Seven races plus two pony races, the first of the Point to
Point season at Horseheath Point to Point course 4 miles west of Haverhill East
Anglia.
The course through the close season making a few changes to its look
from the previous year. A few new fences and a change of venue for the starter’s
rostrum and Paddock, seeing all nine fences jumped twice around the triangular
course.
Terrific panoramic viewing for all racegoers remained the same for a
quality kick off card.
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| Horseheath
Seven runners went to post of the thirteen entered in the
Intermediate first race.
Double victorious Lilbituso entered, but a non runner
left the race open to Gerald Bailey’s Fearthedark to gain his first victory of
the season off the back of two previous runners up slots. But it was David Kemp’s Will Fight, under
Sam Davies-Thomas who came home three lengths in front of the favorite Fearthedark, again resigned to second spot. ‘This horse is a little bit of an
unknown quantity.’ Mentioned the young saddler by trade jockey, who from a good start to
the new season has had a little bit of a quite spell,' the racing here is very
competitive, and this race was no exception to that. Horseheath to my view is
the best Point to point course in the country, it’s riding very well out
there.’ The ten year old by Heron Island came to the last uncontested from the
rest of the field, and won running away up the straight, beating the second by
three lengths in a time of
6 m 28sec.
David Kemp owner and trainer, and usually rider of the horse
still having to sit out on the sidelines giving the ride to the talented
Davies-Thomas.
Will Fight
|
Twelve runners for the next race, a maiden Open. Pedro King taking the honours under
farrier by trade Jockey Charles Dando beating Bengo, a horse that was fourth first time
out this season to the talented Lilbitluso.
The race on paper looked to have
some quality within the field, but the six year old that usually takes the
owner Mr King out hunting pulled away from the field coming to the last well.’
I’m really happy with that,’ explained Dando. ‘I don’t get many rides so to
have my first winner of the season is a bonus. He’ll possibly be turned out for
a bit now, maybe a bit more hunting, but it will be up to the owner.’
The race
ran at a slightly slower pace, five seconds slower than that of the first race of the
afternoon.
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| Pedro King
The third race of the afternoon. The Point to point riders
and owners association members’ race, saw ten runners come under orders. All runners
well grouped for much of the race, by the second last a number of them in
contention.
But Nightcap Jack,
Pebbleglen and Ballyboker Boy, came to the post in a bundle. Nightcap Jack taking the race by a head
and a neck to third. Again in a slower time than the last two races at 6 min 43
secs.
The nine year old, ridden by Jack Andrews benefiting from
his last outing, a twenty length second at Ampton to Kristian Gary in January
and rallied well for his jockey.
Ballyboker Boy maybe one to put in the
notebooks, as on paper he is 20 lbs below that of the first two, with very
little in it.
 
Nightcap Jack
|
The men’s open saw Mr G Russell’s Gunmoney beat Ampton Winner Court Red handed by a
distance.
Six runners started the three
mile race, only three making it to the line. The second, and third, fancied
runner Alan Hill's trained Flaming Gorge finishing weary behind the winner.
The eleven year old, ridden by the owner’s son Mr J Russell
and trained by Gerald Bailey, showed that his jumping was not one for the faint
hearted.' To be honest we went a little too slow for him. With that pace he is
subject to get close to his fences, but once the pace quickened he started to
jump better, but you never feel like you’re going to come off him.’
The
third last Gunmoney made a complete hash of the obstacle, ‘yes, which was my
fault really, I asked for a stride and he didn’t give it.’ This race was the
planned for the horse, so now owner, trainer and jockey will have to visit the
planner to see where next. Possibly if the jockey has his way the four miler at
Cheltenham could be on the cards.
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| Gunmoney
A quality ladies open race saw eight runners to post. Top
lady rider at present Gina Andrews on Berties
Dream, a winner at Ampton in January beating Swift Counsel by ten
lengths.
The thirteen year old and Goodnight Vienna coming to the last upsides,
but it was the Lauren Braithwaite
trained Berties Dream twelve pounds to
the good of the second place horse that saw the old timer pull away by four
lengths by the finishing line, in the fastest time of the day at
6 m 29 secs.
‘Berties has been brilliant for me, it was a good ladies open, and he’s done it
well for me to beat two very nice horses.’
 
Berties Dream
|
The penultimate race, a restricted race saw Sam
Davies-Thomas with his second winner of the afternoon. And a second winner of
the afternoon also for owner, trainer David Kemp.
Brave
Encounter beating Gina Andrews, in form on the quality horse Emperor
Arcadius, a winner of a maiden at Ampton in January.
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| Brave Encounter |
Double for the afternoon Sam Davies-Thomas
Two lengths separated the two at the finish with the
winner of a mark of 78 compared to the Andrews mount at 91.
So the eight year
old by Indian Danehill is sure one for the notebooks ‘
I mentioned to the owner
this one could be a possible hunter chaser, but it’s up to him we’ll see,’
mentioned the jockey who is now on four
winners for the season.
The final race, continued the inform riding of Gina Andrews. An open race for horse seven years old and upwards saw her bring home her
husband’s trained Total Compliance
by four lengths from Wivannie.
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| Total Compliance |
With a third place under the seven year old's belt at Chaddesley. ‘This horse is a really nice type. It’s taken a bit of time
for the penny to drop, but I think he’ll win plenty of races, he rides really
like a four year old, still a bit green, and it nice to have a race of this
type that they can go for.’
Gina at the start of the day one behind rival Clare
Hart in the ladies jockeys championship. With that win lap frogs the standings to take her place on top with six
winners for the season.
