South Midlands Area Hunt Club

Racing was delayed for an hour, although I did not hear an announcement that specified if frost or fog was to blame, which did give plenty of time for the crowd to mill about aimlessly. Despite having checked the point-to-point line just after 9.00 and picked up no problem, a suspicious number of people arrived after the original start time, suggesting that a pretty healthy grapevine had been in operation. As far as the racing goes, the fields were numerically disappointing for the two opens and the intermediate, but the entertainment provided was quite decent.

Laughton Manor Stud South Midlands and Sandhurst Areas Club Members

1: Valley Henry     2: Coral Island     3: Mr Snowman

Winner owned & trained: Richard Gurney, ridden: Philip York

The betting suggested that the three placed horses had little to distinguish them, History tells us that Valley Henry was once head and shoulders better than the others, but he did not look 100% fit for this first try at pointing. Putting up a good round of jumping, Valley Henry led three from home and gradually edged clear for a comprehensive success. He should be up to taking on a better standard. Coral Island outstayed Mr Snowman for second. Finbar’s Revenge did not run a bad race in front, but once he weakened, he dropped back quite a way but hung on for fourth.  

Valley Henry - back in the saddle again - a name to taunt Charlton fans?

National Hunt Trainers Restricted

1: Guthrie     2: Sudden Arrival     3: Treacy’s Dot Com

Winner owned: Mr S Gilmore, & Mr R Jeffrey, trained: Mrs K Gilmore, ridden: Richard Barrett

A selection of Rules trainers had combined to sponsor a couple of races, but there were probably few potential migrants to their teams amongst the field for this, and the prevalence of those sporting blue and red made identifying them, especially in the distance, a bit tricky. The main incident took place approaching the last, so with the runners thinned out, everyone got a decent view of it, without necessarily understanding every fine point. The Camerengo had taken it up two out and seemed to be going the better. He ran very wide on the home turn, allowing Guthrie to fight back on the inside, and approaching the last The Camerengo got close to the wing, and with his rider on heavy right hand down, he was unseated as the horse just stayed in bounds, but had enough momentum to go over the fence. As The Camerengo had shown no signs of an attitude problem before this, it must be assumed that a tack problem was the root of the evil. Guthrie has to be considered a lucky winner for that reason, and also because Sudden Arrival was given an awful lot to do, and was reeling him in at the end. Although well behind in third, Treacy’s Dot Com does seem capable of popping up with the occasional better run than this, perhaps when it is least expected.

Eastwood’s Of Berkhamsted Men’s Open

1: Gunther McBride     2: Reel Dancer     3: Lord Seamus

Winner owned & trained: M Tuckey, ridden: B Tuckey

After being slightly disappointing on his debut this season, Gunther McBride started to live up to his Rules form, although he did have to work a bit to put daylight between himself and Reel Dancer. Both of them came into the race having pulled up last time, which is hardly a ringing endorsement for the quality of the race, but they could have come on for the exercise. Lord Seamus caused a delay to the off having attempted to go to post without the declared cheekpieces but he did not run too badly until defeat was accepted four out. Under Rules, memory suggests that he was a bit of a one-paced plodder and as such Open company might prove a bit too much for him. Newcomer Sixtino had a decent looking school round until pulling up before the second last, and might be worth a look in a members or some level less exalted than this.  

Less foggy than memory serves for the Men's Open - they are, l-r, Reel Dancer, Gunther McBride, a hint of Bullfinch, Lord Seamus and Sixtino

National Hunt Trainers Intermediate

1: Teeton Prince     2: Maestro Please     3: Pro Am

Winner owned & trained: Mrs J Trice, ridden: Richard Barrett

Teeton Prince’s form in amassing regular place money was nothing to get excited about, but he did at least look in very decent nick in the paddock. Making most of the running, he towed Maestro Please along in his wake, and when that horse tried to take advantage of the slipstream, Teeton Prince unsportingly kept galloping on and defeated him. Pro Am, once he made a very belated appearance in the paddock, looked quite well, and was in closer touch during the race than the preliminaries. He started to drop away at the third last, and despite looking fit enough, ran as if he would come on for the race.  

A similar batch of colours but very different horses in the intermediate. They are (l-r by order of jockey heads) Pro Am, Teeton Prince, Maestro Please, Keegan Bearnais and Malt Max

Lloyd Organisation Ladies’ Open

1: Reviewer     2: French Executive     3: Heaven Is Above

Winner owned: Mr H Geddes, trained: Richard Barber, ridden: Rachel Green

A four strong line up was disappointing for this race, and on known form Reviewer was a worthy, and short priced favourite. However, the event was much closer than expected, as he was still a length behind French Executive at the last. One thing we know about French Executive is that when they are racing eyeball to eyeball, he will be more than gracious enough to concede to his rival, and Reviewer was the beneficiary by half a length or so.

Open Maiden

1: Baron Steane     2: Blackcomb Mountain     3: Black Legend

Winner owned: Mrs L Gregory, trained: Lady Connell, ridden: Stuart Morris

There were few in this who had shown promise in light careers, and they posted a mixed range of performances once things were under way. Baron Steane is a marvellously imposing individual, who was only beaten a short head on his seasonal debut. Early on he was at the back of a well strung out field, but made his way through the pack with ease, leading two out and staying on stoutly for what proved a comfortable success. Better things ought to beckon. It looked as if Black Legend was going to be next home, but he tied up in the home straight and might not see out three miles. In contrast Blackcomb Mountain has been running over 2m 4f but she seemed to relish the full trip this time. Andean Gold jumped better than on his debut, but once losing the lead he dropped out quite quickly. Flax Hill had gone on six from the finish, but she fell two fences later and as she was in the process of being swamped at the time, she did not look a likely winner. Hydromatic was a staying on fourth but will need to post a lot of improvement to get off of the mark, and did not appear too far short of match fitness.

Astaire & Partners PPORA Novice Riders

1: Winsley      2: Dante Citizen     3: Bell Lane Lad

Winner owned, trained & ridden: Nolan Byrne

There were some respectable old school masters taking part in this, and jockey nous and experience was likely to play a fairly big part in deciding the outcome. The first apir were in command from quite a way out, with eventual fourth Teeton Priceless leading the chase. Up until the final fence Dante Citizen was tracking Winsley as if he could pick him whenever the question was asked, but Nolan Byrne created a good impression of being effective in the saddle and finished the stronger. The race was the fastest of the day, so Dante Citizen lost nothing in defeat and Winsley dispelled, to some extent, doubts about his stamina – except on soft ground. Paddock pick Bell Lane Lad posted a determined finish to nick an unlikely third, which was progress on his pointing debut, but too far behind to get thrilled about. Spanish Main, who is not the force he was but still young enough for pointing, was adrift at the back early on and kept on under tender riding to be sixth or seventh. A more experienced rider could bring about a better result quite quickly, but as he is owned and trained by his rider that looks an unlikely option.