REVIEW
BERWICKSHIRE
FRIARS HAUGH
SUNDAY 9 MARCH 2003

by Dave Scott

The Berwickshire Hunt staged their rearranged 7 race card at Friars Haugh last Sunday. Torrential rain and a strong wind made it a place for only the brave or foolhardy but nonetheless there was some decent racing.

The opening hunt race fell to the Ramsey family when they landed their sixth consecutive win in the race when Saras Delight and Will Ramsay held the strong finishing Flaming Sunrise by a length. The winner was in front plenty long enough and may well have idled a little.

The Confined fell to Passing Danger, partnered by the increasingly stylish Chris Gillon, and this pair continued the excellent run of the George White yard. This one along with Clifford Bay and Exact had the race to themselves from some way out but Gillon always looked supremely confident and when he pressed the button the response was immediate and the issue was resolved. Clifford Bay stayed on better than Exact for runner up. The placed horses can both win a race while the winner showed enough to suggest he can take a step up in grade. Dun Rose was a bitter disappointment and never ran or jumped with any enthusiasm. She is best watched for the time being.

Persian Point and Clive Storey got the better of a sustained duel with Count Keni and Pauline Robson in the Restricted. The pair were duelling from some way out and it took a really strong finish from Storey to gain the day from the last. The runner up lost nothing in defeat and can land a Restricted but the pair may not be any better than this. Wills Perk ran an encouraging race on its return from a spell under rules but was 25 lengths back in third.

The Ladies race attracted only 5 runners but four out there were three with live chances. Riparius and Pauline Robson led from Dere Street and Rose Davidson with Pharmistice and Nicola Stirling close up. Down the hill Pharmistice got a little outpaced and Riparius looked to have got the measure of Dere Street but over the last two Rose Davidson had got her mount back into contention and it was really the greater experience and strength of Pauline Robson which finally won the day with Riparius lengthening away up the run-in. Pharmistice stayed on really well to be only half a length away in third. Better ground could see the third reverse placings with the front two.

In a poor Mens contest Geordies Express and Tom Scott looked the class act if two horrible runs could be forgiven. This proved to be the case with the pair dotting up from Kovach and Shining Light. Unlucky horse was Sparkey Smith which was still in front and looking to be traveling well when unseating Will Ramsay four out. This one looks capable of landing a race.

In the first division of the Maiden, Kevin Anderson worked the oracle on the 11 year old Harleyburn. The pair were always in the van and easily accounted for Just Barney Boy and Timberley which were separated by only half a length at the line. Over The Urrin was a one aced fourth and needs softer ground. This form is moderate.

The final race on the card was won by Bacyan and Dale Jewitt, with the pair atoning for their last fence departure at Corbridge the previous week. The pair were not always fluent but eventually asserted their superiority over the newcomer Run On Thyne. The latter looks a cert for a Maiden. Knysna Belle was a distant third. The race lost some of its interest when Rainha departed early as this was another to run with promise at Corbridge.