Small fields were the order of
the day for this rearranged fixture, with the final two races
shrouded in mist and the last heat not going off until just after
6.05pm. The ground was officially Good to Firm, but in several
opinions this only applied to a one hundred yard stretch in the
back straight and it was genuinely good elsewhere.
Fine Times seems to reserve his
best for Market Rasen these days and Milson Robinson’s
stalwart landed the opening Hunt Members race under Matt Mackley.
He was conceding at least seven pounds to each of his three rivals
and it was his eighth victory in total between the flags. He was
getting the better of the argument with Coonogue when that one came
down at the last. This left Hopping Mad and Mark Bennison a
distance back in second and Working Class Hero and Oliver Williams
even further in arrears in third. Coonogue was remounted by Nick
Kent to take fourth. Coonogue has pieces of form in his native
Ireland and this was a sound first display in the UK.
Six faced the starter in the
Confined, which went to Stoney River and Clive Mulhall in a close
finish that saw the first three covered by two lengths. The winner
looked a beaten third with three to jump, but a devastating turn of
foot allowed him to lead at the last and stay on well. Stoney River
had come on leaps and bounds for his seasonal reappearance at
Brocklesby Park last week. Runner-up The Graduate (Simon Walker)
was under pressure some way out. Physical Force, with Philip
Kinsella aboard, was third and is coming to hand. He has a race or
two in him. Noble Affair (Matt Mackley) was fourth.
The Ladies Open had five
competitors and a warm favourite in Strongtrooper. However, it was
Round The Bend and Louise Allan that claimed the spoils. Strength
in the saddle from his experienced pilot gained the day for Round
The Bend. He had previously shown just poor form last season and
this. The race had looked runner-up Strongtrooper’s for the
taking as he was going well within himself, but Jacqueline Coward
had the disadvantage of the outside line on the final bend. The
ten-year-old couldn’t quite reel in Round The Bend on the
run-in. Shallow River was a well beaten third for Hannah
Phizacklea. Only three finished as Left Bank was pulled up on the
home turn and Ardmayle crashed out at the third fence.
Three runners for the Mens Open
and an apparent match on paper and in the market. And so it proved
as outsider Valman hit the deck at the final ditch. Silver Streak
(Richard Armson) beat Torn Silk (Clive Mulhall) by 15 lengths.
Silver Streak has been victorious at both Market Rasen meetings in
2005, as well as decent placed efforts at Welbeck and Brocklesby
Park. It meant a double on the card for owner/trainer Milson
Robinson. Torn Silk often comes into his own later in the season
and was eased after the final fence so the winning distance was
probably a bit flattering to Silver Streak.
All known form pointed to Hunca
Munca in the nine-runner Restricted and Matt Mackley duly completed
a double on the favourite, the mare finding extra when pressed late
on. Hunca Munca was not winning out of turn as she was very
unfortunate when baulked by a loose horse before three out at
Brocklesby Park in February whilst traveling like the proverbial
good ’un. Supreme Vintage (Ben Woodhouse) in second stepped
up markedly on his Witton Castle maiden victory, going down by just
half a length. That maiden victory is working out well though with
three of the beaten horses getting off the mark since. Henry Murphy
(Laura Eddery) was a close third. He didn’t pull quite so
hard as often he has in the past and on this evidence a restricted
is within his sights. Having got outpaced, Henry Pearson and Nick
Kent stayed on again for fourth.
A supremely confident ride from
Clive Mulhall allowed Gipsy Wood to take Division One of the Maiden
cosily. The grey made smooth progress to lead at the last and
simply had to be pushed out to score. A slipping saddle had put
paid to her chances here in January when well-backed. Her three
opponents today were Dolly Bell (Thomas Ellis) in second, Northern
Breeze (Matt Mackley) in third and Izzyzzenty (Oliver Williams) in
fourth.
A real motley crew of eight
assembled themselves for Division Two of the Maiden and the hope
was that one of the three newcomers might have enough immediate
talent. Although she had never remotely threatened to take a hand
in a finish previously, Milliners Guide landed the odds, getting
able assistance from the saddle by Freya Hartley. A change of rider
due to Guy Brewer being suspended and the application of blinkers
worked the oracle. The mare’s past form indicated a
worryingly high percentage of letters to numbers, although in truth
she isn’t all that bad a jumper, but the habit of one serious
blunder a race had cost her dear before. It was a welcome first
winner of the season for trainer Mary Sowersby. Second-placed
Chestnut House and Richard Armson were left behind from the
penultimate obstacle, but this was a fair first appearance. These
two were all that got round. Money in the ring for the debutant
Fair Doo went awry when he departed at the third last, however he
was already coming off the bridle at the time. Call Me A Lady and
Spot On Tom were both two lengths down on Milliners Guide, but
looking held, when they exited at the last. The time was the
slowest of the three divisions.
Six lined up for Division Three
of the Maiden and it was again low grade stuff. Prioritisation was
placed well by trainer/rider Ben Woodhouse to get his head in
front, pulling clear in the final quarter mile. On his three starts
last season, two of which were in the west country, there
wasn’t a lot to recommend him and his visit to Dalton Park
earlier in the month had hardly been any better. Bellefleur with
Matt Mackley on top gave some faint promise in second. A distant
third of three finishers was See More Joy (Mark Bennison).