ONCE, TWICE, FIVE TIMES A LADY AT THE FINAL HORSEHEATH 2016

Some would say only 29 horses declared on a six race card point to pointing disappointing. 

But the facts of the matter are that over the Easter period a whole heap of pointing fixtures are available, this did not I feel detract from the final meeting this season from Horseheath.

The card saw close finishes, dead heats and a five timer. What more could you ask for.

The first race, a member’s race saw four horses to post, two horses in their own right, Ballyboker Boy and Tommy O’Dwyer who have been running in quality events since the seasons dawn.     Baltic Blue an improving sort, in running over the past few outings.

Tommy O’Dwyer, ridden by Alex Ferguson and trained by Nicolas Wright started the proceedings off with a neck victory over the improving Baltic blue ridden by Clare Williamson, the recipient of the first female member of the Horseheath Hunts club over the line, and pick up the Royal Hunt salver.

Clare Williamson

Both horses fought bravely to the line from the last, keeping the good sized Easter crowd on their toes, basting them for the rest of the meeting.

Tommy O'Dwyer (farside) Baltic Blue (nearside)

Tommy O’Dwyer, incidentally by Milan who is well clear of others for the leading stallion crown.

Tommy O'Dwyer Alex Ferguson

Floreat Tim Domworthy

The open maiden was won impressively by nine year old Floreat also by Milan.

Ridden by  Tim Domworthy and trained  By James Owen. The gelding who has not been out of the first three all season won the race with lengths to spare from second placed horse Know more Oats from the well in form yard of Ed Turner. 

The Jockey who is pupil assistant to William Haggas in Newmarket seemed very happy with the win, especially with a local horse on a local track.

Floreat

The third race a six runner ladies open saw Popaway, trained by Pauline Harkin and ridden by Immy Robinson take another runaway victory. Again beating an Ed Turner trained horse in Sa Kaldoun.

Popaway

The eleven year old mare by Nomadic Way backed up her February victory by seven lengths at Thorpe Park, and impressive third at the Garthorpe with this victory, with the ground now on the turn this could be a sign that the mare could go on to pick up a few more races at the back end of the season.

Popaway Immy Robinson

The Men’s open saw horses that had previously been out at Ampton two weeks back. 

Empire Builder, trained by Gerald Bailey and ridden by Gerald Greenock took to post the 2/1 on fav and supported the trust on the rails by duly running up a distance winner from the two horses in second place that could not be split by the judges. Defying Gravity and Carlanstown.

Second placed dead heat Carlanstown(nearside) Defying Gravity (farside)

The winner owned by Countess Cathcart had been waiting for the ground and showed that his respectable fourth last time out here at Horseheath to the Cheltenham Foxhunter runner Mr Mercurial had not been in vain. Owners and trainers were delighted and may run this gelding sooner rather than later in order to utilize the surface he desires.

Countess Cathcart with  Gerald Greenock and Empire Builder

The intermediate race saw the four time winner this season and leading point to point mare Galros Lady take on three other contenders.

 Abbeyview though, ridden by Paddy Gerety going to post as Favorite.

Galros Lady

The race was run at a fair pace and it was not until two out that Dicky Collinson sent his mare out to challenge for the lead.

7/1 shot Blue Benny and the Favorite Abbeyview going with her it took all her heart to keep off the rest and on the run in pull away from her two rivals by a length and a half.

‘This is the best horse I have sat on’ mentioned the emotional Collinson, who could not hide his delight for the mare and her owners. The two farmer and  butcher partnership.

 At only six years old she has a vast future ahead of her in pointing. Surely know connections would try her in the hunter chase field, Stratford and Fontwell being two meetings that could attracted their attention. But the shrewd backers at Horseheath were surely on the 5/4 price given for this mare with a big heart.

Galros Lady R. Collinson on board   

I think this mare that is the most versatile horse I have seen in a time, winning on left and right-handed tracks. On stiff and galloping tracks and most types of going. At six years of age she shows she has what it takes. What next?? The story continues.........

Galros Lady with owners The two farmers and a Butcher Partnership and Dicky Collinson

The start of the day’s proceedings was taken by a close to the line finish. And it was only correct the final race of the day followed suit.

Six runners to post, the favourite Bengo ridden by in form jockey Alex Ferguson trying back up the maiden win last time out over course and distance,the second placed horse in that race Ballalough winning a race at Bradfield soon after. 

But halfway into the race you could clearly see that the favourite was not happy and Ferguson having to push the horse into any sort of contention. ‘He just was never going or wanting to take part,’ mention the bemused jockey.

This left My Alfie and Rupert Stearn to take up the race with Ignite the light ridden by Alex Vaughan Jones. 

My Alfie coming out the eventual winner by a neck, beating the 2/1 priced Ignite the light.

Second place horse No 6 Ignite the light, with winner My Alfie (nearside)

The favourite pulled up from 5 fences out will have to be looked at and the battle plans re- drawn, clearly something was amiss and time will tell if we see this maiden winner out again this season.

The winner and the second may need to be looked at, dependent on the company they take on next time out as clearly there previous form shows this race was a little out of the blue. One to note I trust.

My Alfie

My Alfie with Jockey and connections

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WEST BERKSHIRE TO P.J.HOBBS MINEHEAD, A DAY BY THE SEA

Winding along the back lanes of Somerset, and with views of Minehead in the distance lies a gem of British racing. Sandhills racing stables.

Home of one P.J Hobbs, Phillip Hobbs trainer is in charge of approx  112 horses ranging from youngsters to champions.

Land owned by the crown Estate, this idyllic of settings offers the best facilities to train the race horse.

About 4 furlongs of poly-track and woodchip gallops. Portable and modern schooling facilities and a view to die for, a large a busy yard goes about it's daily work without a hint of panic or hustle.

Horses and personal seem calm relaxed and happy to be going about their work.

On the visit to view the Guvnors third lot work. Horses showed the paces of three short canters upsides. Time to recover between each burst, and a good wash after. I defy anyone to say that boredom could creep in. (saying that, the morning was a beautiful early spring morning, maybe not so much fun if rain and cold weather sweep off the coast.)

  

To cap it all, a brief meeting with the horse that has captured the racing heart, Balthazar King. Fresh from his little tumble at Cheltenham, enjoying some relax time in the field.

Balthazar King

I enjoy trips to the offices of the racing world, some yards are very workmanlike, but it's the feeling in some, that yes, work is done. But the atmosphere is calm and serine.

Thanks to all the team for making us all so welcome. I wish so many more could experience. Even the doubters in horse racing, because you just cannot say that these athletes  do not have a privileged life

WEST BERKSHIRE RACING CLUB ON A VISIT TO PHILLIP HOBBS

SANDHILL STABLES

BILBROOK

SOMERSET

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Old Surrey and Burstow and west Kent Point to point at Penhurst

With an abundance of point to point meetings on the week before the Easter, Penhurst offered a seven race card, with fair sized fields to a well attended audience.

Again the late summer sun covered the left handed track to give some good pointing horses their chance to take on the second part of the 2016 season.

The first race was a hunt member’s race. Seven runners going to post, a few runners already with a  trip out locally at Godstone a few weeks back. Some coming back to the track in the full knowledge that their charges are able to master this tricky but fair course.

It was thirteen year old, local horse Witches Hat, ridden by Ellie Gillings who took the spoils by eight lengths from the suitably named on the Sabbath, The Vicar.

 A consistent runner in previous seasons the dark bay gelding by Hubbly Bubbly ran on well on a course and going that was very apparent early on would take horses that would stay well. 

‘We didn’t really expect that,’ mentioned his jubilant jockey. ‘He had lost a bit of confidence in is jumping so all we wanted to do is give him a run and gain that confidence back. We knew he would run well and seemed to enjoy what he was doing.’ 

Witches Hat

All horses under the charge of Mr Coveney are kept fit by hunting at least once a week, the owner, trainer and clerk of the course at Penhurst, producing the horse for the race in the traditional way .’ he is  lovely horse to look after,’  mentioned  Ellie. ‘I’m not sure if it was the ground becoming a little dryer, or the same person attending to him day in, day out. But as soon as he hit the front he wouldn’t let anyone pass him.’

Whatever it was, the win was a popular one for the local crowd that attended.

Jockey Ellie Gillings

Fourteen went to post for the conditions race. A race that showed that the horse really needed to stay the trip for the afternoon’s sports.

Oli Wedmore on Only Time'll Tell

 Only time’ll tell, ridden by experienced amateur in points as well as under rules Oliver Wedmore who had not sat on the horse before today, seemed to relish the conditions, the pace at the off being strong but towards the end of the race staying power was needed. 

The eight year old by Gamut went on from second placed horse the Crafty Butcher by a length and a half. ‘His jumping was good today, I haven’t ridden in the past but everything seemed to go to plan, It’s a ride a like to keep anyway,’ mentioned Wedmore ‘the ground didn’t seem to bother him, and as it’s drying out now we will have to try him on the better ground, but he has plenty more to give and to find out about.’  

The jockey pleased with his own progression so far this season with a win at Sandown a few weeks back, showed that this pairing would be serious contenders in their next outing and one to place in bold in the notebooks.

Only Time'll Tell

and

connections

The ladies open was a race that had cut up at the declaration stage to only six runners, but a quality field none the less. 

A number of horses to post with a good deal of pointing experience was at post in equine form and in their jockeys. But it was a young sixteen year old, Izzie Marshall younger sister of the more experienced jockey Charlie, who was also riding at the course who took the race with the ten year old Conkies Lad.

Conkie Lad, Izzie Marshall

The young jockey showed that she was full of respect to those who went to post with her.

 'Little Legend was the horse I was concerned with the most, and the fact that the other jockeys have so much more experience, but it was his day today, so I’m really happy with what we have done out there.’

 Little legend trained and ridden by Cynthia woods finished behind the winner by three lengths in one of the quickest timed races of the day at 6 min 55 sec.

The form of the winner certainly showed that the ten year old family owned and trained gelding jumped and stayed well Izzie mentioned ‘He seems to be getting better on the drying ground which was good for him today, but his jumping really gives me confidence and experience.’ 

The young jockey who the next day will be back at her daytime job, school.  Mentioned she rides out as much as she can for local yards around her before going off to study for her A levels. Her second winner only out of five rides shows that Izzie Marshall would be a name to watch in future seasons point to pointing. 

The horse know qualified for the AGA ladies open final at Stratford in May were Izzie is hoping to get time off studies to take the ride will be out in the South-East area throughout the season, and is a contender that needs respect.Horse and jockey seem to be improving on each run out.

Izzie Marshall and connections of Conkie Lad

Five runners for the men’s open, and again the Marshall's were in the thick of it.

This time elder Brother Charlie Marshall, who the young Izzie mentioned is a great influence on her riding career, riding for Phillip Hall on board the ten year old Adept Approach beat the experienced Phillip York on Sebadee by twelve lengths.

The ground was just right for the gelding by the leading point to point stallion Milan, and was the only horse all afternoon that seem to have let themselves go in the conditions,

 ‘ he absolutely love that ground, it could of been a bit softer in places, but he really enjoyed it out there.’ Mentioned the jockey. 

Charlie Marshall on Adept Approach

The horse that has proved himself throughout his career seems still to enjoy what he is doing; Charlie mentioned as soon as he hit the track his ears prick and he gets on with the job. And that he did today, carrying a 4lbs penalty he never seemed to mind that task at hand. 

‘ He had so much more to give today, if a horse had challenged him I think he could of gone on again, he was so happy to be out there.’

Trainer Phil Hall who usually rides the horse but is sidelined at present hasn’t got a plan for the horse at present, but may have to think of what next, and if that plan included him.

 Whatever the plan this horse is a serious contender on a staying track with good ground.

Trainer, jockey and connections of Adept Approach

Charlie Marshall was quick to mention he was well aware he was filling the boots of the injured Hall, ‘this is a great help to my career at the moment, it’s lovely to get on horses like this but well aware when Phil is back they are his rides.’ Charlie who like his sister earlier is a jockey for the future mentioned he had a nice winner the weekend before and through Easter has a good chance in the Open at Charing on a horse called Never Complain. And from that this, the young up and coming can ‘never complain’ in the way things are progressing.

The turner family, victorious in the last at last weeks Ampton meeting, made the trip from their hunting grounds of East Anglia south of the river, to take the Intermediate race with the eight year old Curraghbower.

Curraghbower, Rupert Stearn

The bay gelding by Winged Love beat  by five lengths Excitable island ridden by the in form novice jockey Jack Andrews. 

Rupert Stearn mentioned he really liked this horse as he rushed to get on his ride in the next, again for the Turners, but it was fair to say the family who are well respected in the point to point fraternity really liked this impressive winner. 

Now qualified for the intermediate championships at Cheltenham, this could be a horse to follow, knowing it can stay and go in the good/good to soft ground, I’m sure the Turners know what it takes to win a final at the home of jump racing. 

Whatever it takes the Intermediate final itself looks to be a cracking race in five weeks time and is a suitable event for the hallowed turf.

Curraghbower, ridden by Rupert Stearn

A lot of open maidens this season have been very stung out affairs, and though this race was a little messy around the edges. The finishing resulted in something spectacular.

Two horses crossed the line Barrafihona ridden by Tabitha Worsley. And Lickety Split ridden by the rider with a double in mind Charlie Marshall. Both on maidens that have not shown a great deal, both on point to point ratings of below 30. But both could not be split by the judges and took the spoils home together.

Barrafohona (farside) Lickety Split (nearside)

Both riders who are good friends were very please for one another. Tabitha mentioned ‘my fella has come out of the softer ground at the bottom of the course and flew home, the aim was to keep him out of trouble, and we are very pleased for him.’

The jockey on a double for the afternoon Charlie Marshall said,’ mine jumped well, took me into a lead and idled a bit in front, which allowed Tabitha around the bend to get the run on me, luckily my fella got a good jump at the last.’

Both horses showed their fitness. Barrafihona coming out of a run seven days ago, looked to be running on well up the hill to the line.

Both though may have a little time off from the course to recover and develop, Barrafihona being a lightly raced eight year old, and Lickety Split a five year old lightly raced Irish pointer,with that in mind an underline in the form book would be advisable as both these maidens may come out towards the back end of the season to record hopefully another win.

Owners and jockeys of  Barrafohona and Lickety Split

Owner and sponsor of the Open Maiden congratulates Tabitha Worsley

The last race of the most pleasant afternoons, in beautiful surroundings was the restricted, over the shorter distance of 2 miles four furlongs, this was won by the Russell families Daidaidai, ridden by Wayne Russell.

Daidaidai, Wayne Russell

This six year old by Lando showed that his win in November over the longer distance was no fluke. A shorter distance and no so much of a galloping track as it was at the East Anglian course allowed Wayne to take the race on from about two out, from there he was never challenged. Did you ever coming in a distance behind.

The horse know with two wins under the belt from two starts, and only a six year old would show that he could be one to watch in the drying ground. 

With time ahead of him also looks a real contender next season for popular point to point family.

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