With seven races for the Kimblewick hunt point to point held
at Kingston Blount on its penultimate race meeting of the year, in glorious
early summer sunshine the crowds came out in support of some top pointing
action.
The going classed and good-good to firm, the track reported
by those who have walked the Oxfordshire course as good racing ground ample
sized fields were on hand to give the enthusiasts of the amateur racing game
something to cheer about.
Top riders in attendance, more notably Gina Andrews and
Clare Hart, who are battling hard for the ladies’ rider’s championship crown as
the season draws to a close.
The first race a restricted, saw the pace harsh as the front
runners trying to make the race a speed event thundered over the Oxfordshire
countryside.
Dicky Collinson given the all clear by doctors to ride the
day before after his fall at Whitfield a few weeks’ back got himself straight
back into contention from three fences out making his stamp on the race and try to give the slip to the eight other competitors.
But it was new boy Shane Quinlan on board Emgee, trained by
Andrew Campbell who tracked Collinson to challenge and overtake the Pennock
horse Torran Na Dtonn coming over the last.
‘I was having to get after my fella from about halfway, but
he kept going for me all the way to the line,’ mentioned the Irishman, who has
only just taken out his amateur licence. ‘I have not been here before as I only
got my licence a few weeks back, this is my fourth ride as an amateur, and my
first winner so all is going well.’
The young jockey previously conditional to Neil Mulholland
maybe new to the amateur game but is no slouch in the saddle having had fifty
rides under rules with nine trips to the winners enclosure, and should be a force to
be reckoned with as he looks forward to the new season in November were he can
take the pointing game on from the start.
The horse who was pulled up at the Cheltenham Hunter chase
meeting in April, but a winner at Lockinge looks like he maybe one for the note
books as he runs at meetings on fast ground towards the end of the season.
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| Shane Quinlan on board Emgee |
Clare Hart took the next race, the conditions event on a
horse owned by her parents and trained by herself.
Kazuri Kate battled hard
from the home turn to challenge and overtake Phil Bull Aboard On your max who
like Dicky Collinson in the first took the race on from three out.
Sam Davies Thomas On the consistent six-year-old Tulsa
looked to be the challenger before hart kicked her eight-year-old mare home in
fine style.
‘She is such a gutsy mare,’ mentioned the jockey.’ I know
with her if we have the right conditions with her she can be off the leaders two
out and I’m still confident we can get to the front.’
The mare now will look
to go again in a few weeks’ time at the same track. Only if the ground is safe
and not too firm.
The trainer/rider now with nineteen winning rides for the
season, and four behind the top spot held by the reigning ladies champion Gina
Andrews is a keen as ever to ride, but rest assures the horses come first and
she mentioned she would not put any horse in jeopardy in order to gain the
crown.
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| Kazuri Kate |
The owners of the mare by Exit to Nowhere were delighted to
the win. ‘we were not going to come here until a few days ago, the Garthorpe was the
intended run for her. But the ground seemed right here so we u turned and came
here instead.’
The hart family steeped in the pointing fraternity history, still
enjoying the excitement of the sport.
With that in mind Clare hart came out for the four runner
ladies open race to ride Dabinett Moon for Fran Marriott, this time challenging
her rival in the jockey’s standings on the very consistent Alan hill charge
Start Royal.
Andrews looked a sure winner from four fences out as the
twelve-year-old gelding took a commanding lead, Clare hart pushing her
eight-year-old mare to stay in contention.
‘This mare is awesome, to beat a class horse in Start Royal
is something else.’ The mare taking over the race before the home turn and stepping
through the gears to beat Andrews by a commanding twenty length’s.
‘Next season she could be something very special, she is
such a lovely horse.’
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| Dabinett Moon,Clare Hart |
Talk of the mare going handicapping over fences or brush hurdles is in the air but time is on the hands of this Midnight Legend eight-year-old.
The owner Christopher Marriott mentioned that as long as Clare has a chance of the championship she will run again. Hart now only three wins from the top spot.
The mare’s half-sister Apple days incidentally has just had a foal by Passing glance, so the thought maybe how long this mare can continue before being sent to stud.
The men’s open was another event were local trainer Alan
hill had to settle for second spot.
Again with a consistent horse throughout the season looking
for his fourth win on the bounce Consigliere ridden by Joe hill was beaten by a
horse that has had experience around the best tracks in the country, but not as
constant in the winner’s enclosure as the thirteen-year-old Hill horse.
Swallows Delight trained by Julie Mansell lapped up the fast
going to beat consigliere coming up to the last.
The trainer electing to take a
trip to Badminton rather than come to Kingston Blount.
Jockey, veteran rider David Mansell mentioned ‘I’m so pleasedd for the owners who are so supportive to the sport,we were concerned about the
Hill horse but we heard through the grapevine he had a hard race on heavier
ground, so were not sure if this type of ground would suit.’
The jockey on his third win for the season said ‘I have a
hard season to be fair, but I have had some rides were I think the horses would
be nice for next season.’ The jockey on his one hundred and eightieth winner of
his career, and at the age of fifty two still openly enjoys riding.
‘I have
said to my wife, when you see me not pushing a maiden horse on tell me, then
I’ll know it’s time to give up.’ Though talking to David that does not seem anytime
in the future yet.
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| Swallows Delight trained by Julie Mansell |
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| Merrydown Vintage, Phil Bull near his three hundredth winner |
Another veteran of the saddle Phil York was responsible for
bringing home the winner of the Intermediate race.
Merrydown Vintage, trained
in Guildford by Ray Fielder took a commanding lead from two out to see off
Velvet Royale by eight length’s
‘The horse needed good ground and a galloping race, which we
have been looking for all season. Phil mentioned to me that the track was
riding a little softer that it looked.’ Mentioned the trainer who may run the
horse a couple more times before the season closes, the hunt race at the Berks
and Bucks meeting at Kingston Blount in a few weeks’ time looks a possibility.
The jockey now on his two hundred and ninety eighth winner
of his career and turning fifty this Friday mentioned,’ I have only had about
seven wins this season, but I still love riding and we will keep plugging on
until I get the three hundred.’ But asked if plans to retire then, the answer
firmly back,’ no way. I still like to keep playing.’
Nandini, trained by David Kemp and ridden by Rupert Stern
who was on his first visit to the Oxfordshire course took the newly developed
older horses maiden race, limited to four, five and six year olds.
The six-year-old that has been well run throughout the
season was commented by the trainer as being a very hormonal type of mare, ’we
may have run her a few times just coming in or out of season which has affected
her, she wants the top of the ground anyway, so I hope this win might be a
breath of fresh air for her to go on and win again.’
The jockey on a 100% strike rate at present on the course
was a last minute replacement on the horse Sam Davies Thomas the usual call up. But it was decided to change things around to freshen the mare up, Rupert being
at the course to ride another runner for the owner and was asked to give the
mare the ride.
The plan worked and the mare took on the race from the front and
won the race well giving the second placed horse a length at the finish line.
‘The plan was never to make the running, but we popped out in front, nothing
came past me so I sat there comfortably and let her get into a rhythm,’ the
mare obviously is a type that likes to think she is getting her own way, as
long as she puts in runs of that caliber then I’m sure connections will allow
her to continue in that chain of thought.
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| Nandini, trained by David Kemp and ridden by Rupert Stern |
The final race of the afternoon a member’s race saw the
return to the course of Victoria Pendleton on now her own horse According to
Sarah, trained by Alan Hill the eight-year-old ran a creditable second in a
well-run race to Tim Underwood’s Tempelpirate a horse that has been off the
scene for two years with injuries.
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| Victoria Pendleton on now her own horse According to Sarah |
Ridden by Joe Hill the nine-year-old took on
the race with authority from three out getting to the line well in front of the
second. ‘I got the call to ride this horse early this morning, I think Tim was
going to ride him but I’m delighted that’s my first ride for him.’
‘The horse that has had an occurring leg problem,but has always
been a horse that has looked well,’ mentioned the trainer. ‘He has just not
been ready to race, but we can take him home, see how he comes out of the race
and go from there.’ Rest assured the veteran trainer will look after and place
this gelding just right for next time out.
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| Tim Underwood’s Tempelpirate, ridden by Joe Hill |
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