Cothelstone 18/05/11

Weston & Banwell Harriers

The billing given to the Weston & Banwell by local sources was that they run up and down Crooks Hill in the manner of the Grand Old Duke of York. Whatever the accuracy or otherwise of that perspective, there was no doubting how well organised that the point-to-point proved to be, which in turn brought out decent fields despite the prevailing fast ground. No walkovers, and as many as twelve turning out for the finale (the safety limit was sixteen, thirty entered, so a brief tease of a possible divided race). There had been some drizzle during the day, but not really enough to make much difference, so everyone who made the journey got what they had expected.

Going: Firm

Race 1: Hill Farm Equestrian Hunt Cup 

1: Nicholas The Spark

Winner owned: Mrs JA Hart, trained: Angela Davis, ridden: Jack Barber

Nicholas The Spark set off in front at a real dawdle, and his jumping was often slow - not going fast enough to take off? - even allowing Hallem Hall, the only other runner, to head him briefly at the second. After errors at the 13th and 14th fences, Hallem Hall pulled up having lost his action (possibly temporarily), and Nicholas The Spark was left to complete alone. The indifferent techniques displayed meant that this was not quite a given, but he managed to avoid doing anything idiotic, and retained the trophy won in 2010.

The hunt race has some cat-and-mouse stuff normally left to indoor cycling. Nicholas The Spark leads Hallem Hall

Race 2: Griffin NuuMed Countryside Alliance Club, Novice Riders

1: Rowdy Yeats     2: Roll On Rose     3: Stoneriggs Merc

Winner owned & ridden: Harry Marriot, trained: Carrie Fanshawe

Despite five going to post, this was another race that was run (to the naked eye) at an unusually slow pace, dictated by the ghostly favourite Stoneriggs Merc. That lead lasted until four out, where he did not seem to be going too badly, but he dropped away tamely from the third last - but as that stretch is not quite in view, was it horse or rider who ran up the white flag? He was eased before popping over the last, as there were no others continuing. The lead had initially been passed to Roll On Rose, who had recovered her best form since the ground quickened up, but she was outstayed by Rowdy Yeats. Although a multiple winner under rules, Rowdy Yeats had become a bit too willing to accept a place in that sphere, yet has taken well to points and had been leading an open when missing the final fence last time. As a son of Un Desperado, his mental gyrations are a family tradition - what will he get up to next? In handicap chases, he was rated a stone and a half better than Stoneriggs Merc, so is today's commitment blamed on an angry reaction to the insult of the other horse being a shorter price?

Race 3: Beachcomber Inn Restricted

1: Mullins Mill     2: Party Pictures     3: Webberys Dream

Winner owned & trained: G Herrod, ridden: William White

This produced the upset of the day, as even the racecard ratings, which tended towards a cheerful tone about the horses, gave Mullins Mill a score of 0.* He had won a maiden in Ireland in 2009, missed last year, and not really found his form since returning. There was no fluke over how he managed this win, pouncing on Party Pictures between the last couple of fences. The runner-up gave himself a squeak by being slicker over the final obstacle, but Mullins Mill got himself going again, and had the most to give when things got tough. The next three home were still in contention half a mile out, but found themselves significantly outpaced from there. Webberys Dream had probably gone through the race more smoothly than Stalbridgeswansong and Shuffles, and he reaped the benefit in grabbing the minor honours. 

* In the hunt race entries, the undeclared Little Moor boasted a career record of UPFFR7 and still managed to get rated 12.

Party Pictures has a small, but perfectly formed, lead from Artistic Approach and Shuffles. The winner is the hidden horse below the rider in light blue and red. At this early stage, a picture of Mullin Mill did not yet seem very essential

Race 4: Maxwells Chartered Accountants Men's Open

1: Johnny's Way     2: Twocute     3: Royal Tender

Winner owned: G Norman & GB Foot, trained & ridden: Richard Woollacott

Although he has not been invincible in the last couple of years, Johnny's Way has won five races in that time, and that form was enough to make him a very short priced favourite for this. The threats came from Portway Lake (second in a confined last time, and not yet successful in open company), Sesame Rambler (capable on his day, and with Phil York on board, but firm ground an issue) and Beadnell Bay (if able to recover his peak form of previous years). Sesame Rambler tried to make the running, which he could not do on the ground and took plenty of niggling to even stay prominent. As they went out onto the final lap, Johnny's Way was cruising along ominously well in third, and the further they went, the more dominant he became, eventually winning unflustered. His only remaining challenger three from home was Tuesday's Child, who went out like a light from there, being relegated out of the places buy the futile scrapping of Twocute and Royal Tender. The second, a very lowly rated handicap chaser, has not done much in points either up to now, and the third tends to pull up as par for the course - not the sort of stuff that ought to have been giving Johnny's Way anything to worry over.

Race 5: Clifton Club Ladies' Open

1: Findlay's Find     2: Coombe Hill     3: Miss Midnight

Winner owned: PD Miles, trained: Mrs M Miles, ridden: Claire Hart

Success number six in the season for the young find (ha!) of 2011. Five year old Findlay's Find won this without fear of defeat from a long way out. It was not all plain sailing, as he made mistakes at the sixth, seventh and thirteenth, as well as failing to convince in the manner he popped the last. All in all, the race showed his immense potential but also the potential achilles' heel hinted at when he unseated at Cheltenham on his last appearance. Coombe Hill was finishing runner-up for the fifth consecutive race, but he did look to give his all to out grind Miss Midnight - he just did not look very quick on the ground he had to work with. Although only third today, Miss Midnight had already trebled her pointing tally this year with four wins, but she just found this opposition a touch too tough.

Shake The Bottle has a moment in the limelight with two laps remaining, with the airborne pursuit (left to right) being Findlay's Find, Miss Midnight and Mollycarrsbrekfast

Race 6: Salt Express Confined 

1: Merry Terry     2: Deep Hall     3: Another Bit

Winner owned: Mr & Mrs RE Dimond, trained: Richard Dimond, ridden: Robbie Henderson

Having been witness more than once to Merry Terry failing through the summer of 2010 to win handicap chases that ought to have been well within his grasp, it was slightly dismaying to turn up here and find that he had won three times in points this year. When out of your normal area, humans find it comforting to see familiar things acting normally - hence the cinematic success of Planet Of The Apes. Having had a chat with a local pundit, it was reassuring to be informed that the volatile moods of the horse still dictated everything he achieved. The trouble was, in this four runner race, the challenge was a bit sparse, and the main danger, Triggernometry misjudged the first and unseated, hampering Deep Hall for good measure. That left the veteran Another Bit with an uncontested lead on his seasonal debut, which he enjoyed until running out of puff at the third home and being allowed to come home on cruise control. Merry Terry had been niggled along at regular intervals and there was still a chance of an upset, but Deep Hall could only plod on slowly once he had passed Another Bit. This left another wide margin win, but only those cast in a Merry Terry could be manage to be so comfortably clear yet so unimpressive simultaneously.

Race 7: Boulter Mead and Junction 24 Ltd Open Maiden 

1: King Of Alcatraz     2: Ellie's Prince     3: Lady Oaksey

Winner owned & trained: RC Smith, ridden: Will Biddick

The biggest field of the day produced an extraordinary race and the most thrilling finish. There was a brief moment when a pheasant decide to take a stroll on the run-in, which makes a change from a loose dog, and when he got a good cheer from the crowd, his attention seeking gene cut in, so he jogged past the post, basking in glory, but making sure he was out of harm's way before the horses arrived. As for the real race... Ellie's Prince skipped off at the start and was soon thirty lengths clear. Obviously we all expect that this is not sustainable, but after his opening spurt the distance did not increase, and he thus for most of the race he was not going any faster than the pack. Some of that pack may have been advised to have got closer much sooner, others were never going to have any impact, however they approached it tactically. Four from home, with Ellie's Prince still more than fifteen clear, the signs of panic were developing behind him. However, between the third last and penultimate fence King Of Alcatraz made rapid progress to reel in the pace setter, and he had a small edge at the last. Once joined Ellie's Prince encouragingly refused to roll over and stuck on all the way to the line, but King Of Alcatraz (making his debut, odd green moments in the paddock) was ready to race and just prevailed. Pointing might be the making of the second, the winner made a very positive start. Lady Oaksey finished strongly as well, and was only pipped for second. The other finishers were well adrift, led in by a far from knocked about Showman - but he has run and failed far too often to read much into that. Note that for those of us standing by the last fence, the PA speakers were dismantled before the result was announced officially - so the placed horses are not 100% guaranteed.