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.
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| 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.’
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| 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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