Hursley Hambledon
Hackwood Park
Monday 3rd May 2010
by Simon
McInnes
Despite the course having been subject to
plenty of last minute rain, plus a large chunk of the water
reserves of Hampshire in the weekend before the meeting, there was
a ominous lack of horseboxes in their parking area on arrival.
However, for the region and the time of year, the numbers held up
quite well, so the boxes must have been employing some very
advanced camouflage techniques in order to not be seen. It fills
the time between pony races...
Going: On the faster side of Good? Not
officially offered.
Race 1: Christie &
Co Members
1: Kjetil 2: Presenting Express 3: Leonardo's Friend
Winner owned: Neil Henderson, trained: Jenny Gordon, ridden: Claire
Douglas
A field of four made it for this race, a joint
Members with the Isle Of Wight. The race was run at what appeared
quite a sedate pace, but the final time held up quite well compared
to later races. Presenting Express led until Kjetil chose to go on
with less than a lap remaining, and although today we more or less
got the good Kjetil - this was his sixth pointing win, but with a
better attitude it could have been several more - and though the
margin was comfortable, it was not as far as once looked likely.
Having dropped back to third, Presenting Express regained second as
Leonardo's Friend went out like a light from the second last.
Race 2: Carter Jonas
CA Club Members, Veteran & Novice riders
1: Strong Weld 2: The Tailor Carey 3: Travellers Lad
Winner owned: RG Jenkins, trained: Nicky Sheppard, ridden: R
Jenkins
Chasing his fourth won of the season, Strong
Weld had an uncontested lead for all but a couple of fences and
bowled along there without a care in the world. All seemed to be
going to plan for the horse and those who backed him at 1/3, but
rounding the final bend, he just began to labour a bit, and needed
some urging from the saddle to keep ahead. The Tailor Carey got
within a length at the final fence, but finished at pretty much the
same pace as Strong Weld, with the irritant Travellers Lad, still a
slight danger at the last, having weakened on the run-in. Jewel
Song was disappointing in being a tailed off fourth. The race was
eased for Strong Weld as Balableu, often a front-runner, managed to
get left ten lengths at the start and showed his ire at the
circumstance by walloping the twelfth and unshipping his rider.
Race 3: Ladies Of The
Hunt Ladies' Open
1: Winning Counsel 2: Silver Monarch 3: Charm Of Gold
Winner owned: Mrs KR Smith-Maxwell, trained & ridden: Alexandra
Smith-Maxwell
A race won with a cunning ride, as Winning
Counsel appeared to have gone off at an mad pace, but clung on for
the win. The clue was that having opened a fifteen length lead
early on, it did not get any wider, so after the first couple of
furlongs, she was not travelling any faster than the opposition.
When the rest of the field narrowed the gap, there was no panic up
front, and it became clear quite quickly that Winning Counsel had a
final card to play, like all the best courtroom films. She had also
proven her stamina by making all the running to win a three mile
hurdle. Silver Monarch battled on at one pace, a step forward after
not completing in his last two, but Charm Of Gold's winning run of
three was comprehensively ended - she actually finished fourth but
Miss Midnight's rider did not weigh in and was inevitably
disqualified. The race was mostly run in a hail storm and a wind
that picked up dramatically with the hail. And here we were
thinking the summer wind-down had just cut in...
Race 4: PainSmith
Solicitors Men's Open
1: Cape Stormer 2: Gunner Be Quick 3: Chaucers Miller
Winner owned: The Gorman Family, trained: Carolyn Gorman, ridden:
Marcus Gorman
Early in the race, the participants here
went round five abreast, but the last mile or so was an action
replay of the ladies' race. Cape Stormer was about four lengths
clear, his rivals ate in to the lead, but from the second last
fence they tried hard but could make only slight inroads into the
lead. Although many of them were gained in one season, this took
Cape Stormer to a pointing record of played 41, won 21, at least
according to the racecard stats. Given that they looked equally
suspect in bravery under Rules, he is a good example of what Kjetil
could have achieved. Gunner Be Quick and the veteran Chaucers
Miller (still a year younger than the winner) also win their fair
share, but cannot match Cape Stormer's strike rate. Chaucers Miller
managed to lose six lengths on the first run round the horsebox
bend, and had to be ridden, on and off, after that. Did he have a
continuation wobble or just get outpaced? It was out of sight for
most people.
Race 5: Spraytek
Restricted
1: General Bob 2: Mandalay Bay
Winner owned: Mrs P Dod, trained: John Dufosee, ridden: Will
White
This looked a below par Restricted to begin with,
but we lost Sebber Bridge (some market support left him favourite
with one or two bookies) to a bad blunder at the twelfth, and the
jolly in most places, Heynewboy, pulled up lame after three out.
This left two runners fighting a tight bout for the honours, which
was decided two from the finish. Mandalay Bay, who was possibly
going the better at the time - but it was at most a 55/45 call -
made a bad mistake, which caused his rider to lose his irons.
Lacking guidance from the saddle, Mandalay Bay hung off to the
right hand rail, and had to be virtually pulled up in order to be
directed over the last, rather than by-pass it. To get over and
complete was a good job from the pilot, but as this unfolded
General Bob had opened an unassailable lead. This was his second
win in twelve runs, the other coming in a two horse race. With
Mandalay Bay having pulled up in his last two and generally
struggled all season, General Bob has probably exceeded his level,
even in club and members races.
Race 6: Rutland
Partners Open Maiden
1: Devils Arcade 2: Santarctique 3: Enmore Green
Winner owned & trained: Bill Smith, ridden: Jeremiah
McGrath
A field of ten declared for this, but for some
reason it seemed to have attracted a disproportionate number of
under-sized horses, and looking at the form in the racecard did
raise the doubt that the typesetter had spilled a tin of alphabetti
spaghetti on the paper. The betting concurred in that verdict as
the twelve year old Enmore Green was third in the market - rarely a
sign of a quality maiden. Despite having had a few runs in Ireland
and coming only third on his UK debut at this course, Devils Arcade
did look at least vaguely like a racehorse, and he proved just too
strong for his market rival Santarctique, who was a serial
disappointer under Rules and has hardly set the world alight in
points, but at least has finished three of four (brought down in
the other). From Devils Arcade's perspective this was a lot easier
than taking on rivals such as On Raglan Road and Tricky Trickster!
This pair were a distance clear on the final turn, and Enmore Green
just won a desperate plod for third against Tartan Flyer.
Amazingly, given the form on show, two others managed to get round,
even more hopelessly tailed off.
