BANK HOLIDAY MONDAY AT HACKWOOD PARK

With a multitude of point to point meetings on during the Easter Bank Holiday, Hackwood Park hosted the Vine and Craven point to Point.

A 9.30 inspection after the arrival and departure of Storm Katie during the night, the course was deemed fit to race.

The going classed as soft, but made for tacky,holding ground for the handful of competitors during the afternoon. Horses finish very tired as races made to start at a good pace, but staying power was certainly needed towards the end of the race.

Guy Levinson on Premier Portrait

The first race, a countryside alliance member’s race saw six to post. Plenty of impressive entrants that have shown their worth throughout the season. Shantou Breeze, Carrigkerry and the eventual winner Premier Portrait, who showed impressive style by winning with lengths to spare.

Young Jockey Guy Levinson, who still at school has had now five consistent wins out of the nine year old by Portrait Gallery showed that with each win he becomes more confident in the saddle.

 ‘He’s been a terrific start for me and the family. I’m so lucky to be on board, we got a bit tight for room around the bend, but he went through the ground well and took me up the towards the line.’ The young jockey who comes across as a serious, professional person when he describes what he has done,

’ we have another nice horse at home also that will go very well, so all is looking good at the present.’

Premier portrait beats Terra Bleu and Shantou Breeze

The horse again at the top of proceedings in the case for leading horse of the season may have to step up in competition to raise his pointing rating from that of just 100, but surly has done nothing wrong so far, nor his jockey to impress the pointing followers.

Premier Portrait

The second race of the day, and the furthest was the 3m 3f ladies open. Three times around the Hackwood Park left handed track took five runners in a race that need staying power.

And that was the case for the 2011 Hennessy Gold cup winner Carruthers, now at thirteen years of age outstayed his challengers to romp home by a distance. 

Carruthers ridden by Laura Bradstock

This firm family favourite for the Bradstock/Oaksey family seemed to still love the game and bring home young Laura Bradstock granddaughter of the late Lord Oaksey for her first ever winner.

 ‘That was fantastic,’ mentioned the emotional and exuberant young jockey. ‘He jumped so well for me and went through the ground so well. We wanted to bring him here for this longer distance race that would suit him rather than any other meeting today, but I’m so glad it’s paid off.’ 

The horse now would have to be looked at to find more staying long distance races, a hunter chase at Cheltenham not out of the question. But this veteran of the field still looks like he has what it takes, but like his racing days form still looks like one you would have to be cautious of as he dips in and out of good form as it suits.

Carruthers

But that would not matter to the firm member of the Bradstock family, who like them the Hackwood Park followers reveled in his victory.

Mum Sarah Bradstock proud of daughter and horse

Unlike the longer distance ladies open, the men’s equivalent was over the shorter distance of        2m 4 f.

Six going to post, and another veteran fourteen year old Working Title Owned by Paul Drinkwater, Trained by Samuel Drinkwater and ridden by John Drinkwater romped home by a distance from second placed local horse Moscow Blaze.

Working Title

This veteran whose form of late has not been great since his win a Weybridge in December seemed to relish the course and going and from three out took on and suppressed his opponents who had no answer to the winners aggressive staying power.

 ‘ We are very please for him, he went through the ground well and jumped well also, and with the ground on the turn slightly at the moment it’s probably the best sort of going for him. He wouldn’t want it much firmer, so we’ll have to see where he goes next.’ Mentions the jockey whose form himself has not quite picked up in comparison to the season before. ‘It’s been a bit quite for me for sure, but now we can get the better ground, hopefully things will start to pick up.’

The Drinkwaters and Working Title

Again like the winner of the ladies open. This winner could step up in class, but with his form in and out may need to be watched, but don’t be surprised if coming out of this race we will see this son of Oscar turning out in quick time to grab another race victory.

Working Title and John Drinkwater

The open maiden saw only four take to the course, two of which only showing any true form as of yet. Leading Novice rider Jack Andrews mount Quick Oats. And the mount of Guy Disney Dan’s wee man.

Dans Wee Man Guy Disney

It was Guy Disney that took the race by the scruff of the neck from the off to take the seven year old by Kayaf Tara into a commanding lead. This aggressive tactic certainly paid off as the Sarah Stafford charge picked off his opponents one by one to be the only horse to make it past the finish line. 

‘We knew he’d stay, so that was not a surprise, and he didn’t seem to mind the going and he loves the course.’ Mentioned the ex Light Dragoons officer who can claim for himself a job well done, after getting his riding licence back after a injury in the field in Afghanistan left him with a prosthetic leg. This war veteran who already has been to the North Pole and back with Prince Harry.

Guy Disney wins the Open Maiden on Dans Wee Man

The horse trotting over the finish line failed to make the winner enclosure due to the fact of an injury which pulled him up a bit lame,

’ he went through one about three out which I think has made him a bit uneven, he's okay but we’ll take him home look after him and the see what’s next, but no immediate plans at present.’ 

More like if the ground turns on the firmer side we may not see this one back till next season and at only seven he has plenty of pointing ahead of him, but with four placed trips and a winners trip to the unsaddling enclosure so far this season this one s a serious contender on the softer ground next season.

The conditions race, yet another small sized field saw six run. The majority of runners with at least one trip to the winner’s enclosure so far this season, saw a good contest.

It was a winner from Godstone a few weeks back Minerfortyniner, owned and ridden by the experienced David Maxwell who again saw off the rest in spectacular fashion, beating the Tracey Bailey trained, the gunner Brady by a distance.

The jockey was very complementary about this horse at Godstone, and again feels this is a very nice horse. At only seven years old this consistent gelding looks to be promising material, and I’m sure with the experience behind him will be placed to maximize his potential, possibly the trickiest race he has had yet, the horse by Catcher in the rye may have turned heads in the ease he seemed to take his win.

Minerfortyniner, ridden and owned by David Maxwell winner of the conditions race.

The last race of the day confined to fillies and mares saw only four runners go to post.

This being so, the race saw the closest scrap for a finish of the day. 

Jack Andrews on board Jump to the Beat held off the challenge from David Sansom on Sun Lady from the last to complete a double for the Easter Weekend for the leading novice rider. 

Jack Andrews on Jump to the beat (left) Sun Lady, David Sansom (right)

‘It’s the first time I have sat on her today.’ Mentioned Andrews who before the Easter break has had a little lean spell from the winner’s enclosure. ‘She is a very nice sort, Clare (Hobson the trainer) said she would stay, but she also showed a little turn of foot as the other horse challenged. It’s a ride I’d like to keep.’

Jack Andrews on Jump to the beat, winner of the confined fillies and mare race

At only six the filly by Beat All,showed maybe she would be a type that would collect a few more wins in the back stages of the season, and one for the note books I think. 

And with the challenge for the novice riders title Jack would surely want to be getting this one home again to keep of the rest of the baying novices behind him. As Jack mentioned there was still a lot of the season to go so nothing is done and dusted yet.

Okay, not a great deal of runners for the afternoon. But quality none the less. Big story lines in Carruthers and Guy Disney’s win on Dans Wee Man. And notable horses in the last winner Jump to the Beat and Minerfortyniner. Not bad for a small racecourse in Hampshire with a lot of heart, coloured race cards and what I cold see fantastic car park picnics............

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ONCE, TWICE, FIVE TIMES A LADY AT THE FINAL HORSEHEATH 2016

Some would say only 29 horses declared on a six race card point to pointing disappointing. 

But the facts of the matter are that over the Easter period a whole heap of pointing fixtures are available, this did not I feel detract from the final meeting this season from Horseheath.

The card saw close finishes, dead heats and a five timer. What more could you ask for.

The first race, a member’s race saw four horses to post, two horses in their own right, Ballyboker Boy and Tommy O’Dwyer who have been running in quality events since the seasons dawn.     Baltic Blue an improving sort, in running over the past few outings.

Tommy O’Dwyer, ridden by Alex Ferguson and trained by Nicolas Wright started the proceedings off with a neck victory over the improving Baltic blue ridden by Clare Williamson, the recipient of the first female member of the Horseheath Hunts club over the line, and pick up the Royal Hunt salver.

Clare Williamson

Both horses fought bravely to the line from the last, keeping the good sized Easter crowd on their toes, basting them for the rest of the meeting.

Tommy O'Dwyer (farside) Baltic Blue (nearside)

Tommy O’Dwyer, incidentally by Milan who is well clear of others for the leading stallion crown.

Tommy O'Dwyer Alex Ferguson

Floreat Tim Domworthy

The open maiden was won impressively by nine year old Floreat also by Milan.

Ridden by  Tim Domworthy and trained  By James Owen. The gelding who has not been out of the first three all season won the race with lengths to spare from second placed horse Know more Oats from the well in form yard of Ed Turner. 

The Jockey who is pupil assistant to William Haggas in Newmarket seemed very happy with the win, especially with a local horse on a local track.

Floreat

The third race a six runner ladies open saw Popaway, trained by Pauline Harkin and ridden by Immy Robinson take another runaway victory. Again beating an Ed Turner trained horse in Sa Kaldoun.

Popaway

The eleven year old mare by Nomadic Way backed up her February victory by seven lengths at Thorpe Park, and impressive third at the Garthorpe with this victory, with the ground now on the turn this could be a sign that the mare could go on to pick up a few more races at the back end of the season.

Popaway Immy Robinson

The Men’s open saw horses that had previously been out at Ampton two weeks back. 

Empire Builder, trained by Gerald Bailey and ridden by Gerald Greenock took to post the 2/1 on fav and supported the trust on the rails by duly running up a distance winner from the two horses in second place that could not be split by the judges. Defying Gravity and Carlanstown.

Second placed dead heat Carlanstown(nearside) Defying Gravity (farside)

The winner owned by Countess Cathcart had been waiting for the ground and showed that his respectable fourth last time out here at Horseheath to the Cheltenham Foxhunter runner Mr Mercurial had not been in vain. Owners and trainers were delighted and may run this gelding sooner rather than later in order to utilize the surface he desires.

Countess Cathcart with  Gerald Greenock and Empire Builder

The intermediate race saw the four time winner this season and leading point to point mare Galros Lady take on three other contenders.

 Abbeyview though, ridden by Paddy Gerety going to post as Favorite.

Galros Lady

The race was run at a fair pace and it was not until two out that Dicky Collinson sent his mare out to challenge for the lead.

7/1 shot Blue Benny and the Favorite Abbeyview going with her it took all her heart to keep off the rest and on the run in pull away from her two rivals by a length and a half.

‘This is the best horse I have sat on’ mentioned the emotional Collinson, who could not hide his delight for the mare and her owners. The two farmer and  butcher partnership.

 At only six years old she has a vast future ahead of her in pointing. Surely know connections would try her in the hunter chase field, Stratford and Fontwell being two meetings that could attracted their attention. But the shrewd backers at Horseheath were surely on the 5/4 price given for this mare with a big heart.

Galros Lady R. Collinson on board   

I think this mare that is the most versatile horse I have seen in a time, winning on left and right-handed tracks. On stiff and galloping tracks and most types of going. At six years of age she shows she has what it takes. What next?? The story continues.........

Galros Lady with owners The two farmers and a Butcher Partnership and Dicky Collinson

The start of the day’s proceedings was taken by a close to the line finish. And it was only correct the final race of the day followed suit.

Six runners to post, the favourite Bengo ridden by in form jockey Alex Ferguson trying back up the maiden win last time out over course and distance,the second placed horse in that race Ballalough winning a race at Bradfield soon after. 

But halfway into the race you could clearly see that the favourite was not happy and Ferguson having to push the horse into any sort of contention. ‘He just was never going or wanting to take part,’ mention the bemused jockey.

This left My Alfie and Rupert Stearn to take up the race with Ignite the light ridden by Alex Vaughan Jones. 

My Alfie coming out the eventual winner by a neck, beating the 2/1 priced Ignite the light.

Second place horse No 6 Ignite the light, with winner My Alfie (nearside)

The favourite pulled up from 5 fences out will have to be looked at and the battle plans re- drawn, clearly something was amiss and time will tell if we see this maiden winner out again this season.

The winner and the second may need to be looked at, dependent on the company they take on next time out as clearly there previous form shows this race was a little out of the blue. One to note I trust.

My Alfie

My Alfie with Jockey and connections

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WEST BERKSHIRE TO P.J.HOBBS MINEHEAD, A DAY BY THE SEA

Winding along the back lanes of Somerset, and with views of Minehead in the distance lies a gem of British racing. Sandhills racing stables.

Home of one P.J Hobbs, Phillip Hobbs trainer is in charge of approx  112 horses ranging from youngsters to champions.

Land owned by the crown Estate, this idyllic of settings offers the best facilities to train the race horse.

About 4 furlongs of poly-track and woodchip gallops. Portable and modern schooling facilities and a view to die for, a large a busy yard goes about it's daily work without a hint of panic or hustle.

Horses and personal seem calm relaxed and happy to be going about their work.

On the visit to view the Guvnors third lot work. Horses showed the paces of three short canters upsides. Time to recover between each burst, and a good wash after. I defy anyone to say that boredom could creep in. (saying that, the morning was a beautiful early spring morning, maybe not so much fun if rain and cold weather sweep off the coast.)

  

To cap it all, a brief meeting with the horse that has captured the racing heart, Balthazar King. Fresh from his little tumble at Cheltenham, enjoying some relax time in the field.

Balthazar King

I enjoy trips to the offices of the racing world, some yards are very workmanlike, but it's the feeling in some, that yes, work is done. But the atmosphere is calm and serine.

Thanks to all the team for making us all so welcome. I wish so many more could experience. Even the doubters in horse racing, because you just cannot say that these athletes  do not have a privileged life

WEST BERKSHIRE RACING CLUB ON A VISIT TO PHILLIP HOBBS

SANDHILL STABLES

BILBROOK

SOMERSET

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