REVIEW
EXMOOR AT BRATTON DOWN - SATURDAY 29 MAY 2004
AND
SOUTH TETCOTT AT LIFTON - MONDAY 31 MAY 2004
by Lee Glanville

National title chasing rider Ashley Farrant, who despite being winnerless on Saturday, added three more to his tally at the South Tetcott on Monday.

Farrant won on Squaddie, Polar Champ and Terino, taking his national total to 52, 34 of those ridden in the Devon and Cornwall area. To his dismay he found out that opponent Richard Burton, who was on 45 wins, had also ridden three bank holiday winners.

Saturday’s Exmoor meeting paid the penalty for coming at the end of a long dry spell, the firm ground resulting in few runners. Farrant had looked home and hosed in the Intermediate on Cimmaroon only to capsize at the last, along with second placed Timpani (Richard Woollacott), leaving Sally Godfrey to take the spoils on the only other finisher Romany Move. Woollacott and Farrant both remounted to cross the line and take the placings prizemoney.

Friar Waddon (Colin Heard) had looked a picture in the paddock and Keith Cumings’ charge easily accounted for Farrant on Ballysicyos in the men’s open in the fasted time of the day.

Only two went to post for the Ladies’ open. Sarah West made most of the running on Normania but was collared by Lucy Gardner on Paul Tylor’s Guru Rinpoche over the last.

The earlier races had seen Richard Woollacott take the opening  Countryside Alliance race on Jentar Equilibra and Charlotte Tizzard won the Restricted on Mrs Peggoty - both those races had only two finishers.

Laura Young trained first and second home in the closing maiden race. Albamart Wood (Darren Edwards) easily accounted for his five rivals, stablemate Sup of Tea coming home second.

The South Tetcott were saved by watering and weekend rain and had exciting racing despite only 38 runners in total.

As well as Farrant’s treble, Mary McCarthy went to the head of the national novices’ leaderboard with a double initiated on her own Sandy Duff (recording a fifth win of the season) and completed with a last race walkover on Smokey Joe.

McCarthy has eight wins but Lucy Gardner (seven wins) still leads the area ladies title chase as the award is settled on points. Gardner has 55, McCarthy 42. 

Will White won the Restricted on Emali at 16-1, Abseal having fallen and brought down Winnie The Pooh.  

Richard Woollacott notched up another win on State Medlar, getting home of previous course winner Menantol in the Intermediate.

Richard Darke sportingly gave up his ride on Terino in the maiden for Farrant, having been offered the ride on Mike Weir’s Waddon Hil, and finished second. 

Results

Exmoor
CA Club race: 1, Jentar Equlibra, R Woollacott; 2, Magical Fun, Miss Tessa Hayes. Four ran, only 2 finished. 12l, 6.21.
 

Restricted: 1, Mrs Peggoty, Miss C Tizzard; 2, Askers Jack, J Snowden. Three ran, only two finished. 25l, 6.55. 

Intermediate: 1, Romany Move, Mrs S Godfrey; 2, Timpani, R Woollacott; 3, Cimmaroon, A Farrant. Four ran, dist, 20l, 6.38. 

Ladies’: 1, Guru Rinpoche, Miss L Gardner; 2, Normania, Miss S West., Two ran, 4l, 6.21. 

Men’s: 1, Friar Waddon, C Heard; 2, Ballysicyos, A Farrant. Five ran, only two finished. 6l, 6.06. 

Open Maiden: 1, Albamart Wood, D Edwards; 2, Sup of Tea, A Charles Jones; 3, Rifton Bramble, M Sweetland. Five ran, 4l, 8l, 6.40 

South Tetcott
Restricted: 1, Squaddie, A Farrant; 2, Shobrooke Mill, D Edwards; 3, 3, Virgos Bambino, A Charles Jones. Six ran, 1/2l, 20l, 6.05.
 

Men’s open: 1, Polar Champ, A Farrant. Finished alone. Two ran, 6.03. 

Ladies open: 1, Sandy Duff, Miss M McCarthy; 2, Let’s Fly, Mrs M Hand; 3, Hasten Bak, Miss L Gardner. Four ran, 15l, 10l, 6.00. 

Restricted: 1, Emali, W White; 2, Indian Raider, A Glassonbury. 10 ran, only two finished 12l, 6.12. 

Open Maiden: 1, Terino, A Farrant; 2, Waddon Hill, R Darke; 3, Can You Talk, L Rowe. Eight ran, dist, 1l, 6.33. 

Members: Smokey Joe, Miss M McCarthy. Walked over.