This
was my first visit to the course, and first point-to-point of the
season.
The latter provoked the usual errors, such as why puzzlement as to why my
race card was still sodden long after the drizzle had stopped - residue
running off of the hat brim being the culprit. Back to basics time!
Despite
the lack of any raised ground for viewing purposes, there is sufficient
space to afford everyone a decent sight of what went on, although had it
been colder and wetter, places of durable shelter from the elements seem
thin on the ground and likely to be oversubscribed. The only other
negative was that the bookmakers were operating on over-rounds that would
embarrass a BAGS dog meeting. The prices on outsiders were especially
tight, and had someone fielded a three-legged donkey in an open, they
would do well to get 20/1 about its chances. As far as conditions went,
the ground seemed genuinely good, although the top was well churned up by
the end of the day, and at times it may have been a little slippery. Only
a lover of extreme goings could have had an excuse.
Friends
Growers Hunt Members
Six went to post for this, and it was a fairly competitive event at the
standard, so all in all it was less than ideal was that half the field
wore orange and black jackets, one with a black cap, one with an orange
cap and one with guess what two-colour combination? After a steady early
pace, the field gradually stretched, especially as favourite Lone Star
began to suffer the consequences of the jumping off to the right in
varying degrees. By the fourth last, it was between Castle Road and
Campbellhill, and Rachel Barrow steered the former home in a good finish,
which was not decided until half way up the run-in. Being 'out of area,'
the runner-up was unfamiliar to me, but the race card was fairly certain
that he is a non-stayer. Given that his form figures imply indifferent
jumping and a bit of a bad temper on top of that, connections must have
been delighted to manage second. A distant third was Non Plussed, who
lived up to his name over the fences to start with and got behind, but did
at least warm up a bit in the final mile.
Pegasus
Horse Shoes Men's Open
This produced an all-the-way success for recent course winner Shanavogh.
He was the form choice in the race, and set out to test his rivals. By the
fourteenth, only the small but game Jackie Jarvis was laying down a
challenge, but he was travelling conspicuously less well. That was the
finishing order, as had been the case here in mid-January. Whilst
Shanavogh is a useful performer, he is very much a known quantity on whom
enough cannot be won to revive the collapsed pension, but only just having
turned six, Jackie Jarvis is still learning, and ought to progress enough
to win an Open somewhere, perhaps sooner rather than later. Even when up
with the pace for a couple for miles, Royal Action was being out jumped,
and eventually he was left floundering by the first pair, but at least
held on for third as Avondale Illusion stayed on very belatedly. That
horse was in only his second British point, having lost his way a bit in
Ireland. This was better, but not quite exciting enough to see success
just around the corner. Borotown Lord was bang up with the leaders, but at
faded quickly after the thirteenth. One of the runners lost a shoe at that
fence, and if it was him, then there may be a legitimate excuse. Prior to
the race, Castle Arrow appeared to have place claims, but he ran a similar
race to Borotown Lord and may have been the shoeless one. Whomsoever the
lost shoe fits, shall go to the ball next time out. Possibly.
Sworders
Restricted (Div I)
This is where my race card got most battered, so the notes to which I now
refer are at best a bit ambiguous, as twenty of the twenty-three entries
lined up for one division or the other and in some places it is not clear
which division the horse raced in or which horse the note refers to. What
is certain is that Star Glow won this quite easily, after being niggled at
halfway round. He had shown promise in previous seasons, but not managed
to win until the last meeting here. Chasing him home was Itsmyturnnow, for
whom it was in his last race, but not this one. If Star Glow has improved
a bit in the close season (as looks likely), then this defeat was no
disgrace. Third place went to Run Monty, who is starting to look a
consistent each-way prospect. The remaining runners were well adrift,
including Surprisedly Gifted, who weakened alarmingly after five out and
eventually pulled up. He seems a lacking in stamina, and the most
suprisedly thing must have been his maiden win.
Sworders
Restricted (Div II)
The pace setter in this was Round The Bend, whose career strike rate is
quite poor. However, a recent close fourth in an Open appeared to give him
a golden opportunity if that effort could be repeated. Many opponents
decided that it may well not, and settled towards the rear. For
Crackrattle, who was still last at halfway, this approach worked, as he
and Round The Bend had a ding-dong battle over the last three, and Nigel
Pearce just got Crackrattle home ahead of the long-time leader. Naughty
Dandy, whose form hardly inspires great, in fact any, confidence, managed
third, ahead of Namron, for whom the hold-up tactics were less than
ideally effective. They overtook Henry Henbit in the home straight. That
individual tried hard to keep tabs on Round The Bend, but weakened four
out. He looked as if he would be much better for the race.
EFG
Private Bank Ladies Open
Jumping off in front, Bitofamixup made all the running under Jenny Gordon
(nee Grant) and eventually won quite comfortably. Zoe Turner was content
to bide her time a few lengths behind on Celtic Duke, but when an effort
was required, Celtic Duke had insufficient in reserve to lay down a
challenge. The victor has never wanted for inconsistency, and apparently
threw a total tantrum last time, so whether he will turn out in such a
co-operative frame of mind next time is anyone's guess. One thing it did
confirm was previous indications that Mike Roberts' string is in much
better form this term. The other two runners accepted early on that they
were duelling for second, and Man Of Steele was gaining the upper hand
when Silk Vestments fell four or five out - they were so far behind
Bitofamixup that the incident occurred out of
the line of sight for anyone following the leading pair. The
suspense came when Man Of Steele tried to demolish the third last,
provoking a good recovery from Olivia Maylam.
Countryside
Alliance Club Members
Eleven went to post, and it was not the worst race in terms of quality
either. Spread over this season and the last Endeavour had won three in a
row, and a smooth performance maintained the sequence. He moved to the
fore at the eleventh, and repelled all challengers from then on, probably
with a bit more up his sleeve should it have been required. The most
serious threat had been from Gatchou Mans, who was upsides when tipping up
at the last fence. The pair had half a length on Rustic Revelry, who
looked set for a while to give Philip York a double, but found least of
the three when the chips were down. Of the Rules refugees in this, Top
Note had the best form, but it was four years ago and he ran quite flat
(ha!) here, although such a sharp track (double ha!) is not ideal for him.
Country
Store Open Maiden
Only three finished this, and after a few casualties early on, many gave
up the ghost with a lap to go. Those that completed provided an epic
spectacle for the crowd, with the distances given as a length and a
length. That appeared to flatter Charlie's Angel, who was upside Game On
at the last and got away from that fence more slowly. She stuck to the
task resolutely, as Return The Call was also closing the gap from third
all the time. On face value, the form in winning this does not look
anything special, but Charlie's Angel was making her debut and was very
green in the parade ring - frustratingly, just nervy enough to dissuade me
from backing her! There was little sign of inexperience during the race,
but it is fair to assume she can improve on what was shown - although she
was not wanting for fitness in the least. Additionally, Return The Call is
only six and having his third ever race, so still may prove capable - or
not. Irish runner-up Asthefellowsaid also seemed ready for his seasonal
debut and is the compact, smallish type suited by sharp bends such as
these, but he pulled up going into the back straight. He was immediately
dismounted, so it may not have been lack of ability that was the problem.
At the third last, Captive came to grief when still in second place, but
he did look to be tiring at the time. Under Rules, he mostly ran at two
miles, but suggesting further would suit. Whether as much as three miles
is the answer remains doubtful. |