heythrop
dunthrop
23rd January 2005
by Geoff Handley
photos by Graham Fisher
Racing was delayed for an hour
at this bitterly cold North Oxfordshire venue. The course did not
get an overnight frost which was surprising as the roads through
the picturesque villages of Heythrop and Dunthrop were quite icy
and snow was reported not too far from the track. The
temperature only just hovered above freezing all day. Conditions
were sticky with the going as good with good to soft in places. A
large crowd took full advantage of the bright sunny day and even
Dom had made the long journey down from Yorkshire.
1. Hunt
Members
The first race started at 12.30 with eight runners going to post.
Lambrini Gold looked fit in the paddock and it showed on the course
as he won well for jockey Henry Kinchin and trainer Jason Maloney.
Purchased at last years Doncaster sales, this 11-year-old
gelding had pulled up on his last five outings when trained by
Ginger McCain. Taking it up on the final circuit, his nearest
challenger the favourite, Tom Putt, was just behind the leader when
he slipped on the bend and unshipped Peter Mason. This left the
winner a long way clear of the rest of the field. Landing Rights
came down at the last when held in second, leaving Wilberforce to
finish a remote second.
Moscows Return drifted in the betting and was always behind before
pulling up.
Lambrini Gold and Henry
Kinchin take the Members
2. Confined
Peter Mason wasted no time from his first
race mishap to win for his father on Love At Dawn. Starting second
favourite, he took up the running on the final circuit to win going
away. Strongly handled by the jockey who was recording his sixth
win, Love At Dawn won twice last season at Andoversford defeating
the useful Camden Carrig (was to run later) and at Garnons. The
favourite and one to note next time was the Polly Gundry ridden
Charlie Strong for Ben Tulloch. Leading from the outset he was
slightly outpaced on the final circuit but much to his credit he
stayed on strongly.
Sheila Mackenzie with Tim Lane aboard finished third of the sixteen
runners.
One to take out of the race was fourth placed Irilut, who would
have finished a clear second had he not almost unseated Sam
Waley-Cohen at the last (was left hanging onto the horses
neck!).
Love At Dawn and Peter
Mason are comfortable winners of the Confined...
...almost upstaged by Sam Waley-Cohen's rodeo
act on Irilut at the last
3. Ladies
Open
Ollie Bush made the long journey from her Cullompton yard
worthwhile as the useful Mrs Be, well ridden by Polly Gundry, saw
off her market rival, the Heather Irving trained/ridden You're
Agoodun by an easy four lengths. Mrs Be is clearly talented having
finished third in her final outing Stratford's John Corbet Cup for
Novice Hunter Chasers although prior to this she was beaten at
Barbury at 1/3 and at Ludlow at 8/11. The yard has some promising
types at their Devon stables including Flash Point, What A Mover
and Vinnie Boy. Owner John Burbridge also has the useful Bright
Approach.
The fourteen-year-old Bitofamixup ran on well to finish third for
Brea Donnelly. The race was run over an extended 3m5f with twelve
going to post.
Ladies Open winner Mrs Be
(Polly Gundry) is chased over the last by You're Agoodun
(Heather Irving)
4. Mens
Open for The Lord Ashton Of Hyde's Challenge Cup
Julian Pritchard had won four of the last five runnings of the
prized Lord Ashton Of Hyde's Cup run over four miles including the
last two years on John Burbridge's prolific Bright Approach, but
sadly he was out of action having suffered a nasty collarbone
injury at Tweseldown.
Three horses dominated the betting in this seven-runner field, the
even money fav was Camden Carrig closely followed by
Americanconnection and at 7/2 was Tanager.
The race was dominated by these three over this marathon trip,
Camden Carrig, ridden by Nick Phillips, dominated in the early
stages of the race but on the final circuit Americanconnection with
James Diment took up the running and was three lengths
clear when coming down on the back straight. This left
Tanager clear, pulling away to win by fifteen lengths from the
favourite who will come on for the run. Tanager also ran in the
John Corbet Cup, a race that is working out well and should pay to
follow (won by Cantarinho). A good win for Ben King &
Karen Lawther.
Tanager and Ben King land
the Lord Ashton of Hyde's Challenge Cup from Camden Carrig and Nick
Phillips
5.
Intermediate
Astley Gold looked a picture in the paddock and duly obliged. 10/1
was available on this lovely looking chestnut. He has been rather
unlucky in his last few runs, he was carried out on his seasonal
debut at Tweseldown and was also brought down when favourite at
Clifton-on- Dunsmore, but made no mistakes here. Always up with the
pace, he took it up three out from Native Thunder to win by just
over three lengths for the combination of jockey Tim Lane and
Bedfordshire trainer Garth Whisker.
Tim Lane returns on
Astley Gold following their win in the
Intermediate
6. Open
Maiden (Div 1) For six year olds or over
Victory went to the 10-year-old maiden Penlet Too, a full brother
to Penlet, giving Barry Denvir a win on his very first ride.
Available at 20/1 in the ring, Penlet Too stayed on strongly having
only been fourth as they jumped the second last. Alston House had
looked all over the winner for Guy Disney jumping the last in the
lead but was outstayed by the eventual winner.
The one to note was Jewel Song who made eye-catching headway on the
final circuit, jumping well before weakening into third for the
promising Jonathan Jarrett. This is the second eye-catcher in a row
for Oxfordshire trainer Matt Hazell with Finder Keeps running a
promising race last Sunday at Barbury and this combination are
worth keeping an eye on in future.
Penlet Too and Barry
Denvir - winners of the Older Horses Maiden Div 1
7. Open
Maiden (Div 2) For six year olds or over
Eleven runners went to post for this second division (same as the
first) with victory going to Katie Baimbridge's Arceye. Well ridden
by Ed Walker this 5/1 shot was always close up with the pace and
took up the running after the early pace setter Dun Aengus came
down on the final circuit. He held on well pulling out more close
home, however Ed Walker quickly dismounted from the winner as he
became distressed in the shute on the way back to the winners
enclosure. Fortunately, Arceye seemed ok after some five minutes
standing still. Runner up some twelve lengths behind the winner was
Pirandello Due for Zoe Lilly.
Arceye and Ed Walker
comfortably take Div 2
8. Open
Maiden Race (Div 1) For five six and seven year olds over 2m
4f
The strong favourite was the locally trained/ridden Nailed On for
Andy Martin following three useful runs including a fair third on
the opening day of the season at Cottenham. He was ying in fourth
place and with the race yet to unfold when he came down on the
final circuit. The race was run by Steve Flook's Gumlayloy, given a
stylish ride by Rhys Hughes. Potentially under rated, he jumped and
settled much better here as he failed to complete in three of his
four races last season. A good win for the Leominster yard, their
runners at Barbury last week looked like they would come on for the
run particularly Beauchamp Oracle.
Runner up was Ben More who should win a maiden and another eye
catcher back in third was Ski Country who travelled well
throughout.
Gumlayloy and Rhys Hughes
return after their win in the Younger Horses Maiden Div
1
9. Open
Maiden (Div 2) For five, six and seven year olds over 2m
4f
The final short maiden was split and was not run until 4.30pm with
the light fading fast. Those brave souls who had stayed to the end
were now freezing. There was a big racecourse whisper for
Springbrook Girl from the Andy Hobbs yard and was Adrian
Wintle’s only ride of the day. Much to the frustration of the
small crowd that was left, he came down three out to leave the way
open for Son Of Flighty and to give the yard of Andy Martin quick
compensation, although Andy didn’t ride (unseated in the
previous race), the successful jockey was Ian Howe who had not even
sat on the horse before. Springbrook Girl should be followed next
time.
Son Of Flighty and Ian
Howe emerge from the twilight as ready winners of Div
2
A very successful meeting with
100 runners going to post. Admission was £20 for cars though
for single occupancy a charge of £15 was levied which is
rather too expensive.
|