DERWENT
CHARM PARK
6th March 2005
by Ian Marshall
Due to the postponement of
the Sinnington (twice) and West of Yore meetings, it had been
exactly a month since the only Yorkshire area event of the year so
far at Witton Castle. A sunny afternoon greeted visitors to Charm
Park and plenty of runners made for compelling viewing on ground
that was on the soft side of good. The remarkable Ben Woodhouse
moved his tally on to seven winners for the season, while the
mother and son Walford team of trainer Gill and jockey Mark notched
a double.
There were four runners for the
Hunt Members, which saw Hill Charm and Lord Scroop vying for
favouritism. However, Lord Scroop had at least won a race
previously and came home in front under Michael Morley in a
reasonable time. Lord Scroop has a poor record of completions and
his jumping has left something to be desired in the past, but he
got his act together on this occasion. It followed on from a fair
third to Sevensider in a restricted at Brocklesby Park the week
before. Mighty Rising was three lengths down at the line and has
now been runner-up on the course three times. The ten-year-old was
being pushed along at halfway, but should continue to give
Charlotte Cundall valuable experience and might even sneak a maiden
before the season is out, perhaps here on Easter Monday. Hill Charm
(Clive Mulhall) was a distant third and Mighty Man (Richard
Tierney) even further back in fourth. Mighty Man is a good looker
and might come on for the run.
A field of 16 went to post for
the Confined and the lovely grey Auntie Kathleen made it three wins
from as many starts for Ben Woodhouse. She oozes class, but also
showed fine battling qualities to hold off Mister Bromley and
Serena Brotherton by a neck. Hunter chasing is on the agenda for
the mare and who knows when she will eventually meet her match. The
victory meant it was an amazing seven wins from seven rides for Ben
Woodhouse between the flags in 2005. Mister Bromley was kicked on a
long way out by his pilot and soon had many of his rivals in
trouble. He is highly progressive and very consistent, scoring in
an intermediate at Witton Castle in February. Glendamah and Michael
Morley stayed on for third. His time will come. Step Lively and
Wayne Burnell were a good fourth. The mare missed all of last
season and put in none of the jumping lapses that characterized her
time with Mary Sowersby. Emma Brader took over from Nicky Tinkler
on Duchess Account, but the outcome was still the same: slow
jumping to begin with, but finishing like a train. The mare will
get her head in front again one day. Kuwait Millennium flattered to
deceive, while Maxine Stirk’s The Big Breakfast was pitched
in at the deep end on his racecourse debut. The latter ran quite
green as expected, but will no doubt benefit for the
experience.
14 turned out for the
Restricted, which went to Vics Fane and Richard Tierney by a
length. It was fast and furious and Vics Fane was up with the pace
throughout. It was a notable performance and he only took his
maiden at Market Rasen in January (a race where the
“Jumpingforfun” horse Crake Way was third). Wilfie Wild
claimed second with Lynne Ward aboard. Wilfie Wild has been
knocking on the door several times and ought to get his head in
front again before too long. Ellie Bee was two lengths behind in
third, as Ben Woodhouse tasted defeat for the first time in points
this year. Carew and Lee Bates got into their stride a bit too late
and were fourth and the only other partnership to complete. Henry
Murphy disputed the running, but dropped out very quickly midway
down the back straight on the final circuit. He is far from easy
for Laura Eddery to keep hold of.
A competitive Mixed Open was
contested by 11 horses and Mister Friday was given a superb ride by
Clive Mulhall to prevail. The duo came from a long way back as the
field went a good clip. The winner hadn’t been disgraced in a
hot hunter chase at Wetherby at the beginning of February, although
the race had obviously blown a few cobwebs away. Those wily
campaigners Mr Mahdlo (Ben Woodhouse) and Mr Pendleberry (Nicky
Tinkler) turned in their usual sound displays and filled the minor
honours. Although Mr Mahdlo had triumphed at Witton Castle in
February, it is unlikely that they won’t both pick up an open
before the end of May. Sevensider (Tom Greenall) faced a big step
up in class having had a hard slog round Brocklesby Park to land
his restricted the previous week. Although fourth wasn’t a
bad effort by any means, it was a tough task. Ikdam Melody in fifth
will find easier opportunities. Hadeqa and Civil Gent were both in
need of the outing, with Civil Gent finishing out of the first
three for the first time in point to points.
Division One of the Maiden
attracted 14 runners and Paul Frank steered Ginger Biscuit to
success. The chestnut had been given time to recover after being
brought down on his sole racecourse appearance at Alnwick in 2004.
Horses from the stable are underrated, particularly in maidens.
Knight Crossing and Wayne Burnell were a promising second and
Malton, who wasn’t fully wound up, third with Tom Greenall in
the saddle. There should be more to come from both of them as the
time was eight seconds quicker than the other two divisions. Only
three finished. Born Special jumped much better for the application
of blinkers, but unfortunately they caused him to go off like a
hare and he was a spent force with over a half a mile still to
race. Lilly Beach was tired in a weary fourth when unseating Nigel
Tutty at the last. However, Incisive was in the front rank and
going well when he took a crashing fall at the final ditch.
Just three of the 11 horses in
the Second Division of the Maiden got round and it went the way of
Wee William and Mark Walford. They made every yard, but looked like
being collared by Forty Shakes and Chris Dawson at the penultimate
obstacle. However, Forty Shakes seemed to jump the fence all right,
but knuckled on landing and deposited his jockey. Wee William is
still learning and has bags of improvement in him, while Forty
Shakes should take a maiden. He came from way off the pace to
deliver a late challenge and can be considered unlucky. The
eventual second-placed Zesta Fiesta (Tom Greenall) pulls hard and
is his own worst enemy. Been Here Before was third for Tina
Jackson. The winning distances were a distance and a distance.
Mistermagicman gave a good deal of hope for the future on his first
visit to the racecourse. The Viking absolutely buried Nigel Tutty
when coming down early on the last lap. Thankfully, both horse and
rider appeared relatively unscathed, the horse taking a hefty whack
as the field came through behind.
There were 14 in Division Three
of the Maiden as well, while the fence in the home straight that is
jumped on three occasions was missed out due to the angle of the
sun, leaving 16 fences. A battle royal on the exceptionally long
run-in between Honor and Glory (Mark Walford) and Dannymolone (Ben
Woodhouse) went the way of the former by half a length. Honor &
Glory showed great resolution and built on his debut third behind
the useful pairing of West Coaster and Farington Lodge at Market
Rasen in January. The debutant Dannymolone had obviously shown
something at home as he was far better backed in the ring than his
stablemate (also a debutant) in the previous race. He’ll be
winning soon on this evidence. Bobby Buttons (Nicky Tinkler) was
third and placed yet again, staying on strongly in the closing
stages. Mary Reveley’s Northern Rambler is one to keep an eye
out for in fourth. Landford Lad faded after enjoying a long early
lead. Welham for the David Easterby/Tom Greenall combination was
never sighted on his debut.
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