Report from the Western Hunt P to P meeting held at Royal Cornwall Showground Wadebridge on Saturday 15 March 2008 

 

The weather forecast and the host of other attractions did nothing for the attendance at the RCS for the Western Hunt meeting but seven competitive races with 37 runners took place and apart from a light shower or two, all went off well.

 

The Confined Hunts race was the first on the card and this turned out to be the quickest of the day (Men's Open differed by just split seconds) with Ken and John Heard's NDITLIR (I Chanin) going off the odds on favourite.  This one has picked up a couple of second places this season and is surely now on top of her game and warrants the favouritism.  I liked the way that 'Jimmer' Cole brought his mare HOLLY WALK into third place at the Dart Vale meeting so the tin will be opened and a little investment on this one will be made and the price is good at nine to four so provided this mare gets around here where she has won before safely, I shall be looking to pick up.  Another thorn in her side could be the Horsley's COFFEE MORNING Charlotte) who has already won this season and should go well.  Vanessa Shaw will be up on her GUDLAGE who has had an indifferent run and a good run this season so provided it is his good day, could be in the shake up. Then comes my normal investment carrier The Nute and Tomkins Partnership's WINTER SCENE (Lucy Gardner) but I will not be banking on this one this time as she has struggled the last couple of runs so I will await for a return to her good form before punting on her with my money.  Off they go!  GUDLAGE and COFFEE MORNING had soon pulled to the front and by fence seven they were well clear, perhaps twelve lengths, of the following field of three led by HOLLY WALK.  Up past the judge with a clear circuit to go the field had now got together and as they cleared the ditch it was still COFFEE MORNING but this one had now been joined by HOLLY WALK.  WINTER SCENE was being reminded by Lucy to pay attention, which she refused to do and GUDLAGE didn't look as though he was too interested either.  Down hill to fence fourteen and up to the sand it was still HOLLY WALK and COFFEE MORNING taking things along.  NDITLIR was following but didn't seem to have what it would take to catch the leading pair.  Over fence eight and HOLLY WALK, bar a fall had this one in the bag.  It was now that I heard the bag holder giving voice so it was clear who her money was on.  Come on HOLLY WALK!   That's exactly what did happen and stick waving James Cole again brought his charge over the line in first place to win by seven lengths.  NDITLIR showed her fast pace up the hill but could not just get past COFFEE MORNING who was second and NDITLIR had to settle for third, half a length back in third. 

 

Having seen Polly (Gundry) hobbling with the aid of a crutch it was obvious she would not be riding DR CERULLO in the three runner Ladies Open race but one wag commented that she was here to ride not walk the course!! I ask you!!! So it was Jenny Carr who picked up the ride and the opposition would be Lucy Gardner riding Aunty's TSAR'S TWIST and Alice Mills on Mrs Turner's well bred DUKE'S VIEW who is having his first run for over twelve months.  With the form that Polly Gundry's horses are in at the moment I am sure DR CERULLO will put up a good show (odds on) so although TSAR'S TWIST certainly knows his way around here I think I will leave this one alone for investment purposes and with the favourite at very short odds it will be a watching race.  Off they go and I am pleased I did not favour TSAR'S TWIST as Lucy chose to lead for most of the race as she has done when winning her last two races here against SEA SNIPE; it was Jenny Carr who had the upper hand when it mattered and this was from fence 15 as she cruised upsides Lucy and then went on to race over the last three fences and come home to win by twelve lengths.  Slightly slower than the first race and I am sure the going will get more holding as the afternoon progresses.

 

The Intermediate race saw a return to this course of Charlie Rush's BALLYBROWN (Will Biddick) who has dashed around here a couple of times before to good effect.  This time there will be four others who will attempt to spoil his record.  J Frost's FORT OF GOLD (S Payne) has apparently given up the title of being the Reverend's horse and now Nikki Frost trains it for one J D Frost and has won around here and should put up a good show.  Another from Nikki Frost's stable is Ben Robarts's NO SMALL TALK who Ben will ride.  The best turned out Dean Summersby's LOUP DU SUD and E Wonnacott's FLINSKI (L Rowe) make up the field.  The pace was not as if any of them were in a hurry and Will Biddick was quite content to travel along in rear on the favourite.  LOUP DU SUD and FORT OF GOLD took them down the hill to fence eight, up and over and round into the home strait.  Passing the judge with one more circuit to go it was still LOUP DU SUD and FORT OF GOLD up front as they had been throughout.  Over the final ditch and it was now that BALLYBROWN moved up and it was, as investors, nice to see him with his head in front as they travelled around the far bend.  On a tight rein Will lead the field past the crowd and down the hill for the final time.  FORT OF GOLD was the only one who might now be a threat but BALLYBROWN was pulling away and none of this sloppy jumping which was evident at Ottery was in evidence here.  Home came our money carrier to win by some fourteen lengths from FORT OF GOLD with the long time leader a length back in third place.  Open up tin and bag please! 

 

That was surely the start of something really good for Will Biddick (he helped the tin a little at Chetenham too!) as he rode ARVAKUR in Division two of the open maiden and came away from James Cole on an improved performance from Andrew Leach's CANTCALLHERTRIGGER to win by seven lengths with Janine Mills's SIGFORD'S WAY (Alice Mills) five lengths back in third.  Mrs Hillard and Mrs Walker's ARVAKUR is another one from Polly Gundry's stable that has answered to her method and although the time for this race was slow all a trainer, horse and rider can do is - WIN!   It certainly suits both tin and bag today.  Will Biddick didn't stop at a double, he went on to take Mary Sanderson's HOLLANDIA (remember  50 to 1 at Chipley!) around this course in the Restricted race in great style to win by a distance from Sam Payne on Mr J Frost's PEGGY'S BOY.  Only two of the six finished. To win by this distance in ground this holding after an afternoon's racing in a time of six minutes thirty three seconds is no mean feat and should win again once stepped up.

 

The first division of the Open maiden saw a win for the favourite Paul Tylor's MR WOODROW (Lucy Gardner) but the jointly owned STILLHERTOES (R Woollacott) who like the winner, has recent places to his credit was second favourite and it was surely just a match between these two.  Three from home it was still MR WOODROW out in front but Richard on STILLHERTOES asked her for an effort which she provided but unfortunately we will never know whether she was good enough to get the better of MR WOODROW as she crumpled on the race to the line and Lucy went on to win by fifteen good lengths.  The success story in this race is surely that of Danny Smith on his LEGAL WARNING.  This young man loves the sport and brought his horse to the North Cornwall Club meeting on 15^th December 07.  He was short of experience to say the least and unfortunately riding experience also let him down and he was unseated.  The attitude of some men in black hats was far from what was required at that time and it was enough to put some people off for good.  Not Danny and not at least one local P to P family who have given him time and support ever since and the improvement is remarkable.  LEGAL WARNING kept up for most of the race on his next run, which was at Great Trethew and now here he is coming in SECOND.  The look on Danny's face was probably best summed up as bewilderment when he came into the second spot in the paddock but let us greet one more participant that due to local support and patience is improving and up to now has never had the words WELL DONE! - bestowed upon him. 

 

Only three to run in the Men's Open race and this was surely between H Messer-Bennetts's SEA SNIPE (J Tickle) and Miles Pengelly's DOOF  (J Cole) but with Mike Vanstone/Will Biddick involved in The West Hatch Partnership's best turned out  ARCTIC SKY there might be a surprise.  SEA SNIPE went off favourite at even money but it is surely last years form that is being used to arrive at these odds and no doubt every investor at the price available is hoping that this mare has returned to something like her best.  DOOF has been very consistent this season without winning so this might be his day, but he is the outsider of the field on the boards.  Well it was not the best of Men's Open races and SEA SNIPE had several lengths to make up entering the home strait but failed to do so and it was DOOF that extended his lead considerably. All you can do is win and that is exactly what DOOF did, and by a distance and that, in a good time for the day of six minutes twenty five seconds. SEA SNIPE was second and ARTIC SKY pulled up. 

 

The bag holder delightfully tells me and can show her accountancy documents to prove it, that she has won five out of six races with one non investment.  The tin not so well but still about half full.  Still some rain falling but it is not a worry here, no tractors needed as the roads within the show ground take us safely to the main road.  Apologies for the traffic congestion/hold up on the approach to the Showground but the roundabout is desperately needed and will no doubt all be in place for the Royal Cornwall Show.

 

That is racing over at this venue for the season so may we extend our thanks to ALL who have made it possible.  Next weekend it is Easter and will someone email me with the reason why the date has to change each year.  Easter eggs will last forever so it cannot be to get their sell by date organised.  Christmas day is the same each year and so is my birthday so why does Easter have to change? 

 

Kilworthy Easter Saturday 22^nd March 2008 first race 1230 pm followed by Trebudannon East Monday 24^th March 2008  first race 1 pm

 

BE THERE!

 

Fred and Ruth