REVIEW
SOUTH SHROPSHIRE
EYTON ON SEVERN
MONDAY 3 MAY
2004
by Arthur Shone

The South Shropshire meeting between the flags at Eyton On Severn produced an excellent days racing which was dominated by the Shropshire rider Richard Burton. The current National and Area point-to-point champion completed a four timer at the Shropshire course, which will have pleased his mother Judy, who is the South Shropshire Hunt secretary.

Burton completed the first leg on Indian Wings in the Members. The Commanche Run gelding was never extended in beating Oneandthreequarters by 4 lengths. The winner is owned by well-known owner David Smith from Worthen and trained by his son in law Willie Bryan also at Worthen. Smith was the former chairman of the South Shropshire Hunt Committee for many years and is still a very active member, feels his horse will be better still under rules. He said, ”He is a super jumper and we feel that he would be much better going hunter chasing on good ground at a really good galloping speed. We think that two and a half miles would be his best trip as he does not seem to get three miles.”

Hot Toddy provided the second leg in the Mens’ Open when getting the better of Raconteur and David Greenaway by a couple of lengths on the run in. Guy Landau trains the winner at Frome for Gloucester based owner Hannah Hinkley, whose mother Jane Thornton from Bridgenorth has enjoyed many successes as an owner over the years. Landau said afterwards that his charge was better suited by pace and that he would run next in a Novice hunter chase at Stratford.

Burton completed the treble in the Confined on Pristeen Spy where he faced only one other opponent, Double Rich, who he beat easily by 6 lengths. It was a pathetic turn out for the race especially when you consider that the clerk of the course John Beddoes once again had the course spot on for racing. I bet deep down Beddoes was fuming at a match. The winner was trained at Hadnall by Sheila Crow, who is on target for her best ever season.

Reflected Glory, trained by Caroline Robinson, provided Burton with the four timer in the two and a half mile maiden. Going into this meeting, Burton was one winner behind Ashley Farrant and at the end of the day on the 39-winner mark he goes two clear.

It will be a day that 28 year old rider Joanne Perry from Shrewsbury will treasure for the rest of her life, following her first ever winner in the saddle aboard Corky Browne in the three mile Open Maiden. She got the better of Ben Shaw on the Gordie Edwards trained Benbow, the well-backed jolly, by 5 lengths. The runner up pulls himself up in front and idles and it was therefore surprising to see him up with the pace for most of the race, as I know Gordie feels his charge is better held up for a run, but that’s racing! Joanne only has the one horse at home, which isn’t a bad strike rate.

Enville rider Jane Williams recorded her 13th winner of the season on the aptly named Stretching, beating Jackie Jarvis under Katherine Diggle by three lengths at the line. Dancetilyoudrop under Miss T Tellwright finished well in third. The winner is trained at Chaddesley Corbett by Jo Priest for joint owners Mel Lloyd from Shatterford and Alan Goodwin from Halesowen. Jo has 5 horses in her yard and this was her 5th winner of the season, which isn’t a bad strike rate at all.

Welshpool trainer Phil Jones, who is also the secretary of the Tanatside Hunt, regards Eyton On Severn as his manor and he usually lays out a horse to win a race at the Shropshire venue and it was no exception following Shraden Editions’ win in the Restricted under David Barlow. The homebred gelding won with a bit more in hand than the 3 length margin over Sabena Canyon would suggest. The winner is owned by members of the Everall family, Bridget, the wife of our area chairman Roger, Phil Jones, trainer and son in law, Barry Davies, brother in law and his daughter Sarah Smith. This was a decent race that went ahead bang on the button with 18 runners, the maximum allowed.