East Sussex &
Romney Marsh
Catsfield
Sunday 13th April 2008
by Simon
McInnes
As ever, it was a pleasant day at Catsfield,
but it was a shame that two efforts by the organisers to boost the
opens (refunded entry fee for runners in the Men's and double prize
money in the Ladies') were not rewarded. I suppose that in the
overall cost of keeping a horse for a year, a refunded entry fee is
just a drop in the ocean. There was one extreme oddity. The members
race attracted no less than 10 runners, the biggest line-up of the
day, and competitive as well, more or less being 3/1 the field. A
trend bucker indeed. Backing winners was easy - all you had to do
was follow what you had seen at Parham a month ago. I sadly, was
not at Parham...
Going: Soft (Heavy in places)
Race 1: Gaby Hardwicke
Solicitors Members
1: No Reward 2: Kingsun 3: Galapiat Du Mesnil
Winner owned: Mrs D Braxton, trained: Di Grissell, ridden: Matt
Braxton
With Major Jon ensuring a ferocious pace, this
race looked to be almost anyone's to claim at the halfway point,
but after the leader unseated at the fourteenth, and Tates Avenue
fell, the field suddenly became rather scattered, and No Reward
soon established a decisive lead. With untypically testing ground,
he also saw out the race better than his rivals to give Matt
Braxton a first ever winner. Kingsun gave the best chase, but had
seen enough three out and may not even have held on for second had
Glory Trail not blundered and unseated two out. This gave reason to
speculate on the nature of the human instinct for self
preservation. Charlotte Grissell ended up around the horse's neck,
and then dangling under it, as Glory Trail ambled to a halt. She
showed outstanding perseverance to stay there, even when it got to
a point that she was as near to the ground as she was going to get,
and had hit that ideal time to bite the bullet and go to ground for
the softest possible landing. Fortunately, a wily campaigner like
Glory Trail showed no inclination to jump the last. In fact, he
headed for the beer tent.
Race 2: Friar House
Antique Jewellery Restricted
1: Halcyon Times 2: Balableu
Winner owned: Mr B Belchem, trained & ridden: David
Kemp
A race of the type that is often euphemistically
described as eventful, by which we really mean chaotic. Seven lined
up, but only two finished, with consistent favourite Halcyon Times
easily disposing of Balableu, who set off last, pulled himself to
the front by the sixth, and was a spent force in the last half
mile. Jumping errors took out Lillie Lou, Prey Bird and Little
Mickey (far too keen on his first run since 2004) and Nearly Ahead
pulled up. Sounds Good, winner of a maiden at Parham but since
beaten in a Restricted, stopped at the far end of the course, and
it was unclear whether rider or horse took that decision.
Race 3: Media
Communications Ltd Men’s Open
1: Sheriff's Friend 2: Old Kilminchy
Winner owned: SP Tindall, trained & ridden: Nick
Pearce
With only two going to post, this was a non-event
as a race. The pair lobbed round together, and when Old Kilminchy
showed signs of struggling four out, Nick Pearce kicked on and it
was all over. Verdict? Nice to see Sheriff's Friend win open number
eleven, but it did not demand too much of him.
Race 4: The Ostrich
Hotel, Robertsbridge Ladies’ Open
1: Carryonharry 2: Myson 3: Danaeve
Winner owned: Mrs H Silk and Mr RK Purkis, trained: Emma Leppard,
ridden: Cynthia Haydon
Just four went to post, and the
tricky bend after the third caused John The Mole to slip up,
leaving a trio to see out a cagey sort of race. Carryonharry kicked
ahead six from home and the other two never got back at him. Myson
ran well, and briefly threatened two out, suggesting that his
stamina should be fine on decent ground and maybe OK on soft. After
his defeat of Honourable Spider, Danaeve reverted to the more
enigmatic style that he demonstrated earlier in the season.
Race 5: Batcheller
Thacker Intermediate
1: Merry Vic 2: Magic Of Sydney 3: Magnus Veritas
Winner owned & trained: Mrs CM Gorman, ridden: Marcus
Gorman
This was the performance of the day, from a six
year old who looks set to make a big name for himself in the coming
years. The field of six was full of known quantities, mostly who
were justified in being at this level, and the money came for hat
trick seeking Glenbower Woods. But they who dared to plunge had not
reckoned on Merry Vic, who won this by a country mile. He had
beaten Nathos a reputed 80 lengths at Parham in a confined, and
this distance could not have been much different. Magic Of Sydney,
the early pace setter, but not the most convincing jumper, held on
for second, from the consistent Magnus Veritas. Glenbower Woods was
pulled up four out, to spare him the morale sapping sight of Merry
Vic disappearing into the far horizon whilst still on the
bridle.
Race 6: Grants Cherry
Brandy Open Maiden
1: Nicobar 2: Kanga Gold 3: Master Shuil
Winner owned & trained: Nigel Hacking, ridden: Sam
Hanson
The verdict from Parham was that Nicobar had
enjoyed a bit of an educational on his racing debut, loitering in
contention to the fifteenth, then quickly eased and pulled up when
the heat was turned up. Early on he was all the rage in the
betting, but a late splurge on Master Shuil almost saw him nab
favouritism. In the race it was no contest, as Nicobar was always
travelling well and won by nearly as far as Merry Vic, a mistake at
the last being the only blemish. Newcomer Kanga Gold was as popular
in the market as a carrier of bird flu, but he stayed on for a
modest second. Master Shuil did not seem to fancy it.
Plus Points
Halcyon Times (race 2): Put in a decent effort to win the
restricted, even allowing for the self imposed problems met by the
others.
Myson (race 4): Was not a proven three miler
under Rules, but seemed to see out the trip soundly enough, just
losing out to a decent rival.
Merry Vic (race 5): Seems to get better with
every race, and at this point is more impressive working his way up
the levels than even recent area stars such as Real Value and
Honourable Spider. Dare the name 'Struggles Glory' be whispered in
comparison? Bear in mind for next season that despite looking
plenty fit enough, he was beaten on his seasonal debut, won
unexceptionally soon after and has only since then looked
invincible.
Nicobar (race 6): Had very little to beat,
but at least did not struggle to do it.
Down Arrows
Danaeve (race 4): Was always travelling worst of the three
survivors, repeatedly niggled, but looking set to tail off, he then
was staying on at the end, not beaten too far. It did appear the
work of a moody soul.
Master Shuil (race 6): Never comfy at
the back, and no amount of cajoling seemed to get him interested in
the race. He does always complete though.