Fakenham for the west Norfolk hunt point to point

West Norfolk Hunt Point to Point

A point to point with a difference, held on a professional racecourse the West Norfolk Point to Point staged six quality races in glorious early spring sunshine.

A good crowd came to watch the best of the local pointing talent. The hunt and Point to pointing offered great faculties at Fakenham Racecourse.

The first race for veteran and novice riders. Ten runners went to post with horses that have been good campaigners throughout the season.

Susquehanna River trained by Nicholas Wright ridden by Phil Bullard who on his first ever winning ride mentioned,’ It’s such a relive to get off the mark, I have has a couple of close seconds this year, and to do it here as a lot of my family are from Norfolk is great.’

Susquehanna River, Phil Bullard

The nine year old by Indian River, formally from the Nigel Twiston Davies’s yard, had been unlucky in his seasons campaign, coming close on a few occasions, and tried to throw away his chance on a couple of Occasions. Bullard mentioning at one stage he thought he was going to run out. But stuck to the task well to beat good horses such as the Jack Andrews mount Cambonnais and third place horse Kilbeg Opera.

The horse ridden very handy throughout the race, bought the Oxford university first year student home in fine style, the first of many he hopes. 

Moving on from the novice ride came the winner of the next. 

The Admiral Benbow ridden by Dicky Collinson. A rider who this season has had tremendous success with a number of high quality pointers.

The Point to Point owners and riders association members’ conditions race saw the eleven year old

 Out of the yard of Andrew Pennock come out from his run at High Easter eight days back in fine style. Third on that day, the horse looked very fresh as he beat Love Manhattan and Kriss William.

 ‘I had to push him along a bit,’ mentioned Collinson. ‘But he is a tough sort, Andrew (Pennock) has always liked him, he’s been unlucky on a few occasions so it’s good to win on him now.’

Admiral Benbow ridden by Dicky Collinson

The Collinson-Pennock combination made it quick double as Counting stars duly won the next race, The Subaru Restricted beating Royal Benefit in fine style. 

Counting stars, R. Collinson

Again a quick turnaround for the Andrew Pennock charge, running third to Ignite the light at High Easter the previous weekend.

Counting Stars, like The Admiral Benbow looked a picture of health in the enclosures, which shows the trainer has his horse well at present.

‘This is such a class horse,’ mentioned Dicky Collinson.’ Everything about him just oozes quality; sitting on him I though he was the best horse in the Pennock yard, he is such a thrill to ride.’

A horse that needs a sympathetic ride has been unlucky not have had more wins under his seven year old belt, Collinson accepting his part in that mention that a less aggressive ride would of resulted in a different outcome in some of his defeats. 

But at seven the bay gelding by Morozov is one to watch for in seasons to come.

Counting Stars winning the Subaru Restricted at Fakenham

The  dual crusaders may have though a quick treble was on the card as in the Men’s open the impressive Galros Lady went to post with only four others to beat.

Galros Lady

The six year old mare with five wins under her belt this season stepped up in class to open races and looked in trouble from a long way out. Collinson having to set about her coming past the stands to stay in contention. ‘I thought when I had to get after her I was in trouble to be fair.’ The mare finishing second to a horse that is no slouch himself. 

Master Workman out of the David Kemp Yard and ridden by Sam Davies-Thomas pulled away from the remaining runners before the last to take the race in fine style. ‘I always though we could have the beating of Galros,’ mentioned the jockey who with the win went joint second in the jockeys championship. 

Master Workman,   Sam Davies-Thomas

Master Workman giving the second placed Galros lady a stone in weight seems to have found his form as the season progressed, only running eight days back at High Easter when second to Decade Player a horse Davies-Thomas thinks highly of.

The trainer David Kemp as with Andrew Pennock, knows how to get racehorses fit and happy, and goes to show the amount of top quality amateur trainers we have throughout the country. 

‘Both David and Andrew would have a very similar type of training ethos,’ mentioned Sam.

Master Workman,  winning the Men's Open

Collinson on the second placed Galros lady thought she felt very lack luster in her race, and had a hard enough season so far. 

She didn’t really handle the going as well as she had been doing in previous races and looks like we may have seen the last of this quality six year old for the season.

The ladies open again a small field of only three went to post. Caulkin hoping to make it four wins at Fakenham was beaten by the ten year old Bay to go, ridden by Louise Turner and trained by Laura Horsfall. 

The dual Hunter chase winner seemed to approve of the going around the sharp left handed tack and won the race with ease from his challengers. Vulcan Surprise in second and Caulkin in third. ‘ I’ve struggled a bit to hold him  today, we agreed on going a steady pace, but he was just too strong, by the final lap I’ve just said to him to go on and he has done the rest. He’s an old pro really and really done it well.’

All three horses in the race seemed to be nice types and would not disgrace any winner’s enclosure so it was made all the sweeter for the Moscow Society gelding to come home in such good fashion, Louise mentioned that was he third win of the season, and hopes to get a few more before the seasons out.

Bay to go, ridden by Louise Turner winner of the Ladies Open

 On the day of her third win of the season, Dicky Collinson was striving to get his third win of the day. 

Riding Mister Serious a seven year old by Kalanisi who has had a string of second placed runs throughout the season, being the bridesmaid for his maiden race enough times,with a positive ride from the jockey in form took his maiden race in fine style beating John Ibbots Cresta Run in second and Dale Peters Max O in third.

Mister Serious, Dicky Collinson on his way for his third winner of the day

The jockey mentioned that in the early part of the season the horse never seemed to be going,today something clicked and he seemed to take his race never moving out of first gear. ‘

If he can win like that in his maiden on soft ground, his restricted and intermediate in better ground should be no problem.’ Both Jockey and trainer after racing seemed in deep conversation regarding the form of the horse, and rest assures a careful and constructed plan for his progression will be planned.

Mister Serious, Dicky Collinson

One to watch and see I feel, Dicky was sure to tell me that the horse has a lot of maturing to do at home as well as on the course. If he remains in the Pennock stable for next season, he would maybe turn out to be a strong contender.

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