REVIEW
LAMERTON
KILWORTHY
SATURDAY 22 MARCH 2003

by Lee Glanville

A double at their local meeting will have boosted the morale of talented trainers Tony and Pauline Geering. They took the opening hunt members’ race with Brown Chieftain – and then had to survive a stewards’ enquiry into the horse’s improvement in form on his previous run – ridden by the same jockey, Richard Darke. Darke had pulled the horse up at the Western meeting but explained to the stewards that a series of out-of-character jumping mistakes going up the hill then had made him feel that something was amiss with Brown Chieftain. The trainer could add nothing further to the explanation which was accepted.

Alex Charles Jones took the plate for the Geering’s Restricted Division Two win on board Valman in the absence of Richard Woollacott, who got the better of 1-8 favourite Kestick ridden by Tabitha Cave and trained by Mike Biddick.

Firm ground - rarely seen at Lamerton – led to small fields for the higher class races. There were only four in the Land Rover men’s Open with joint favourite Shobrooke Mill – Charles-Jones again - getting the better of the higher rated co-favourite Quickswood  (Liam Heard) by half a length.

Shobrooke Mill belongs to Sarah Prouse who almost completed a treble. Her daughter Caroline Prouse won the closing three runner Newton Abbot qualifying intermediate on Monty’s Lass but was beaten into second place, despite challenging Hasten Bak, in the Confined. Hasten Bak won comfortably but a surprise burst from Father Mansfield meant winning pilot Lucy Gardner had to shake up her mount after the last. Hasten Bak had failed to start at Buckfastleigh and Zahari took no part in this race, being slowly away and then refusing the first fence.

Only three went to post for the ladies’ open which was turned into a procession by Charlotte Stucley on Phoenix Phlyer, the pair notching up their fourth win of the campaign.

Itworked provided barrister Mark Treneer with his first win in the Confined hunts’ maiden division one, building on last week’s good run, and this was the closest finish of the day with the first three split by half a length and half a length, Liam Heard second on Solar Swing.

Tim Dennis got his first win of the season on Indiana John in the second division.

Top rider Ashley Farrant, currently out of action through injury, lent his racing gear to fellow jockey James Young, who had had all his tack stolen midweek.

Results

Members: 1, Brown Chieftain, R Darke 5-2; 2, Damien’s Pride, T Dennis; 3, Lydford Castle, L Heard. Seven ran, 3l, 10l, 6.14.

Confined Hunts Maiden Division One: 1, ItWorked, M Treneer 7-4; 2, Solar Swing, L Heard; 3, Fortlander, Miss T Cave. Nine ran, 1/2l. 1/2l, 6.22.

Division Two: 1, Indiana John, T Dennis 7-2; 2, Cut Down The Sound, Miss S Gaisford; 3, Georges Pleasure, D Edwards. Nine ran, 3l, 5l, 6.22.

Ladies’ Open: 1, Phoenix Phlyer, Miss C Stucley  1-5; 2, Ardross Gem, Miss W Southcombe; 3, Lirsleftover, Miss S Young. Three ran, 3l, 3l, 6.03.

Confined Hunts: 1, Hasten Bak, Miss L Gardner 11-4; 2, Father Mansfield, Miss C Prouse; 3, Eserie De Cores, Mrs O Jackson. Four ran, 5l, dist, 6.11.

Men’s Open: 1, Shobrooke Mill, A Charles Jones 6-4; 2, Quickswood, L Heard; 3, Tell Tale, G Maundrell. Four ran 1/2l, 7l, 6.24.

Restricted Div One: 1, Knock Star, S Partridge 5-4; 2, Bill Me Up, C Heard; 3, Ardmore, Miss A Bush. Four ran, 1/2l, 15l, 6.08.

Restricted Div Two: 1, Valman, A Charles Jones  3-1; 2, Kestick, Miss T Cave; 3, ThMoonsA Balloon, S Partridge. Eight ran, 1l, 10l, 6.14.

Newton Abbot intermediate: 1, Monty’s Lass, Miss C Prouse, 2-9; 2, Bonny  Rigg, Miss V Shaw; 3, Morris Piper, Mrs R Partridge. Three ran, 2l 15l, 6.19.