SUNDAY GODSTONE WITH THE SOUTHDOWN & ERIDGE HUNT 10-4-16

Huntsmen and hounds of the Southdown & Eridge Hunt

In the heart of Surrey Godstone point to point paid host the Southdown and Eridge Hunt, were a good attendance and fine weather pathed the way for six high class and competitive races. One of them being the South East Grand National mixed open.

The first race an open maiden saw eleven runners to post, Gina Andrews hoping to carry on her winning streak from the last at High Easter the day before, now on board the even money favourite Fizzlestix.

But at the finish it was the ever popular colours of red and brown and David Maxwell stormed up the finishing straight beating Andrews by twenty lengths on an impressive five year old Brice Canyon.

Brice Canyon

Consistently in the winners enclosure in the geldings first three runs David mentioned that he had been running consistently below par in those outings.

’This is a proper good horse, it beats everything on the gallops at home, he’s a good jumper and we just could not understand why we haven’t won on him already, I think the ground has just come right for him today and he's shown what he could do.’ 

Maxwell mentioned how he thought this was one of his best maidens, that being high praise enough from an owner/rider who knows what is needed in a racehorse. Especially after a superb placed ride over the Aintree fences in the Foxhunters.

‘That was the best fun you could have with your clothes on, it was just a thrill.’ Talking about of course his ride in the race third placed Mendip Express.

 ‘We are off to Punchestown with him next to take on the Boldgers and on the Fringe in their own back yard.’

 David giving praise to these type races as getting better and better. 

But certainly his maidens are showing they are improving to.

Another good healthy declaration for the conditions race saw the Rose Grissell charge of Time is tickin beat the mighty team Maxwell. The ten year old by Alfora, ridden by up and coming jockey Oz Wedmore winning by ten lengths.

Oz Wedmore on Time is Tickin

Winning a restricted and placed in a Hunter chase last year, the horse has taken time to get going this season. 

Coming round the bend at Godstone the gelding looked as If he was going to get headed up the final two fences, but fighting on again the horse took over, and went away from Rob Conti and Maxwell and Black Glen Boy and Dicky Collinson.

 ‘He wore a tongue tie for the first time today and that has made all the difference.’ Mentioned the jockey who is having a very successful season so far. ‘There wouldn’t be much improvement from that run; I would say that would be one of his best contests. But we will try to get him on that ground again if we can and get another win from him before the end of the season.’ 

The young jockey not too enthused by the rest of the season mentioning his other fancied mounts are not on full form at present, but there is plenty of time yet for this up and coming to make his mark.

Winner of the Restricted.

Oz Wedmore on Time is Tickin

The third race of the day was the South east Mixed Open Grand national run over the extended distance of 3 ¾ miles.

A quality field, but racing has its way in becoming a great leveler as Louise Allan who had her first winner (as a jockey) of the season at High Easter the day before, in an emotional fashion, due to the loss of her charge Clonbanan Lad in the Foxhunters a few days before, bought home Mr Robert Clifton-Brown’s Kimora by ten lengths from the useful Hunters Lodge and Rey Nacarado.

Louise Allan on Kimora

The ten year old mare, no slouch herself winning the mares’ race at the Fontwell’s hunter chase meeting last year, was ridden with fine execution to take on the front runners from about three out, with that run she gained momentum to which the others could not match, making it easier going for the rider/trainer coming over the last. 

That was the first time I have ridden her actually in a race,’ mentioned Louise.’ I have watched her in races, and have been told to be patient with her, but when she is asked to kick and go she just flies, and that’s what she has done today.’ 

Kimora winner of the South East Grand National open

Louse mentioned they were lucky to buy the horse really, who was bought for the veteran owner Mr Robert Clifton-Brown to have some fun with. 

‘After sadly loosing one of his horses at Aintree I didn’t really want to come to the races this weekend, but I was told to get on with it, and I’m thrilled for the owner really who hasn’t had a great time of it himself this year.’

The mare know looks like she might go back to Fontwell, but with a possible penalty, if the ground stays soft a trip to Cheltenham for the Hunter Chase evening meet could be on the cards. But whatever, this weekend is what makes National Hunt racing what it is. One for you Clonbanan........

The Open maiden race saw an eight runner contest. Leading East Anglian jockey Dicky Collinson’s mount Hi Lucy Lou going to the tapes the even money favourite, showed her worth by a gutsy performance beating Eagle Harbor and Clondaw Nell by five lengths.

The eight year old Luso mare owned by the same partnership as the impressive Galros lady showed that a pair of quality racing mares is worth a lot in the racing world. 

‘I’m so please for the owners,’ mentioned the jockey. ‘It’s so nice, possibly not practical to have two quality mares in the team. This mare though has such a fast jump she just grinds her opposition into submission. When you know you have good horse under you it makes decisions easier in a race.’ 

Hi Lucy Lou  winning the open maiden at Godstone

Collinson gave praise to the trainer Andrew Pennock. ‘He trains a tough horse, not over worked, but when they work they have to do their job, some come to the races for a rest and still win, but it seems a good partnership and long may it continue.’ 

Hi Lucy Lou, in her first run for the Pennock/Collinson combination will be watched now and see how she comes out of a race before future plans are announced. 

And that the same for Galros Lady, the five times winning mare for the two farmers and a Butcher partnership has a plan yet to be disclosed, possibly Stratford but who knows, anyway it’s a fine situation to be in with a pair of mares on the table.

Hi Lucy Lou, R. Collinson on board

The penultimate race of the day a restricted Subaru race, five runners went to post.

Margot Fontane 

With her win here at Godstone five weeks back, Peter Bull’s Margot Fontane was sent off the odd's on favourite, despite having a fall at the Penhurst meet two weeks previous. 

‘When she ran here first time she didn’t really know what had hit her, so we took her to Penhurst, she knew a little more that day, a bigger field and she stepped through the open ditch fence and bough her down. Disappointing, so i dropped her out a bit today and it has done the trick.’

The small six year old mare by Tobugg beating by a distance the runner up Tinkakellyflyer and Oz Wedmore.

Peter Bull on board Margot Fontane

The veteran jockey in the changing room mentioned, ‘she never really feels like a racehorse. She hunts well and often, and bred to stay so I’m delighted on her come back, at such a young age.’

 Both wins know being at the Godstone course and in impressive fashion makes up for her size and feel. And is a young horse with a big future.

The experienced showed in Bull as at the second last he put her into the fence at an angle,’ she was wrong approaching the fence, so I put her into the fence at an angle to give her a bit more room, instead of asking her to stand off. So we’ll have to see how she comes out of the race and go from there.’

A small horse with a big future of point to pointing. A true amateur on her back in Phil Bull who will look after her and place her just right. Underline her for the future.

The last race of the day a race for veteran and novice riders went to the fore. 

Jockey Marcus Gorman on even money favourite The Crafty Butcher timed his announcement to retire from the point top point saddle just right as he bought the nine year old trained by Carolyn Gorman home by two lengths from the witches’ hat.

 ‘I’m pleased he has been challenged, he is lazy in front, in Ireland he never made the running, so a chase up has spurred him on again. We really fancied a win today, and whatever happened I was going to retire here so I’m delighted.’

Marcus Gorman on The Crafty Butcher

The jockey with 80 point to point wins to his credit, the first one being at the now closed Berkshire course of Twesledown on the late National hero Dick Saunders trained Optic Paddy, in the year Marcus aptly forgot to mention.

‘My best memory I would take with me from the saddle. Must be my ride around Aintree, apt for this weekend really but that one stands out.’

Marcus who has seen so many changes in the point to point field one of them being the lack of farmers with horses to run is delighted with his lot and a final piece of advice he could give to the young bucks in the changing room was to ‘Enjoy it, as before you know it your as old as me and retiring, so have fun while it lasts.’

Marcus Gorman, The Crafty Butcher winning the veterans and novice riders race (centre)

A fitting end to a glorious day. Throughout the country meeting have been well attended, good racing on offer. Point to point racing I feel is in good firm hands.

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