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. |