REVIEW
WESTERN
WADEBRIDGE
SATURDAY 15 MARCH 2003
by Lee Glanville

Former national champion rider Leslie Jefford enjoyed two winners at Wadebridge, division one and two of the maiden, and with David Pipe training the winner of division three, current leading rider Ashley Farrant would have been likely to have had three winners had he not broken a bone in his hip earlier in the week. 

All three horses were hot favourites. Jefford won division one on Great Jubilee, trained by Pipe, getting up to beat Lirkimalong (Sue Young) by four lengths. His second win was on the 11-1 on, highly thought of Just Sally, trained by Farrant at his yard near Bampton. 

Jefford’s luck ran out in the third maiden where he had a crashing fall at the second open ditch on Yorkshire Terrier while Pipe’s winner, Sajomi Rona, was partnered by Tim Eades.
Jefford gave up the rest of his rides for the day and took the day off on Sunday.

The men’s open was won by Its Not Simple (Ben Trickey) at 14-1 and saw connections in before the stewards due to the horses’ much improved form.  It was accepted that the much faster ground at Wadebridge was the reason. The smart Doublet (Richard Woollacott) could only make second although it is only a matter of time before this horse is in the winners’ enclosure. Destin D’estruval was only two lengths back in third.

The ladies’ open went to Breteche and Elise Newman – the pair  been second at the course previously on the jockey‘s first ride and this time they went one better, comfortable beating Lirsleftover (Sue Young).

One of the closest finishes of the day was in the Restricted where Alan and Jane Walter’s Parte Prima upgraded, under a good ride for Richard Woollacott – his sixth win of the season.  Alan Walter had been unsure as to whether they would beat favourite Kestick and had also deliberated about whether to run the horse on the fast drying ground for two hours before the race! Woollacott was second three times during the day and Polly  Gundry had finished in the frame in three previous races before making it to number one on Tony’s Time in the Intermediate.

The confined hunts race, first on the card, was second fastest of the day, and was won by Lucy Gardner on County Bash who stayed on strongly. The horse, owned and trained by Lucy’s aunt Roma Cook, had won at the course at the previous meeting and was second at this meeting last year.

Results: Confined Hunts: 1, County Bash, Miss L Gardner; 2, Wag the Brush, Miss P Gundry; 3, Dark Challenger, R Darke. Seven ran, 1/2l, 1l, 6.06.

Ladies’ Open: 1, Breteche, Miss E Newman; 2, Lirsleftover, Miss S Young; 3, Handsome Henry, Miss S Gaisford. Six ran, 4l, 2l, 5.59.

Open Maiden Div One: 1, Great Jubilee, L Jefford; 2, Lirkimalong, Miss S Young; 3, Native Christie, A Glassonbury. Nine ran, 4l, 2l, 6.15.

Div Two: 1, Just Sally, L Jefford; 2, Cut Down The Sound, Miss S Gaisford; 3, Maori Chief, Miss P Gundry. Eight ran, 3l, 2l, 6.21.

Div Three: 1, Sajomi Rona, T Eades; 2, Beachtime, Miss P Gundry; 3, Lingering Fog, Miss M McCarthy. 12 ran, 1l, 1/2l, 6.09.

Men’s Open: Its Not Simple, B Trickey; 2, Doublet, R Woollacott; 3, Destin D’Estruval, T Dennis. Six ran, 5l, 2l, 6.15.

Restricted: 1, Parte Prima, R Woollacott; 2, Kestick, Miss T Cave; 3, Acting Tough, Mrs M Hand. Six ran, 1/2l, 2l, 6.16.

Intermediate: 1, Tony’s Time, Miss P Gundry; 2, Timpani, R Woollacott; 3, Wild Bavard, T Dennis. Five ran, 10l, 15l, 6.17.