Avon Vale
Larkhill
Saturday 27th March 2010
by Simon
McInnes
An interesting piece of work from the
organisers, managing to sandwich four decent races in between a
typically under supported members' race and a dud of an older
horses maiden at the end of the day. A fine schedule for those
inclined to arrive late and leave early, but with the main approach
track from the east boasting a tight left handed turn with a long,
two foot trench masquerading as a wheel rut, there was always a
risk that anyone sneaking away would be caught sharply in the act.
And whilst I have not been to Larkhill often, even in the
inevitable brisk wind, it was uncannily mild weather-wise. In fact,
the chalk horse on a distant hill was clear in view as was a team
of multi-coloured aerobatic biplanes chugging along in the distance
(the assumption has been made that it was not von Richtofen back to
taunt us from beyond the grave). It might almost have been
spring...
At one point there was a mercifully brief
pronouncement from what was billed as "our MP." This did raise a
couple of thoughts. One was to wonder if the Avon Vale's area did
neatly move with the judgments of the boundary commission. The
other was how many of the crowd, when at an elite venue like
Larkhill, come from the Avon Vale area anyway?
Going: Good
race 1: The Ladies Of
The Hunt Members
1: Scrappie 2: Tir Gra 3: Kilrogan
Winner owned & trained: Charles Whittaker, ridden: Dan
Collins
Only three turned out for this (a race in which
three separate trophies were up for grabs), and Scrappie was long
odds-on to prevail. Early in the race he showed little interest in
acting for the best interest of connections or people desperate to
back a 1/3 winner, but Dan Collins was not taking that nonsense
laying down, and the shortcomings of the two rivals enabled
Scrappie to struggle clear for a hugely unimpressive win, well
below his 2009 form. Tir Gra lasted the better of the other pair,
but since Kilrogan came to the UK he has been best at around two
and a half miles, with a nice break between races, neither of which
are suited to the sport being forced to effectively cram a whole
season into three months, thanks to the weather.
race 2: Wadworth 6X
4-7 year olds Open Maiden
1: Fort View 2: Allerford Jack 3: Outnumbered
Winner owned: Mr & Mrs Guy Henderson, trained: Polly Gundry,
ridden: Robbie Henderson
Firstly it must be made clear
that anything associated with Wadworth 6X is inherently good.
Secondly, this had the makings of a fair maiden even without the 6X
connection. Thirdly, the result was a bit bemusing as it was won by
a horse that had looked a dubious stayer showing more stamina than
some who had shown promise in far more testing conditions. In fact,
the first two had gone clear before the second last, with Allerford
Jack generally jumping a bit more reliably than his earlier form
suggests is normal, but unable to get the better of Fort View, who
battled on heartily. After being runner-up on debut, Outnumbered
was popular in the betting, only for his number to be called as
early as four out. Whilst he did end up a clear third, the first
pair were not threatened in the latter stages. Back in fifth Le
Comte tied up badly in the last half mile, having shown enough
early on to suggest that there is something within to work on. Had
he not pulled up before the last, River Conquest may have nicked
that fifth place, and the limited glory that it brings with it.
race 3: Gaiger
Brothers Ltd Mixed Open
1: Thisthatandtother 2: Portland Bill 3: The Big Breakfast
Winner owned & ridden: Jack Barber, trained: Richard
Barber
This looked a good chance for the aging star to
come unstuck against younger, up and coming opposition. Nobody told
Thisthatandtother of that possibility, so instead he battered them
into submission and won by twenty lengths or more. A bit like an
OAP with a crowbar up against a hoodie whose gun is in fact carved
from rhubarb. Credit to Portland Bill for being second as his
recent form under Rules was terrible, and a change of scene
certainly appears to have done him some good. The Big Breakfast was
hopelessly tailed off four from home, but came home powerfully to
nick third near the post, no danger to Portland Bill. The next two
home were Presenting Jack and Thoor Ballylee, who seemed in advance
to be ones that could threaten Thisthatandtother, but found the
task well beyond them, and in the former case it shot down the
theory that he would come on for the run when he was roundly
stuffed by the winner in February.
race 4: Witneygrain
Ltd Restricted
1: Master Flight 2: Mr Hudson 3: Vintage Class
Winner owned: TF Racing Partnership, trained: Camilla Scott,
ridden: Darren Edwards
Being used to the south-east
area, where a restricted might contain one promising maiden winner
and a handful of horses that could result in you being sectioned
should you invest money on any of them, this was very confusing, as
in a ten runner race, there were six worthy of consideration for
stepping up a bit from this level. Master Flight was definitely one
of them and having been prominent all the way, he was one of a trio
to kick clear at the third last. A superior jump over the final
fence gained him advantages in distance and momentum, and although
he hung left on the run-in, the margin gradually got wider. Mr
Hudson had beaten Vintage Class here earlier in the season, on his
racing debut, and the subsequent win of his victim only served to
promote the quality of the performance. The fact that they ran
against each other with the same outcome is a big thumbs up for
Master Flight, who seems to be coming good in dramatic fashion. Mr
Hudson's stablemate Bless My Soul (four seconds and a win before
today) stood out in the paddock but he jumped left from the off and
his technique got more sloppy as tiredness set in.
race 5: Connolly's Red
Mills Intermediate
1: Civil Disobedience 2: Different Trades 3: Cappoquin
Winner owned: Mr R Mitford-Slade & Mrs L Fielding-Johnson,
trained: Patrick Bryant, ridden: James Tudor
The
bookmakers saw the third Barber-trained hotpot of the day turned
over in this, although with a career record of two out of two
before the race, Civil Disobedience was hardly off of the radar and
may well have ended up narrowly heading the betting. Yet again the
serious contenders shook off the rest four out, with High Toby
leading at that stage, but he was first to crack and the remaining
trio of glory seekers disposed of his services as well. A superior
jump at the last gave Civil Disobedience an edge, made greater when
a peck there knocked a little of the stuffing out of Cappoquin.
This enabled Different Trades to split them (he beat Master Flight
last time out - today's form did not take much research to
unravel!), but the winner was pretty impressive in the way he kept
on to the line. Kings Bitter would probably not have got into the
grand final punch up but a bad error, which his rider did well to
survive, at the fifth last helped exaggerate the degree of
inferiority. There will be easier races than this for him.
race 6: Alec Jarrett
Ltd 8 year olds and up Open Maiden
1: Irish Toast 2: Minireturn 3: Ataraxia
Winner owned: PS Awdry, trained: John Dufosee, ridden: Robbie
Henderson
Despite the fairly favourable results earlier,
the bookies did not price this minefield up until the horses were
leaving the paddock and then spent most of the time rubbing out the
risible prices for something slightly less absurd until a vague
interest was shown. The favourite was Ataraxia, still a maiden
after thirteen races, which set the scene for the race. Based on
the shouts of encouragement, there was some betting interest in
Irish Toast (sixth to Master Flight earlier) and Minireturn (making
her seasonal debut but looking ready in the paddock). Approaching
the final turn, Minireturn was looking the likely winner, but Irish
Toast made his match fitness tell and plugged his way home the
stronger. Ataraxia, who had got detached as early as the sixth,
having been ridden along even earlier, inherited third by simply
not pulling up in a three finisher race. When early leader Taipan
Lad unseated at the eleventh he earned the distinction of being the
only horse to come a cropper all day.