looked the part crossing the line five lengths to the good of Will White on the jointly owned CATCH YOU LATER. The favourite, WANNA DO A DEAL was a disappointing twenty lengths back in third place.

We both had a good day and will travel home with radio blaring and possibly both making a noise as a pretence for singing. Thank you Tetcott and it was unfortunate that the weather affected the going and the number of runners, but we enjoyed what did turn out and we cannot control conditions. Next week we will be off to good old Bratton Down for the Dulverton West meeting. We will be early as usual and irrespective of weather I will enjoy walking that course again. So Saturday 17^th May 2008, first race at 1 pm – just BE THERE!

Fred and Ruth