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Let us begin with a moving, seasonal poem "Remember, remember, the fifth of November Cuthbert, Dibble and Grub Something, something, something And was evicted from the pub." The
first two meetings of autumn had been missed due to holiday and a funeral,
so for this belated return to Plumpton, it was pleasing to see that the
usual collection of amiable eccentrics were in no way depleted from where
we left off in the spring. The two biggest changes are that the Tote
Credit office and Annual Members bar have been rolled into one, which is
possibly a unique feature on a British racecourse, and most probably the
Tote Credit members have most to gain from the arrangement - i.e. access
to the bar in their betting shop, although it is only a hatch through to
the main bar in the enclosure – and not even a bell to attract
attention. The other new idea is a traditional tea shop on the first floor
of one of the stands. Enjoy the wintry sun and
the novice handicap chase over a cream tea! Still
as odd as Plumpton can be, it had nothing on getting home, turning on the
news, and watching middle-aged men in suits throwing bricks at
Pakistan’s riot police. It certainly had me wondering about the effect
of early start times in winter on the body’s ability to process alcohol. Going:
Good Race
1: Bluebird Community Partnership conditional jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle
[2m 5f] 1:
Alfadora 2:
Miss Molly Be Rude
3: Rude Health Winner
owned: The Virtual Partnership, trained: Milton Harris, ridden: Charlie
Poste A
big field, which was more than large enough to deter betting interest,
although the improved showing of Miss Molly Be Rude was not totally
unexpected to certain canny observers. Had she jumped better, it could
have been ruder still. The winner was delivering for the second time in
four days – his trainer is not inclined to let his charges rest on their
laurels. Fourth placed Alpha Juliet, under joint top weight, did not get a
clear run from the second last, and her prominent market position perhaps
owed a little to people expecting too much, too soon of jockey Harry
Skelton, who may be from a famous equestrian lineage and work in the
champion trainer’s yard, but has barely a dozen rides in anger to his
name. Sort of a Lewis Hamilton scenario, but on a less hysterical scale.
And with horses instead of cars. And without the rows with a team
‘mate.’
The
first three home display various degrees of urgency as they achieve their
particular landmarks Race
2: Bluebird Community Partnership Maiden Hurdle [2m] 1:
Ohana 2:
Postmaster 3:
Bon Viveur Yet
again Bon Viveur let his supporters down, this time in probably his
easiest opportunity yet, the end result being a very comfortable win for
Ohana, whose stamina remains questionable on easier ground. It helped that
Hansomelle ran a stinker. She had fallen in her last race, which is not a
good sign, but two other horses that went down independently at the same
flight at Kempton had bounced back immediately and won at Ascot two days
earlier. Good things do not, it seems, come in threes. *
Amble Forge makes one of his better jumps in front of a suddenly confident Ohana (striped cap). Hansomelle - cheekpieces - had already peaked and Bon Viveur is already hiding in slight embarrassment Race
3: Bluebird Community Partnership Novice Hurdle [2m 5f] 1:
Ocean Du Moulin 2:
Gaelic Present 3:
Winds And Dragons Winner
owned: Mrs Jan Smith, trained: Paul Nicholls, ridden: Ruby Walsh Only
five went to post, and after easily winning an uncompetitive bumper here,
Ocean Du Moulin did the same on his hurdles debut. Stuffing poor company
leaves him still something of an unknown quantity for when upped in class.
His stable mate in second could not win an open maiden point, and the
third ran as if badly in the need of the race. Race
4: Limpio Office Solutions Novice Handicap Chase [3m 2f] 1:
Coolers Quest 2:
Carroll’s O’Tully
3: Ilongue Winner
owned: K Snook, trained: Robert Alner, ridden: Robert Walford After
falling when clear last time, Coolers Quest had not quite learned her
lesson as a slight advantage approaching the last was given up by her
taking an extra stride where one was not i) required, ii) at all
beneficial or iii) requested from the saddle. Despite the short run-in,
she got going again and just prevailed. The first pair in a modest race
were ominously far clear of the rest.
Fence six and Carroll's O'Tully (2), Auburn Grey and Coolers Quest (4) are still fairly enthused about a run and jump round Plumpton. Dance Day (5), Ilongue (blue/pink) and Whistle Blowing (green) are more circumspect. Race
5: Cloud 9 Fitness At Plumpton Juvenile Claiming Hurdle [2m] 1:
Amazing King 2:
Hawk Gold 3:
And Your Point Is Winner
owned: Hong Kong Breeders Club, trained: Bill Turner, ridden: Tom
O’Connor The
field was much of a muchness on flat form, much of a muchness on the
limited hurdle form, and in neither instance did that muchness amount to
very much. There is always the possibility that one of the newcomers might
find hurdling much more to their liking than the flat, but would
connections start them off in a claimer if that was likely? Amazing King
stepped up on his little run of thirds and fourths outbattling Hawk Gold,
who had only once managed to be beaten less than ten lengths in his flat
career. Fire In Cairo took a drop in class but it failed to ignite a
response. Race
6: Mansell McTaggart Move It Handicap Chase [2m 4f] 1:
The Hardy Boy 2:
Toms Gone Grey 3:
Master T Winner
owned: Mrs John Grist, trained: Anna Newton-Smith, ridden: Liam Heard A
fascinating race of mostly course specialists, in which The Hardy Boy came
out on top, on ground probably quicker than ideal, his one win on not on
soft or heavy before was when so well handicapped (hindsight tells us!)
that he could not fail. Acertack, making his 20th appearance
here – 2 wins and 8 seconds so far – was still going well when falling
four out. Pan The Man (course and distance record 32117 before today) had
made a bad blunder a fence earlier and pulled up. Until Philip Hide
returns ** or someone employs kidology on the horse with equal aplomb,
Master T (3 course wins) is disinclined to exploit a workable handicap
mark. Toms Gone Grey has been sending connections grey for two years, when
he ended a three race winning streak by apparently losing interest in
racing very suddenly. This was his best effort since, by some way. Race
7: Monk Marketing Maiden Open National Hunt Flat Race [2m 2f] 1:
Shoreacres 2:
Winsley Hill 3:
Rodrigo Gonzales Winner
owned: David Nash, trained: Brendan Powell, ridden: Mick Fitzgerald A
nondescript six-runner bumper, after which the first two home need to show
some spark in a more competitive heat before it is time to get excited by
them. The running of the favourite, Dereks, from the bang in form Keith
Goldsworthy yard, seemed to upset a few, as Timmy Murphy went wide all the
way round. As the horse was to all intents and purposes pulled up, the
tactics prior to that were no more relevant than the price of beaver anus
oil in the twenty-first century. *** Clarifications *
Nor do good things come to those who wait, as Hansomelle was last of the
trio to reappear. **
Being told that you are missed as a jockey because you are needed for
Master T may not be the greatest motivation for recovery that is known to
mankind. ***
The beaver was hunted to extinction in Great Britain for meat and for oil
from an anal gland. It was not loss of habitat that caused the
disappearance, and most of rural England remains suitable for them, as
long as there is a very small river and the odd tree. Anglers worried
about possible reintroductions should note that, as rodents, they do not
eat fish and could not catch one even if their life depended on it. They
are also significantly more skilled and cost effective with flood defences
than the Department of the Environment seem to be. Plus
points Sumdancer
(race 2): There was nothing in Sumdancer’s flat career in New Zealand
that suggested paying his air fare to the UK would not have been better
spent on importing butter, but he ran really well, until faltering in the
latter stages (now where could that have happened to the Kiwis before?).
Some promise for the future, in the context of a modest race. Winds
And Dragons (race 3): Is not the fastest thing on four legs, and may not
even be the fastest on three, but his hurdling technique was excellent,
and with the run under his belt, he could turn up in a handicap at some
point if replicating his appearance at the end of last season. Toms
Gone Grey (race 6): First sign of life for quite a while, even allowing
for the way in which the race panned out. Down
arrows Bon
Viveur (race 2): Either his moments of eye-catching form are very
flattering, or he is as dishonest as the day is long. Neither are
punter-friendly. Amble Forge (race 2): Dropped deeply in class from his hurdles debut in a Grade 2 race. The only sign of improvement was that he did actually complete, but his jumping was very indifferent and he is well off of the pace of his bumper debut. Carroll's
O'Tully (race 4): Took many attempts to finally win and may already be
handicapped beyond chance of a repeat.
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