REVIEW
MID DEVON FOXHOUNDS
BLACK FOREST LODGE
Saturday 11th February 2006
by Liam Hale
Harris and Scott again have multiple wins at
Black Forest Lodge
Jockey Neil Harris and trainer Jeremy Scott
were again in tremendous form at Black Forest lodge with a double
in the restricted (Southwestern) and in division one of the maiden
(Gone to Lunch).
Racing was put back one hour due to the
frosty conditions, Warwick and Newbury were abandoned under rules,
and many were on tender hooks as to whether racing would take
place. Once the sun came out the ground thawed and an exciting days
racing could take place, one hour before the scheduled start
time.
Southwestern, recent course maiden winner,
ran on well to quicken well away from another horse with course
form in Tyre Hill Lilly (Lucy Gardener) who had won the Hunt
members race at the Silverton Foxhounds two weeks earlier. The race
was ran at a fast pace but Southwestern asserted on the final
circuit and not even a bad blunder two out could halt the winner
who looks capable of stepping up again.
Gone to Lunch landed to first division of the
maiden under a very educational Neil Harris ride. The winner was
always travelling well and when he took it up five out there was
never any doubt of the result. The six year old chestnut, same
ownership as stable star County Derry, had shown promise on his
first start this season when unseating and looks a typical improver
alongside Jeremy Scott’s two maiden winners at the Silverton
Foxhounds meeting. The six-year-old Mercurey (Michael Miller) ran
on well at the one pace and looks capable of picking up a small
maiden. The Jeremy Scott and Neil Harris team is definitely worth
following in maidens, and their previous maiden winners look
capable of stepping up on their efforts.
The Men’s Open again saw Harris with a
good chance on Ready to Rumble, part of his treble at the Silverton
Foxhounds meeting, but he had to settle for second after never
reaching front runner Highway Oak. Michael Miller gave the winner
an enterprising ride, precise jumping enabled him to lead the field
without being headed. Even though the winner is ten he could be
seen to be an improver as this was his first attempt in Open
company after winning three races in 2005.
The second Ready to Rumble and the ever
reliable Polar Champ (Guy Weatherly), sporting Quick’s star
blinkers, kept on well but could never reach the winner as he went
on four out but should be able to find further opportunities.
The Ladies race saw Richard Kelvin-Hughes
owned Sailors Folly ( Polly Gundry) win the race sponsored by
himself and presented by his Father Gordon in memory of his late
wife.
The grey only had two rivals to beat and
easily had the matter settled when being driven to go on five out
to the open up well. Welsh Veteran Longstone Boy (Charlotte
Tizzard) ran well to ran well for a long stage but could not handle
the pace of the eleven-year-old winner, who had looked promising a
few seasons ago.
Joanne England had a nice first ride on her
and her mothers ex-Irish Alpha Eight and heads to Howick in two
weeks for more experience.
The winner ridden by Polly Gundry was
originally due to ride another West Country point-to-point
favourite Mrs Be in an amateur riders race at Warwick but re-rooted
after Warwick was abandoned due to frost.
Southwestern was a winner at the first Black
Forest Lodge meeting two weeks previously and Tsars Twist and
Fiesty Frosty followed suit in their respected races.
Lucy Gardener won the confined race on her
own Tsars Twist after winning an Intermediate two weeks earlier.
The odds on favourite went on four out and by two out she was well
clear and was eased after jumping the last. Polligana (Robert
Woollacott), an improver in 2005, showed more than in his only
previous 2006 outing and can build on this better showing. The
winner again looks progressive and can win again if kept to the
right grade. The Gardeners are having a good start to the season
and there horses are running well at present.
Michael Scudamore and Fiesty Frosty stepped
up from his Silverton Novice riders win to take the intermediate in
an easy fashion. The progressive five-year-old mare Classi Maureen
(Robert Woollacott), twice winner in 2005, took up an early lead
and still held a sizeable lead four out where Fiesty Frosty was his
closest pursuer. Scudamore did not panic at the leaders lead and
bided his time until he joined the leader two out and sprinted
clear to leave Classi Maureen toiling in second. The winner looks
an improving mare and can give Scudamore further career successes,
this was his second win. Classi Maureen is still relatively exposed
and this gutsy young mare that jumped from fence to fence will be
winning again shortly.
The second division of the maiden was won by
Darren Edwards on Listen Kid, who had been pulled up at the Black
forest lodge meeting two weeks ago. The gelding who had shown
little on the flat for Amanda Bowlby took up the running three from
home and left the favourite Kingston Blue (Tigger Barnes) and hat
trick seeking Neil Harris and Jeremy Scott’s No Turning
Back.
The winner pulled away readily and will be
interesting when stepped up. Kingston Blue again as sent of
favourite, fourth race in a row, and it is hard to see him break
his maiden tag in the near future. The first time over fences No
Turning Back looks capable of picking up a maiden before the end of
2006.
To start of the proceedings at Black Forest
Lodge, one hour behind scheduled time, there were two pony races
which act as qualifiers for the Devon and Cornwall area Grand Final
on the final day of the last point to point of 2006 at Torrington
Farmers.
The Flint family, from Wales, had a memorable
day with Connar Flint winning the young riders race on Stambrook
Marquesa and his older brother Rhys out sprinting his rivals on
Tipsy Flint after getting a flying start.
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