Monday 16 January 2017

BUMPER TO BUMPER INTERNATIONAL FLAVOUR AT BARBURY


An important event in the point to point calendar, talking to participants and supporters of the sport, it will be a meeting that will grow in popularity over the years the Barbury International racing club meet at the Barbury Castle Estate staged eight races, two of which were for the first time at a point meet over two miles but not over obstacles. 

Races were strong contests on testing ground for a Saturday meeting that bought a strong crowd into the Barbury Castle estate.
The meeting designed to entice trainers from Ireland to come over for good racing managed to get one of the top trainers to bring a number of horses to the course John ‘the shark’ Hanlon resident of Co Carlow mentioned ‘ We have been treated like kings while we have been here, the facilities are spot on from entries, to weighing out to running, and I think if put on again a lot more will come over from Ireland.’

Very good testimony to a meeting I fell will over the years will become the possible Cheltenham festival of the point to point game.

Tom Malone’s Orchardstown Cross.
The first race for 4,5 and 6-year-old open maidens was taken by Tom Malone’s Orchardstown Cross. Ridden by Josh Newman the six-year-old took on and beat the John Hanlon entry Emtidaad by nine lengths. 
‘He is nice big old fashion chasing type,’ mentioned the trainer. ‘To be fair we took him to Larkhill in December and expected him to win there, we have him off the mark of 125 and to be beaten by a horse off the mark of 83 was disappointing, but he didn’t get the three miles. Today over the shorter distance he has run well so delighted with the win, he will make someone a nice little horse to take on.’

With a fair, few onlookers at the course to view potential purchases this one would surely have raised a few heads with his smart jumping and quick running., the horse a little green when taking up the running seemed honest enough to keep straight over the final two obstacles to take the race and would be one to note.

The second race of the afternoon, under the same conditions as the opener this time for mares and fillies only was taken by the Tim Underwood trained Cheltenham Mati ridden by in form Nigel Twiston Davies based jockey Zak Baker.
The five year old grey not the biggest of chasers but with  good heart and speed showed her pace to pull away from the field coming down the hill to the final two fences to beat the inform trainer Sally Alner’s horse Flights by nine lengths.
Tim Underwood trained Cheltenham Mati
‘I have never ridden for Tim before, but this mare seemed to be straight enough,’ mentioned the jockey.’ She has run a little green but I have decided to take the bull by the horns and take the running on and she has done it well in the end, she isn’t the quickest horse in the world but she was jumping well and I think with this one it would be the case of the further the better.’

The grey looked all to me still has a lot to grow into herself, but under the experienced eye of the trainer would be in the right place to learn her craft.
This one as well as the winner of the first open maiden would surely be ones to note for future wins.

Young 24-year-old trainer/jockey Sam Jukes produced his second winner of his career when his eleven-year-old Kings Theatre gelding Iberico winner at the December meeting at Barbury took year ten-year-old and over conditions race by three lengths from Cotillion.
‘I’m delighted,’ mentioned the trainer. ‘I was never too worried about the rest getting away from me, but was at my top cruising speed for a while, but he stays and he stays really well.’
Iberico winner at the December meeting at Barbury took year ten-year-old and over conditions race by three lengths from Cotillion.
It would be interesting to see if this horse could step up in class, or if the trainer goes for a treble at the Vine and Craven meet at the course in February, if  this horse is entered it would be one to note with the horse now off the pointing mark of 110.

The feature race of the afternoon, The Weatherby’s Hamilton mixed Open came as a surprise for the winning connections of Vincitore  trained and ridden by Sarah Rippon an eleven-year-old who surprised all by taking the inside to get up on the line to beat Sacre Toi by a length.
‘I cannot believe this is happening,’ mentioned owner Saskia Baharuddin. This is my first time at a meeting and to get the winner is great, I look after the horses non-racing part and Sarah dose the rest, we are meant to go hunting on Tuesday with the Bicester, I hope that’s still is the case.’
The trainer not as sure of that mentioned,’ he has form to be fair, we got him from Clare Hart/Harding with wins in hunter chases, a change of scenery has done him good and in the end has snuck up the inside to take the race. I’m delighted.’

With three lengths separating first and seventh this race was probably the most competitive over the final two we have seen all season, coming to the last no one really knowing who would get to the line in front.
‘ I was told last time I rode here to keep to the inner so that’s what I did and managed to sneak through the inside.’  The ride earning the jockey/trainer performance of the day at the end of the meeting.
David Maxwell on Out now in the feature race The weatherby's Hamilton mixed open

The novice riders event offered disappointment and joy for different reasons. Clare Hardwick’s Argentato looking the sure winner coming to the last with Will Kellard on board running out at the final fence.

Argentato
Leaving seventeen-year-old Lilly Pinchin to take the race on her own trained Allerton two lengths clear from Swallowshide.
‘I came here to the race today not sure what would happen really, it would really depend on what he wanted to do, but it means so much to me to get the win on him today I’m so delighted.
The horse second just after Christmas at Chaddersley should have been no great surprise to Lilly, showing the ten-year-old was in good form

‘I came here to the race today not sure what would happen really, it would really depend on what he wanted to do.'
‘he really knows what to do, he will look after himself and helps me out so well and teaches me so much, I love him.’
The young jockey in residence with Fergal O’Brien could not hide her excitement about being in the industry. The product from the pony racing circuit,she certainly showed and came across why she loves this game.

More maidens this time in the Albert Bartlett Open maidens race which saw AP McCoy come to Barbury to present the prizes for the remain of the meeting.

This race going to Sarah Gould's  The Editor ridden by freelancer Shane Quinlan.
Eight lengths clear at the last the five-year-old at 25/1 ran on well to beat David Mansell’s Dewi’s Mate.

‘ It was a bit of a messy race and we have made some mistakes ourselves but we have managed to keep out of trouble to keep straight to take the race.’
The horse last season looking very much the green type has come on from that, and looking fit in the paddock looked a steal at the bookies odds of 25/1.
Sarah Gould's  The Editor ridden by freelancer Shane Quinlan

Jumping is the name of the game and this horse should really come on from his win and one to note for a small young trainer who does very well with what she has got, a good win on a horse that should come on and should see in the winner’s enclosure again before the session is done.

The final two races of the afternoon were two divisions of a two-mile bumper race, the first to be run in the UK point to point racing calendar.
A lot of eyes this side and the other of the Irish sea were watching as 22 runners split between the two races run a fair pace to sprint for the line to show what they could do.
The first division going to Martin Cullinan’s Lostin a fog , John Reddington on board the well-built five year old mare battled well to take the race from Paige Fuller on Oliver’s Island by a length.
The first division going to Martin Cullinan’s Lostin a fog (left) beats Paige Fuller on                     Oliver's Island
‘She is a lovely little filly and hope we can get a couple of point to points out of her off the back of this win.’ Mentioned the jockey who was full of praise for the initiative to run bumpers at point meetings.
‘I hope  we can get more of these bumpers going and Barbury is perfect for these types of events.’

If division one went to a horse qualified with the County Galway Hunt, the next division went in the way of the Emerald isle also.
John Hanlon who had supported the meeting well got a reward with New list winning the final race of the day.
Ridden by Richard Harding the four-year-old by Pivotal beat peter mason on Call me Sid by half a length, justifying the 11/10 favourite the bookies had the chestnut on offer.
The trainer mentioned,’ I have had a really good day, been looked after so well and have sold three horses I have had running already, it’s hoped I can sell this one before the end of the day, he has schooled over hurdles and fences already and would win on the track whenever you wanted really he a very nice type, I was going to put him in the first race, but we ran another instead, I have horses at home that have one bumpers in Ireland, I think this one is better.’

New list winning the final race of the day from Call me Sid

What more could be said for an end of a quality days pointing, that good horses attended and were shown to their best.
As mentioned I feel this meeting will grow over the years and if the reputation from both sides of the Irish pond responds with quality entries I’m sure as this meeting will become the pinnacle of the pointing season in the UK.
Only time will tell, but the future looks good for the Barbury International racing club meeting.