REVIEW
BADSWORTH & BRAMHAM MOOR
WETHER SATURDAY 29 MARCH 2003

by Dom Bradshaw

The fast conditions meant that only 24 horses in total turned up for the seven race card at today’s Badsworth & Bramham Moor fixture at Wetherby.

Grant Tuer rode a double, the first leg coming in the Mens Open aboard Fornaught Alliance who got up close home to deny Stoney River (Nick Kent) by two-lengths. The double was completed on Tuer’s own Trooper Collins, who took Division Two of the maiden with relative ease from Abinger (Michael Morley).

Shankly (Mark Walford) followed up his maiden victory at last week’s Hutton Rudby fixture, taking the Restricted at the first time of asking by eight-lengths from Broad Edge (Peter Atkinson).

In the Intermediate, Buddy Girie (Philip Cornforth) finished comfortably clear of Gunna Be King (Michael Morley).

Scottish raider Jupiter’s Fancy (Mr V. Coughlan) quickened up nicely to take Division One of the Maiden by eight lengths from the odds-on favourite Nathan’s Hero (Richard Wakeham).

Valigan (James Tate) finished alone in the Members race after sole challenger, Bennetts Venture, exited the race on the final circuit.

Disappointingly, the Ladies Open was a walkover for Colonel Blazer. Apologies to the rider of this horse, who's name I don't know seeing as neither the programme nor the number board ("as racecard"!) had her name down.

With the lack of runners today, it was annoying to find out that the NH chase track had been watered, but the point-to-point track hadn’t. If this hadn’t been the case, I’m sure the field sizes would have been trebled.

It was announced during racing that this was the last Point-to-Point meeting to be held at Wetherby, apparently due to the fact that the course is to lose some ground to the A1 motorway expansion and it’s a little sad to lose a course that has served the Yorkshire Area so well for the past 30 years.

Hunt Members
1. Valigan (James Tate) - FAV
Finished Alone
2 Ran

Restricted
1. Shankly (Mark Walford) - FAV
2. Broad Edge (Peter Atkinson)
3. Border Glory (John Swiers)
8l, 12l - 6m50s
6 Ran

Mens Open
1. Fornaught Alliance (Grant Tuer) - FAV
2. Stoney River (Nick Kent)
3. For Cathal (Philip Kinsella)
2l, 6l - 7m0s
5 Ran

Maiden - Division One
1. Jupiter's Fancy (Mr V. Coughlan)
2. Nathan's Hero (Richard Wakeham) - FAV
3. Scalby Croft (Andrew Pennock)
8l, 20l - 7m2s
3 Ran

Maiden - Division One
1. Trooper Collins (Grant Tuer) - FAV
2. Abinger (Michael Morley)
3. Roman Rodney (Philip Kinsella)
5l, Dist - 7m11s
4 Ran

Ladies Open
1. Colonel Blazer walked over

Intermediate
1. Buddy Girie (Philip Cornforth) - FAV
2. Gunna Be King (Michael Morley)
3 Ran