REVIEW
EAST DEVON
OTTERY ST MARY
Saturday 4th March 2006
by Lucy Johnson
RACING was put back an hour at the East
Devon Point-to-Point at Ottery St Mary on Saturday to allow any
frost in the ground to thaw and the decision paid off with some
good racing on a nine race card.
Taunton-based amateur Dominic Alers-Hanky and
Caroline Keevil teamed up to score a double, taking two of four
maiden races.
Off Broadway took the first open maiden when
he was held up at the rear of the field and then made steady
progress to win in convincing style. It was the son of
Presenting’s first time over fences, although he had run over
hurdles. “But he lacked confidence,” explained Keevil
who trains the eight-year-old for her partner Pat Bryant. “We
bought him through Aiden Murphy and he ran under Rules with Alan
King. He is inclined to jump very big,” she added.
Willy Furnley delivered in the first division
of the confined maiden, making virtually all the running until the
second last when Be Commercial took it up and then scuppered his
chances when he veered left on the run-in leaving Guy Weatherly
hanging out the side door for a few strides.
Willy Furnely was purchased by Lucy
Fielding-Johnson at last May’s Doncaster Sales for her
partner Richard Mitford-Slade as a 40 th birthday present.
Described as a “very nice horse,” he initially failed
to make the reserve at the sale and was then bought privately after
trainer Philip Hobbs tipped off Keevil.
Fastest of the maidens was Paddy Johno who
scored in the second division of the open maiden with his veteran
owner Michael Milne on board. Milne, 42, who works in finance for
Savills in Bristol and London, was recording his first ever triumph
after trying, on and off, for the past 10 years. The former
semi-professional polo player has the horse with trainer Alan
Walter, who trains a stone’s throw from his home at
Wiveliscombe.
Team Dufosee were the jubilant connections of
Lady Edison after she delivered in the final confined maiden with
Ryan Bliss on board. Trained by John Dufosee, the seven-year-old
mare is owned by his wife Teresa with Biddy Chesney who bred her
and then sent her to Doncaster Sales as an unbroken four-year-old.
She was subsequently purchased by Andrew Wardle who sent her back
to the Dufosees to be broken in and after he decided he no longer
wanted her she was purchased by her current owners.
Wendy’s Dynamo won a maiden at the
course last year and this year he took the restricted, ridden by
Mark Munrowd. The nine-year-old is named after Wendy Murphy who
owns him with Sam Channon. His daughter Jo Sleep trains him at
Lifton in Devon with Yvonne Watson.
Dorset-based trainer Richard Barber was in
double form with Harry Fry scoring on Spuddler’s Dream in the
men’s open and Rachel Green giving Reviewer an exemplary ride
to win the ladies’. Green held up the gelding and then made
steady progress three fences from home, moving up stealthily on the
outside and then scoring by four lengths in a brilliantly time
race.
Ollie Jackson won the members’ race
twice as a jockey, and on Saturday, sent out her second East Devon
members’ winner as a trainer when Ballysicyos got the better
of Vague Idea by three quarters of a length.
Next Saturday’s meeting is the Western
at Wadebridge in Cornwall with the first race off at 12.30pm
RESULTS
Members: Ballysicyos (Mr G Weatherley) 1;
Vague Idea ( Miss T Cave) 2. Two finished. Time 6.29. Distance
¾ length.
Men’s Open: Spuddlers Dream (Mr H Fry)
1; Polar Flight (Mr R Woollacott) 2. Two finished; 6.17, 10l
Exeter Racecourse Intermediate: Nditlir (Mr C
Heard) 1; Maybe A Double (Mr N Wilmington) 2; Kilarney Prince (Mr P
Mann) 3. 6.15, 6l,4l.
Ladies’ Open: Review (Miss R Green)1 ;
Poynton Henry (Miss C Buckler) 2; Vin Du Pays (Miss F Vigar) 3.
6.16, 4l, 1 ½ l.
Restricted: Wendy’s Dynamo (Mr M
Munrowd) 1; Bucket Awl (Mr R Woollacott) 2; Bexley (Mr C Heard) 3.
6.20; 3l, 2l
Open Maiden Div I: Off Broadway (Mr D
Alers-Hankey) 1; Phanton Walker (D Edwards) 2; Karinga Coin (Mr R
Darke) 3. 6.26, 5l, 20l.
Open Maiden Div II: Paddy Johno (Mr M Milne)
1; Tog Go Boge (Mr A Charles-Jones) 2; Ted One (Mrs C Farrant) 3.
6.25; 3l, dist.
Confined Maiden for 5, 6 &7 yr olds Div
I: Willy Furnley (Mr D Alers-Hankey) 1; Be Commercial (Mr G
Weatherly); Winter Scene (Miss L Gardner) 3. 6.58, 2l, dist.
Confined Maiden for 5, 6 &7 yr olds Div
I: Lady Edison (R Bliss) 1; Gone Missing (Mr W Biddick) 2; Hi Star
(Miss L Gardner) 3. 6.38, 4l, 10l.
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