Chiddingfold, Leconfield & Cowdray

When the fixtures came out in Autumn 2007, I could not have been the only one to have spotted the legendarily parched Parham lurking towards the end of April and think that they would do well to get 10 runners over the entire meeting at that time of year. The fields that emerged for a poodle round in the drizzle were not huge, but even the two disappointing entries (hunt and open maiden) saw a good proportion of the entries turn out. Of course, six months or more ago, not many people would have been imagining that serial loser Iris De Balme would be winning the Scottish National either.

Going: Good       

Race 1: Harwoods Land Rover Members

1: Jack's Present     2: Clover Bay     3: Saddlers Cloth

Winner owned: Simon Tindall, trained & ridden: Nick Pearce

With the Members combined with the Kent & Surrey Bloodhounds, the five runners managed to produce a most convoluted presentation ceremony in the interest of ensuring that everyone got the appropriate silverware. After his impressive maiden win a week earlier, Nicobar was favourite, but did not live up to the pressure, being beaten by three from home, and losing third when out on his feet on the run-in. With the view of the far side mostly veiled by mist, it did not seem that Jack's Present travelled especially well in the race, but that may have been a false illusion, as he finished off strongly enough, putting a couple of recent let downs behind him. As runner-up Clover Bay has been unable to win a restricted and Saddlers Cloth's first time out rider was a bit cautious when the pace quickedened, the form of the win probably is very modest.

Nicobar (4) and Jack's Present (3) play mind games and under estimate Clover Bay (hooped sleeves)

Race 2: Instone Air Services SE Hunts Club Novice Riders

1: Ice Cool Lad     2: El Viejo     3: Native Performance

Winner owned & trained: John Bentley, ridden: Ben Bentley

It was a nostalgia trip all round for Ice Cool Lad, as after his former trainer Richard Rowe had given him the best turned out accolade, he had a trip down memory lane and passed the post first, for the first time since 2003. As he is a venerable fourteen year old, it was announced that the occasion would be marked by immediate retirement. The horse had looked rather spritely in the race, having looked to have taken favourite El Viejo's measure two out, he wandered and faltered a bit on the run-in* and teased El Viejo with one last, half chance. The first pair were miles clear of the fast finishing, paddock picking but slow running Native Performance.

* In Ice Cool Lad's defence, the run-in here is steeply downhill, on a right handed curve and with a hint of a camber, so it is a balance nightmare for a tired horses and riders, and a good proportion of runners seem to have problems with it.

Race 3: Winterfields Farm Intermediate

1: Knockarron     2: Super Kay     3: Little Saltee

Winner owned & trained: Di Grissell, ridden: Phil Hall

This was not a patch on the intermediate run on Di Grissell's home patch, at Catsfield a week earlier, but the form may work out as the two most encouraging runners on recent performances ended up well clear of the other four, Super Kay was odds-on favourite, as although both he and Knockarron had run one, won one, in each case a Restricted, he seemed to have achieved more in the earlier stages of his career. At the last, Super Kay was still a length to the good, but a fluent jump saw Knockarron eliminate the gap and also get away quicker from the fence, and it was then game over. Way behind, there was some bizarre race-like ritual unfolding, which ended up with the lightly raced Little Saltee grabbing third place.

Not a bad picture (well not by this site's standards) but a true reflection of the weather. Parzando (head warming visor) leads at the third from Little Saltee (colours not as black as they look) and Super Kay (noseband). Knockarron (red cap) makes a very safe clearance which Our Samson (black with white spots) tries to copy. Let's play spot the John The Mole

Race 4: Jackson-Stops & Staff Ladies' Open

1: Carryonharry     2: Nathos     3: Elenas River

Winner owned: Mrs H Silk & Mrs RK Purkis, trained: Emma Leppard, ridden: Cynthia Haydon

With the best price on offer, even if briefly, 2/5, there is a case for thinking that this was not a punting race. But if you fall into the Nathos-is-a-bit-dodgy cult, and factor in the stat that Carryonharry has only ever been beaten in one point-to-point** then it could be argued that even at that price, it was worth lumping on every spare penny that could be found and giving the credit crunch a hearty two fingered salute. As usual, Carryonharry did have to be stoked along after the second last to assert, but Nathos  was not shaping as if he was going to apply any serious pressure. Unlike the three previous races, the result mirrored the betting.

** Stat by recollection and not confirmed by even cursory research

Carryonharry, none so grey, skips over the third, as Millenium Way is less convincing. Nathos is just between them, behind Elenas River, as the almost hidden Exodous has the early glory

Race 5: Fontwell Park Racecourse Men's Open

1: Thoutmosis     2: Little Farmer     3: Magnus Veritas

Winner owned & trained: Joe Turner, ridden: Ed Turner

With restricted and members level winner Magnus Veritas heading the market, this four runner race was not high on the quality tree, but it was competitive when a walk over may have been feared and will no doubt be remembered fondly by winning jockey Ed Turner, who defied eight pounds overweight and the ignominy of having been flung to the ground by a tantrum from Black Frost in the novice riders race. Approaching the last, veteran Little Farmer seemed on top of things, but Thoutmosis, whose fencing had been a bit lacking in fluency earlier in the race, outjumped his rival at the final obstacle and had the extra speed of being five years the younger when the two set off down the hill to the line. Magnus Veritas was always up with this pair but looked very one paced in the last half mile or so.

Race 6: Charlton Hunt Club Open Maiden

1: Kommetjie     2: Broomers Hill     3: Jack Knappy

Winner owned: Simon Tindall, trained & ridden: Nick Pearce

I had to dash off and did not the see the race, but given that this attracted an ominously poor seven entries, a field of five was a pleasant surprise. The winner was the only newcomer. The placed horses did not have the greatest history to bring with them...

Plus Points

El Viejo (race 2): Off the rails under Rules, he has found Novice Riders races more to his liking, and did not do anything wrong in defeat, and is young enough to keep going as a pointer for a while yet.

Knockarron (race 3): Was convincing enough in a race that lacked strength in depth.

Elenas River (race 4): Fifth in a hunter chase recently, ran his best race for a couple of years, ending up not too far behind the first pair home.

Down Arrows

Jack's Present (race 1): Doubled his seasonal tally, but limited opposition prevents too much optimism being generated from it.

Black Frost (race 2): Was a good sort of convert from Rules to be taking in Novice Rider events, but seems to have lost it a bit, and was well behind when he ran out at the second last.

Nathos (race 4): Was not at fault in failing to beat a winning machine today, but he could be worried out of replicating the form in less exalted company.

Danaeve (race 5): Hit the third hard, was slow at the next and more or less lost interest from that point on. This was two flops since Easter and it seems that Phil York's mugging of Honourable Spider then was the ultimate in kidology, as least as far as this season goes.