REVIEW
CHESHIRE FOREST
TABLEY
SUNDAY 4 APRIL
by Arthur Shone

"BURTON TAKES CENTRE STAGE"

Driving rain had an impact on the crowd yesterday. It was well down on previous years. This was despite Richard and Carrie Ford from Tarporley parading their respective Aintree Foxhunters winners at the course.

Richard was with Rolling Ball, who was trained locally by Steve Brookshaw and won the 1996 race. Carrie had her 2004 winner, Forest Gunner, on display. It’s amazing to think that she came out retirement eight weeks after having her baby daughter, Hannah, to ride the winner of this year’s race.

One man who did not mind the rain was Shropshire rider Richard Burton, who completed a treble to take his tally to 23 for the season, which halved Ashley Farrant’s lead in the National Riders Title to only 3.

Burton landed the first leg on Indian Wings in the Confined, beating Mister Moss readily by two and a half lengths. The winner is owned by David Smith and trained by his son in law Willie Bryan at Worthen. Indian Wings was a notable landmark for Burton as it was his 150th winner between the flags.

The second leg came in the Restricted with Karinga Lane who had too much toe for Lima Brava winning a shade cosily by 8 lengths with Spizzichino. One has to spare a thought for Much Wenloch rider Will Hill who would have ridden these two winners, but is out injured after a bad fall at Brampton Bryan a fortnight ago. The Karinga Bay gelding is trained at Chaddlesley Corbett by Jo Priest for owner Oliver Davies from Billingley, near Bridgenorth. Karinga Lane was following up his impressive Maiden win at The Tanatside meeting at Eyton last month and is clearly on the upgrade.

Hadnall trainer Sheila Crow provided Burton with the third leg of his treble on Best Accolade in the Open Maiden (for 5,6 &7yrolds), beating Benbow under Ben Shaw by 7 lengths with Jump For Joy a similar distance back in third. Burton came from another county to catch the runner up, who is trained by Crow’s brother Gordie Edwards at Shrewsbury. The winner is owned by Shrewsbury electrician Dave Rodgers, who also has Wise Prince in training at Hadnall. Sheila has always thought very highly of the winner, she said, ”He’s a nice horse and he is home bred out of our mare Maid Of Talent, who won at Eaton Hall as a five old with Alistair (Crow). I said to Dave (Rodgers) at the start of the season that he would definitely win races for him. He’ll come on for this race and I can see him winning a few more races.”

Worleston trainer and rider Gary Hanmer rarely leaves his local track empty handed. On Sunday he completed a double on the old boy Analystic, who won the Members race again and with Prominent in the Mens Open. Both winners were owned by the Hankey family and trained by Hanmer. Rob Hankey is the clerk of the course at Tabley.

Richard Froggatt, who is the clerk of the course at Meynell & South Staffs also had a winner at the course with Ridware Pride, who won the Open Maiden under Sue Sharratt.