Further
tinkering with the course layout has improved viewing further.
Now only the
paddock and bookies are inside the course, with all activity on
the outside of the
home straight. As a consequence, it is easily possible
to find a point in
the middle of the track where all fences are visible,
and with a bit more
walking all the low points of the undulations as well.
The official going was firm, despite watering, and that seemed to
thin out the
healthy entries quite considerably, there were twenty-five runners
in total on the
day. However, the racing surface was green and even, and
much worse
conditions have been encountered.
Fynmores Hunt Race
Six went to post and they gradually split into pairs, of which only
the leading one
finished. The prize was taken by Galeaway who predictably
had too much toe
for Commasarris over the last five fences. The pace
was moderate, and
Commasarris would have needed to force a much stronger one
if his Achilles
heel of searing lack of speed was going to be overcome.
Jojo was making his
seasonal reappearance, and decided as early as the third
that he preferred
the state of rest he had been enjoying.
Gaby Hardwicke Solictors
Restricted Race
Only two runners, but having set off at a slow canter, they both
were in contention
two out and Scotch Bob, with David Dunsdon on board, was
quicker over the
last couple of furlongs than Carlton Brae and Philip Hall.
The runners-up look
to have more stamina, and could easily turn the form
around if in a
bigger field. Connections of Carlton Brae must have realised that
it was not their
day when they lost the best turned out prize to a
horse swathed in
rugs. Even when the rugs came off were removed, Carlton
Brae looked the
obvious pick.
An interesting aside on the nature of bookmaking.
Most were offering winning margin
and forecast bets to vary from the stagnant win market, but why bother (as one
did) even bothering to price up the win at 1/2 and Evens? Especially as a
more realistic 1/2 and 6/4 was available two boards away, and even 4/7 and
11/8 further down the line.
Calcutt Maclean Standen Men's
Open
A comfortable success for Ballinure Boy, who looked a step ahead of
his three opponents
on form, even allowing for the possible limitations
of recent victims.
He did not hit the front until three out, but was clear
and in unflustered
control by the next, giving Andrew Hickman a winning
comeback from
injury. In second place, Supreme Irony was no more than best of
the rest, but he
stuck to his task well considering that he was niggled
on several
occasions along the way. Pampered Gale was again lacklustre
in third. Last was
Brackenheath, who is experimenting with a new
approach. Instead
of thumping every fence along the way, he now prefers to
jump soundly until
about halfway but then give one (this time the twelfth)
and earthshaking
wallop. An interesting ride for Philip Hall to say the
least.
Farm World Ladies' Open
With a small field and things allowed to go his way, outsider of
three Bitofamixup
consented to put his best foot forward and ran away from
Spring Gale in the
latter stages. Storm Castle was not too far behind in third,
but he was always
jumping left and working to keep up with his rivals, and
never gave
supporters much cause for optimism. In a rare occurrence,
Bitofamixup's win
saw two full brothers triumph on the same card, following on
from Galeaway's
hunt race win. Backing up the point from the restricted, one bookmaker wasted
his energy pricing
up the race 1/2, evens and 5/1, when a typical show from
other boards was
4/6, 6/4 and 6/1.
Powdermills Hotel and Orangery
Restaurant Confined Race
This was a nightmare event from the betting point of view, as it
was nigh on impossible to have confidence in any of the six runners, any
encouraging form
figures have been acquired in races of dubious merit. It produced
an exciting finish,
as Gypsy Gerry, ridden by Zoe Lilly, kicked clear
after three out and
then held on in a desperate finish from rallying
veteran Graphic
Designer, whose mistake at the thirteenth may have made
the difference in
the result. The inconsistent Sean's Minstrel ran better
than in his last
race, but less zippily than in his earlier confined win, so
who knows which
Minstrel may turn up on any given occasion. Legal Storm
repeated his effort
of last week with a bad blunder that provoked an
outstanding recovery from Tim Underwood. Unlike last week, there was no
counter-attack from
the horse, and they eventually pulled up. The bizarre incident of
the day came when
White Smoke unseated Richard Ross at the thirteenth in
a manner that even
forced the commentator to concede a chuckle. What
appeared to happen
was that the horse faltered as he approached the fence,
rider tried to
anticipate a refusal, horse then carried on, rider
consequently fell
off before the fence, which horse then jumped in exemplary
fashion. White
Smoke's recollection of events would be
interesting.
Grants Cherry Brandy Open
Maiden Race
The booking that caught the eye was Chris Gordon on serial
non-completer Going
Primitive. At the age of twelve, he was not up for any improvement,
so this must have a
last throw of the dice, in that if the best jockey in
the area cannot get
him home in a very bad race, then he will never manage
it. And the theory
looked set to pay-off, as Going Primitive approached two
out with a narrow
lead but travelling better than anyone. Only for it all to
go horribly wrong
as he hit the deck with the race at his mercy. Tired
and bruised, but no
harm done. Advantage was taken by Eastern Point
(refused last
time), who has now joined the York team. Even if improving for
the move, she will
be hard pressed to win in restricted company. As a
youngster that had
shown some promise, Bob Nickel headed the market but had
his limitations
exposed in finishing third, just behind Forest Fortress,
another youngster
who seems to have some talent that is being sabotaged by
extreme mental
frailty.
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