REVIEW
TWESELDOWN RACING CLUB
TWESELDOWN
SUNDAY 16 FEBRUARY 2003

by Richard Mordan

After two earlier postponements Tweseldown club finally managed to hold their meeting yesterday (Sun. 16th. Feb), although I'm sure the recent frosts gave them some anxious moments and racing was put back an hour as a precaution. Results were: 

Club Members (Veteran & Novice riders)
1st Gay Baratineur (Miss Katie Clift) 2nd Topical Tip 3rd Glacial Tabhairne   3l, 5l     6min. 22sec. 15 ran
 
Topical Tip tried to make all and almost succeeded, as a result very few of the runners really got into the race but the winner was given a nicely judged ride to catch and pass the long time leader at the last for a comfortable win.

Mens Open 
1st Down (Sam Waley-Cohen) 2nd Good Boy 3rd Ryans Star  5l, 1l     6min. 17sec. 9 ran
 

Ladies Open 
1st Caldamus (Miss A Goshen) 2nd Garolo 3rd Millyhenry      1 1/2l, 3l     6min. 21sec. 6 ran
 
Of the six runners 3 were greys including the winner. It was a first success in points for this winning hurdler but not unexpected as he was sent off favourite after a series of respectable placed efforts. The runner-up seemed to run in snatches, after being 8l or more adrift in the early stages he closed right up on the leaders towards the end of the first circuit only to drop back again early on the second circuit before staying on again without ever troubling the leader.

Club Moderate 
1st Find Me Another (Julian Pritchard) 2nd Mister Bean 3rd Nautical Lad      15l, nk     6min. 21sec. 12 ran

Mister Bean was sent off favourite to follow up his Larkhill maiden win and give the Waley-Cohen’s a double following their success with Down in the Mens Open but Julian Pritchard re-routed to take the ride on the Caroline Bailey trained winner, arriving with minutes to spare. Racing in the colours of Charles Dixey, made famous a few seasons back by the ill-fated Castle Mane, the 7-year-old Shardari gelding led from start to finish and was an impressive winner. Prate Box was close up and in contention for at least a minor placing when falling at the thirteenth. Et Light once finished a 2l third to Edredon Bleu at Auteil, albeit the best part of 7 years ago. He was prominent for a long way before fading from 2 out.

DUE TO THE LOW SETTING SUN THE PENULTIMATE FENCE WAS OMITTED FOR THE LAST TWO RACES

Open Maiden (Div I) 
1st Hamish Mor (M Baldock) 2nd Astley Gold 3rd Hawkers Hill     6min. 25sec. 11 ran
 
Leonards Broker pulled up suddenly before the last when contesting a minor placing, but seemed to walk back sound.

Open Maiden (Div II) 
1st Dancing Fosenby (Michael Holdforth) 2nd Tanager 3rd Gentlemans Relish          12l 1l 6min. 19sec. 16 ran
 
Described in the race card as "led for 2m4f on point debut. Lacks stamina" the 7-year-old Terimon gelding seemed to have plenty of stamina as he galloped clear of some tired rivals from the home turn. Jack of Kilcash might well have featured in the finish as he was leading when he blundered badly at the 15th, Charlotte Benstead doing remarkably well to keep the partnership intact. Sadly, Highly Explosive collapsed on the run in.