REVIEW CLIFTON ON TEME UPPER SAPEY SUNDAY 28 APRIL 2002 by Pete Mansell |
Damian
Duggan has made a welcome return to race riding this season and it is
apparent that the Ledbury based rider has retained all the skills that
almost carried him to success in 1994 Riders Championship and his double
at Sundays Clifton on Teme meeting at Upper Sapey is testimony to that
statement. Jalcanto's
supporters experienced a whole range of emotions during the closing stages
of the Confined because the favourite had just beaten off the challenge of
Cherokee Run and looked to have the race in safekeeping approaching the
second from home. With victory
in his grasp, Jalcanto made a monumental blunder and Duggan literally had
to pull his mount up off the floor before setting off in pursuit of Ed
Grettons mount. 5 lengths clear at the last and with victory in sight
Cherokee Runs stride began to shorten and with Duggan seizing the
opportunity Jalcanto caught his tiring rival in the final stride to win by
a neck in the colours of Worcester Businessman Tom Hayes. This was the
second leg of a double for Duggan and Suckley trainer John Rudge, which
had been initiated by Prince Kreislers success in the Members. The winner
had little more than an exercise gallop after being left well clear when
the favourite Blue Lyzander pulled up lame and came home in splendid
isolation to take the prize for Clifton on Teme Businessman David Lee. 17-year-old
Gwen Morris rode a brilliant waiting race on Punters Bar in the Ladies
Open. The rider is only two years older than her partner one made up for
the others inexperience and this combination were challenging Fundy when
the favourite parted company with Serena Easy at the second from home.
Miss Morris works for National Hunt trainer Henry Daly while Sally Thomas
trains the winner at Caynham, near Ludlow. Reefer
Dancer and Steve Blackwell proved too strong for their rivals in the
Restricted, while Willie Bryans Stepquick did just that in the Land Rover
sponsored Mens Open where he had little difficulty beating two very
moderate rivals. Magicien has
been running consistently in Maidens this season and was finally rewarded
for that virtue. Nick Shutts purchased Magicien as a 3-year-old at St.
Cloud Sales. He admitted afterwards that the horse has encountered all
sorts of problems in the intervening period and when he had originally
purchased the horse the thought of winning a lowly Point to Point at Upper
Sapey was not uppermost in his mind. |