WORCESTERSHIRE
CHADDESLEY CORBETT Saturday 16th April 2005
by "Blondie"
As promised an excellent
days racing with mainly high quality fields and according results.
A colossal crowd turned out to watch this meeting, featuring the
Lady Dudley Cup and they were not to be disappointed. The weather,
although cold, stayed dry and the course was beautifully presented
with perfect ground.
Hunt Members. 7 ran.
Winners Time: 6.46 There was a romantic start to the
day when Michael Keel proposed to his girlfriend, Charlotte Hurst,
down at the start before the race (did she say yes…???).
The race itself was the only moderate affair of the day which was
worsened by the 11 th fence departure of the favourite, Young
Whack when he was brought down by Wondering
Star’s fall. The remaining five pressed on at a average
pace before Totland Bay and Tom Weston quickened clear
after the ditch and despite Bordeline Breeze’s
efforts to challenge before three out he remained second best and
the eventual winner (Totland Bay) was soon twenty lengths clear and
despite a mistake at the penultimate finished in blissful
isolation. Mr Nabarro, generally inconsistent since his maiden and
restricted win two seasons ago, finished a further twenty lengths
behind Borderline Breeze and despite the seventeen pounds
overweight put up by the fourth jockey- Optimistic Thinker
finished in his own time to pick up fourth place. The novice Jack
Watson, who partnered Borderline Breeze, later received
the prize for the best placed Novice Rider of the day.
The Confined Race. 14
ran. Winners Time: 6.23 A fairly competitive event in
which Sam Waley-Cohen continued his great form when completing
another win. Unlucky when carried out at Guilsborough last week in
the opening stages of the race, Irilut was always going
well and despite his jockey dropping his stick before the last he
held on well to deny Suaverof by one and a half lengths.
The runner up ran a game race, flouting this seasons poor form to
hold off Heavy Weather’s late challenge. The latter
was unlucky to receive the start he did, when left fifteen lengths
behind the rest of the field and it was Richard Burton’s
skilful riding which got his mount there to challenge only to be
denied by no more than three lengths. Paymaster, who
showed so much promise in 2003 defied his insignificant come back
run this season to finish a close fourth under Julian Pritchard.
This race was marred by Harry Dowty’s fall from Catch The
Bus, which caused him to be airlifted to hospital, but
I’m glad to report that despite concussion and some stitches,
he is fine.
The Lady Dudley Cup. 10
ran. Winners Time: 6.44 A relatively disappointing
turn out in numbers but a high quality field of ten all the same. A
delay of thirty minutes because of Harry Dowty’s injury meant
the horses were in the paddock for a good forty minutes and this
took its toll on Quality First who was reluctant to go to
post and after a few messy attempts to start refused to cooperate
completely and Richard Burton was left watching the rest of the
field make their way to the first without him. Likewise, Little
Ora suffered from the delays at post and he too was reluctant,
jumping off fifteen lengths behind the field, he had to play catch
up for the rest of the race and was never better than 10 lengths
last. Despite the early departures the race proved gripping in its
own way: Derringtogether Yank, set a decent pace up front
under Dave Mansell with the remaining field tucked in three lengths
behind him with most eyes fixed on the whipper in of this pack-
Caught At Dawn. After Caught At Dawn’s
imposing run at Aintree most were confident that he and his young
jockey could win this meeting’s feature race for the second
year running. However, this was not to be- his jumping was never
fluent and despite some progress after the ditch on the second
circuit, this came to nothing and he was well behind when he pulled
up three from home. A disappointing performance after such an
inspiring last run, yet the Aintree fences often do not leave a
horse unchanged- for better or worse- and one must ask whether the
previous weeks exertions inspired Caught At Dawn’s
sub-standard run. Just Cliquot’s run however was
anything but sub standard and the Gunner B mare was always
travelling strongly. Tucked in behind the leaders she made stealthy
headway on the outside to out-jump the then-leader Merry
Path three out and despite a very game battle with the latter
right up to the line, she found extra after the last and held on
well under Gary Hanmer. The runner up ran a game race but simply
had nothing else to give and remained twenty lengths clear of the
long-time leader Derringtogether Yank and
Galway.
Ladies Open. 9 ran.
Winners Time: 6.50 Only nine went to post in this
extended three miles event but there was already a strong battle on
paper between Upton Adventure and Nick Shutt’s
Golf Agent who have clashed in three previous races. The
mare has come out on top twice, Golf Agent: once.
By the fifth fence Henry Henbit and Welburn Boy
were soon behind so the field was effectively down to seven .
Upton Adventure disputed the lead at a more than moderate
pace with Polo Pony under Reanna Lobley and the chasing
pack could have been covered by the proverbial handkerchief. Always
prominent, Golf Agent cruised through to threaten the long
time leader Upton Adventure at the 16 th and the pair were
soon twenty five lengths clear of their nearest rival. A length up
before the penultimate Upton Adventure looked the winner,
a length up going to the last would it be Golf Agent? The
pair battled it out, neck and neck- in a most thrilling finish
where neither deserved to lose until Golf Agent, under
Rachel Reynolds, found extra- just twenty five yards from the line
and the one and a half length distance separating them does not do
last year’s leading mare justice. In their private battle on
paper: Golf Agent- 2, Upton Adventure 2. Greenwich plugged
on into third a few lengths ahead of Darien, under Hannah
Watson who enjoyed her second ever winner just last weekend.
Darien, running in only his second race over fences has
undergone a wind operation since his less than threatening debut at
Brokelsby Park on March 20, and despite finishing a toiling fourth
in this company should not struggle to win at least a maiden if his
sights are lowered in future.
The Restricted. 14 ran.
Winners Time: 6.18 A decent event in which we saw the
long time leader Tender Tangle’s sight of the
winners enclosure snatched from him before the last by the fast
finishing Springbrook Girl, under Adrian Wintle who defied
a poor last run to hold off the runner up by one and a half
lengths. The lightly raced Tender Tangle jumped well and
should not struggle to win at least a restricted. Likewise
Lance Toi, who finished third for the third time this
season deserves to find a race after his relatively consistent
efforts and if settling better shouldn’t fail to do so. The
fourth placed New Lodge Express, under Tom Weston, should
improve and could find a race in due course. The first two home, in
a quick time, showed a decisive turn of foot and finishing in a
convincing fashion should go on to win more races yet. Still only
seven, the winner still has scope for such improvement.
Members Race for
Mares Only. 10 ran. Winners Time: 6.14
Another decent contest which saw
the winner Sherwood Rose receive compensation for coming
up against the more than average, and highly thought of Classify
last week. The grey, under Micky Harris, was always travelling
strongly and stretched the field throughout the race before
quickening clear three out to come home an impressive eight lengths
clear without his jockey ever really moving. Suzie
CreamCheese- another grey, ran a promising race back in second
and it shouldn’t be long before this six year old finds
another race. Likewise, Teeton Glaive ran encouragingly
and continued her improved form this season to come home another
twelve lengths behind the second placed horse. In a fast time, the
winner has proved impressive at Siddington and Kimble and has
followed up expectations in this event, but is yet to meet any
real, proven opposition as of yet (other than Classify) and despite
her winning in the right way her next few runs will prove important
in telling her ability.
Open Maiden, Div 1. 15
ran. Winners Time: 6.28 A closely matched maiden with
no obvious winner on paper. Shambob, who eventually came
out on top was always prominent and ran on well- finding extra to
defy the promising Strolling by half a length in a tight
finish with Try to Wyn a further one and a half lengths
back in third. Not an inspiring winning time but the first two home
showed promising credentials and look to be going the right way.
The close finish searched for a turn of foot and stamina and
Shambob obliged despite his previous tendency to show a
slight lack in gears. In the future, given his eye catching late
headway Strolling should find a race of a similar standard
to this.
Open Maiden Div 2. 16
ran. Winners Time: 6.18 The big field in this race
ensured the fast pace with Crested Ollie and the well
backed Four Opinions disputing early on. The five year old
Royal Gunner, under William Hill, was always prominent and
made good headway to improve on his first run by two placings with
the favourite a battling length back in second. The latter jumped
better on this run and if this continues he should find a race
before much longer. Another eye catching performance was from
Lord Hill, a five year old by Sir Harry Lewis, he was
given a quiet but striking introduction under Richard Burton.
Although behind early on, he was patiently ridden and jumped safely
to make daunting headway after the 11 th before being pulled up
four out. Another empathetic ride by Burton and Lord Hill
should find a race soon. The winner, having come on from his debut
run at the Oakley on March 12th, won in an impressively fast time
for a maiden and given his inexperience there appears much scope
for further improvement. A promising filled maiden with appropriate
results.
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