SILVERTON FOXHOUNDS
BLACK FOREST LODGE 23rd
January 2005
by Liam Hale
The ground on this very cold day
was Good to Soft after lots of rain in the prevailing areas the
following day. It was a bumper day with eight races and two
competitive looking Ladies/Mens Open events.
The First race was the Hunt
Members race which had five runners; three of these were within one
point in the betting. SBS By Jove (Alex Charles Jones) trained by
Linda Blackford had shown good form in 2002 and had finished second
in his last race in 2004 and was just favourite on this evidence.
The next two in the betting were Barton Rose (Ian Chanin), the
evergreen fourteen year old looked well in the paddock and had won
his last start and was bidding for a “home” win being
ridden by one of the Huntmasters son (Mr R Chanin), Emali (W White)
was next and was another to win his last appearance and looked well
in the paddock.
Early on in the race Barton Rose
was handy for the first circuit then dropped away leaving Raggy
Jumper (C Dally), who had done a lot of jumping up and down in the
paddock, in the lead where he stayed till five out where he fell
when still going well. At this point SBS By Jove who had been on
the inside throughout took up the running followed by Lucy Gardner
on Mighty Mack. The fancied Emali was the first beaten and was
shortly pulled up after this disappointing effort.
Coming to two out SBS By Jove had beaten off Mighty Mack but Barton
Rose who was prominent and then faded was running on again and with
a better jump at the last would’ve finished closer than the
three lengths that split them at the line. This was a welcome
winner for Linda Blackford and this improved form could bide well
for supporters in the future.
The Second race was the
restricted race for novice riders. Bessie Bunter (T.O’Brien)
was sent off a warm favourite after its course and distance success
last term and was best turned out to boot. Ryders Hill (Miss V
Shaw) was second favourite and this well build gelding had one its
only previous outing to date and was a probable improver at the age
of six.
Musical Sleuth (Joshua Harris) was handy throughout and was only
headed two out before sticking on well for fourth. Bessie Bunter
was challenging at the ditch five out when she fell leaving the
chasing All Eyez On Me (Mrs Z Hammond) and Slip The Net (M Green)
who jumped the second last in the lead and was closely pursued by
Forest Fortress (Jack O’Rourke) who was cutting down the lead
and was narrowly ahead jumping the last and looked to have won the
race but swerved left under Jack O’Rourke’s strong
drive and lost out to the battling back Slip the Net who got back
up by a head. It looked as though Forest Fortress had hung on and
the second placed jockey did place an objection to the result but
the Judges (L Morrish) had the final word and placed Slip The Net
first, who had shown his first real form. Forest Fortress should be
able to gain compensation in the coming weeks as the gelding prone
to jumping errors jumped well on the whole and ran on well. It will
be interesting to see how the Tory’s Slip The Net runs this
season after showing little on the flat and in maidens before
this.
The Ladies Open looked a
competitive race on paper with the first five in the betting being
priced at no more than six to one. Wahiba Sands (Lucy Bridges) was
favourite and had already finished third behind Chasing The Bride
this season for the Bridges family. The ex-Martin Pipe graded chase
winner of over £250,000 was a warm order. There were some West
Country favourites, who were all prominent in the betting, in the
field including Hasten Bak (Lucy Gardner), the game chestnut Wink
and Whisper (Emma Tory) and Phoenix Phyler (Charlotte Stucley) who
had been transferred to the Scudamore family for this season and is
a multiple winner round this course and distance and is normally
ridden handily.
Another Interesting contender was that of Kali Des Obeaux (Emily
Jones) a this former Martin Pipe charge was a welsh raider trained
by the capable R Wilcox in Llangeinor.
From the off Phoenix Phyler took his customary position at the head
of affairs pulling around five lengths clear but this closest
pursuer was Wahiba Sands who wouldn’t let the front running
gelding slip clear by too many lengths. After one circuit the field
was well strung out and five out Wahiba Sands jumped to the front
followed by Phoenix Phyler and the improving Kali Des Obeaux moving
into third followed by Wink and Whisper. Four out and three out
there were three in a line Kali Des Obeaux, the fighting back
Phoenix Phyler, Wahiba Sands who were closely followed by the
improving Wink and Whisper. Two out Kali Des Obeaux weakened along
with the slightly unwilling Wahiba Sands which left Wink and
Whisper and Phoenix Phyler together and Phoenix Phyler battled on
well to win by half a length in a battling performance where the
partnership looked beat early on the second circuit. This was a
competitive race and many winners this season will come from this
race. Kali Des Obeaux is a horse to note for Ladies races in Wales
as after making up a lot of ground then weakening, but still showed
enough ability on this occasion.
The start to the Mens Open was
delayed by around half and hour due to the air ambulance being
needed for a faller in the ladies race, lets hope all parties
involved are ok.
This was another competitive looking Open with the West Country
stalwart County Derry (Neil Harris), 3 rd in last seasons
Cheltenham Foxhunters, going off favourite closely followed by
Ollie Jackson’s Colquhoun (G Weatherly), whom the trainer had
luckily won the ladies hunter chase at the Stratford Hunter chase
meeting in 2004.
The race was run at a good clip with Mrs M Scudamore’s
Greenwich (N Oliver) and Colquhoun pulling a few lengths away from
the field leaving County Derry amongst the chasing group. The
leaders seemed to go off to fast and five out County Derry had
joined the leaders and went on to cruise to victory by eight
lengths to Leon Garcia (T Bishop) who ran on well from out of the
pack and a further five lengths back was Colquhoun. Leon Garcia ran
well for his novice rider and this dual 2004 winner can win races
this season but probably at a lower level than this. Colquhoun is
still a capable performer and will win races this season when
ridden differently. The winner, County Derry, is highly capable and
it would be good to see him running well in the Foxhunters this
season for his owner and trainer Guy Lever and Jeremy Scott.
The fifth race was the Exeter
Racecourse Intermediate race and featured size runners, in the
betting all runners had a feasible chance with the outsider being
priced at around ten to one. Highway Oak (Michael Miller) was
initially favourite but Toon Society (Neil Harris) was well
supported and looked a picture in the paddock. Toon Society won his
maiden last time out and seemed to be the improver in the field
with age on his side. Bally Blue (Rilly Goschen) also looked well
in the paddock and the steel grey has already ran this season when
weakening three out at the Army at Larkhill. Hill Trail (Tigger
Barnes) won the best-turned out prize and looked well. Hill Trail
was handy alongside Highway Oak for most of the first two circuits
with Bonny Rigg and Vicars Chalet seemingly struggling out the
back. Hill Trail weakened around four out where coming to three out
there was a line of three horses which were Highway Oak, Toon
Society and the improving grey Bally Blue. Two out was the same as
three jumped almost together but running down the hill Rilly
Goschen and Bally Blue attempted to kick on stealing a couple of
lengths turning the sharp bend before the last. Bally Blue jumped
the last but Toon Society was fighting back under a determined Neil
Harris and the distance at the line was half a length with another
half back to Highway Oak, who also battled on well for pressure
after being prominent throughout. This was a welcome winner for
Rilly Goschen and she is currently second favourite behind Polly
Gundry for the national ladies title. The fact Bally Blue had
already ran this season probably gave him the edge in this contest
but he won in determined style. Toon Society looks like a horse to
be following in the next few weeks.
The First division of the Maiden
contained eleven runners with Killy Beech (Alex Charles Jones,
successful in the first race) being made favourite. He was closely
followed in the betting by drifting Willoughby Flyer (Joe Price)
who had shown good placed form in Welsh maidens finishing second on
its last three runs. Other runners in this maiden were
inexperienced and could improve on what they have previously
shown.
Willoughby Flyer was handy throughout along with Warren Hill (D
Turner) and when Price kicked on at the ditch, he went further
clear of fewer rivals, as by this time there were only a few
toiling rivals left. Harry Ace (T Vaughan), another Welsh raider,
was improving and getting closer to Warren Hill who was only a few
lengths off the leader. Coming to two out Willoughby Flyer kicked
again and came home to beat Warren Hill by 15 lengths. Warren Hill
was the only other finisher as Harrys Ace fell at the last when
challenging his rival and was winded on the ground for a few
minutes before being cheered by the crowd as he got back up.
Willoughby Flyer’s trainer R Butterworth must have been tired
of seconditis with this horse and he really stamped his authority
on this race. Harrys Ace showed ability in this race until coming
down at the last and this horse, which has been placed in a bumper,
and can win a race as long as he shows no ill affects of his
fall.
The Second division of the Open
maiden had eleven runners with ex rules horse Tsars Twist (Lucy
Gardner) going off favourite. This horse that used to be trained by
Lucy’s mum under rules showed enough ability to suggest that
he can make a successful switch to the PTP field. Pink Lady (Rilly
Goschen) trained by Mrs S Brown was bets turned out and was
supported.
Tsars Twist made most of the running at a sedate pace followed by
Barry Lydon (A Michael), Belles Last (T Vaughan) and Wendys Dynamo
(M Munrowd). Lucy Gardener could never get away from her rivals and
was swamped two out by Pink Lady and Belles Last. Going to the last
Rilly Goschen and Pink lady kicked on two lengths and that was the
final distance with another two lengths back to Tsars Twist. All
the placed horses should be able to pickup maidens this year and
Pink Lady gave Rilly Goschen a double for the day and helps her in
her quest for the title.
The final race of the day, and
by this time it was very cold, was the third division of the open
maiden. Ten went to post with the well supported ex rules performed
Minted (R Woollacott) being favourite. Minted always raced handily
but had not shrugged off Minsgill Mans (T Vaughan) jumped two out
although the rest were beaten leaving The Sycophant (Mrs S Brown)
in third. Tim Vaughan rode a strong ride cutting up the inside of
Minted to battle on bravely to win by a few lengths at the line,
showing why he is one of the toughest jockeys on the Welsh circuit.
This was the fastest maiden time of the day and provided a horse
which is capable of mixing it at a higher level. This of been a
good tonic for owner and trainer as Harrys Ace was running well
when falling at the last in the previous race. This was a good
performance from the horse who had been placed in a 3m Worcester
hurdle and should be able to add to his tally this season.
A double for Rilly Goschen and
the Welsh!!!
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