The only meeting of the year at the superb point to point
course just outside Chelmsford bought strong crowds, quality races,and the
Grand National on a big screen after the last race.
Rain held off as the locals that supported The Essex Hunt
Point to point at High Easter in its 25th year pointing watched six, timed to perfection races. At a course that offered all the facilities and possibly more of a professional
track.
All races were shown on the large screen, put in place for
the Grand National, broadcasted live to the attendee’s ten minutes after the last
race presentations had been given. Which meant all could follow the racing, and
what quality racing there was on offer.
The first race, a restricted open sponsored by Subaru who have been fantastic supporters for pointing throughout the season.
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| Ignite the light |
It was Gerald Bailey’s Ignite the light who came home the
winner to qualify for the series finale at Stratford in about a month’s time.
Ridden by Alex Vaughan-Jones the seven year old that won his maiden at
Horseheath in February, subsequently pulling up the race after. Beat the David
Kemp’s Ballalough in a time of 6m 37.
The placed horse ridden by the jockey who has had a
fantastic season Sam Davies-Thomas mentioned the yard, thinks highly of
the six year old.
Vaughan –Jones, jockey of the winner who gets married this
year mentioned ‘The horse really went well on the ground, we were looking for
races on right handed tracks really, but we have come here on a left handed
track and he’s gone on the ground well, we’re delighted.’
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| Alex Vaughan-Jones on Ignite the light
The horse that cost very little at the Doncaster sales, now
on two wins for the season looks a bright prospect for the yard and jockey.
The PPORA club member’s race over the shorter distance of 2m
4 f saw a healthy ten runners go to post, with horses that have been prominent
all season. Master Workman, Play the Ace and Weather Warning.
But it was the Dale Peters mount Decade Player, an eight
year old by Gamut who came home in front of two of these runners, Master
Workman finishing a length down in second, and Play the Ace four lengths in
third.
The jockey said’ he was fantastic today, really relaxed and
jumped well. At Dingley he was a little hyper but I’ve managed to get a
breather into him today which was good.’
The jockey as well as myself in their first visit to the track, praised how well the course was presented, making
very fair racing.
‘He’ll probably go to a two mile hunter chase, there is a two
miler at Stratford we would possibly go for, and that would suit him very
well.’ The trainer also has the horse entered in a week’s time at Southwell,
and if coming out well from the race would possibly take his chances.
Dale Peters on Decade Player
This eight year old is a hunter chaser with prospects,
Jockey and trainer very enthused by what he could be, One for the note books,
underlined.
The third race was billed to be the race of the day. The
ladies open for the Warwick Vase saw seven to post.
Local favourite Berties dream ridden by top female rider
Gina Andrews,It was me a very useful pointer in Ladies opens and Bavard Court
going to try to take the vase for the seventeenth time for the Turner family.
Bavard Court, Louise Allan and Ed Turner
In the race the early exit of it was me on his third non
finish in a row, saw the race pulled wide open. Berties Dream taking on the
field with Caulkin, Bavard Court and Little legend.
But it was the ten year old
ridden by Louise Allen who came home in front of Andrews and Berties to take the
win. Well deserved by the family who has given a lot to pointing throughout the
generations, the gelding showing consistency in his last few runs. ‘I usually
like to make the running on him,’ Mentioned the jockey who has not had the best
of weeks losing a horse in the Foxhunters at Aintree mid week. ‘So I have had
to sit behind the rest and suffer, but he has jumped well. Coming over the last
he has idled a bit really and I have had to get after him.’ The former east
Anglian champion jockey on her first win of the season seemed almost emotional
about her win. I suppose a fitting end to a week she’d rather forget.
 
Bavard Court
The intermediate saw again a quality field. Brave encounter,
Burtredgipandgump, My Alfie, Pebbleglen and the Admiral Benbow. To name but a
few went to post.
Burtredgipandgump
But it was the Nicholas Wright’s Burtredgipandgump, ridden
by Archie Wright a jockey with a better week that that of the winner of the
last, having had a dream ride around the foxhunters who came home in front of
Brave Encounter and Sam Davies –Thomas on his third second of the day,
unfortunate for the young jockey trying to cement his second place in the
champion jockeys title from the impressive Will Biddick.
Burtredgipandgump, Archie Wright (Inside) Brave Encounter, Sam Davies-Thomas (farside)
The seven year old by Blueprint resurrecting his winning
ways after a third to the impressive Lilbitluso at Cottenham in February.
Archie Wright the jockey mentioned he was a little concerned
in the ground today with the horse. ‘I was aware the ground was getting slower
as the day went on, and the fact the David Kemp's entry was a very good horse. The course is taking a bit of getting at the moment, but we really think a lot of him.’
The
jockey still on the adrenaline rush of getting a great ride around the Aintree
fences.
Burtredgipandgump, Archie Wright
And it didn’t stop there for the young amateur.
The race
after. The open maiden he steered home Virgo The first for martin Ward to beat
top local jockey Dicky Collinson in a flying finish on Mister Serious.
‘I have ridden a few for
Mr Ward, and Dicky who was on the second his his son in law, so it was good to
get the win. But both horses are very similar, big babies but both talented I
know both Mr Ward and Dicky think a lot of him.’
The instructions to both
the first and second was not to hit the front too soon, but soon after the bend
at High Easter the last comes on you very fast, and both flew neck and neck
going up the straight.
‘I really love this course, the organizers do their best
to bring the best ground and fences for us, and it’s my favourite by far.
The
horse has been bought along in the mind of his talent. 'A lot of people think a
lot of this horse.’ Mentioned the jockey.
The horse by Milan who again has a prodigy in the winners enclosure
may have one more run, but would firmly be one to watch in the east Anglian
area next season, a ride young Archie would love to keep.
Mister Serious (nearside) Virgo the First (farside)
Virgo the First
Mister Serious, R. Collinson (nearside) Virgo the First, A Wright (farside)
Dicky Collinson getting compensation for his second by
taking the trophy for leading rider of the day.
The final race, a few minutes before the big event at
Aintree, was the Essex hunt member’s race.
Gina Andrews, top of the ladies riders championship at
present Made all on the nine year old Excitable Island.
Excitable Island.
The consistent gelding by Herons Island took the four horse
race in his stride to give the talented Andrews another winner in a slow time
as predicted by the jockeys earlier in the day of 6m 48 secs. Beating Collinson
again into second place.
 
Excitable Island
Gina Andrews
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Unfortunate for the connections though the prize giving was
rushed through. The Grand National was waiting.
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