March 2008 - Posts
A busy time for pony racers is approaching. The Eggesford are holding pony races at Upcott Cross on April 12 and then there are meetings every two weeks for the rest of the season.
If you are going to a point to point try and get there a bit earlier to cheer on the junior jockeys, they will really appreciate your support.
There will be pony racing at the Dartmoor, Axe Vale, Modbury Harriers, Dulverton West, South Tetcott and Torrington Farmers point to points, all before racing bar the Torrington.
Wet weather held up our plans to run Storm over Easter when we hoped we might find a race without the 'next up and coming star' in it.
However, I was glad we didnt run at Kilworthy where the ground was holding and there was a bitter wind blowing straight down the course.
I was glad I went to watch though as the mixed open attracted a quality field and it was a treat to see the area's best horses lock horns.
Of course Rockwithacaveman (ridden and trained by the invincible Polly Gundry) won - on his first attempt at an open - but he had to battle at least a little bit with Jalon's Star who is suited by this course as the run in is towards the horseboxes.
Dantes Back, a horse I have been wary of all season, faded badly in the closing stages but Sue Trump's McSolo who finished third put up a game performance and will win at this level.
I heard great news from the meeting at Trebudannon on Monday when my friend Caroline Furse won the Restricted with Humblexpectations. Like me she trains the horse at home and does all the work - and I also hear her co-owners and family celebrated hard! The horse was ridden by Tim Dennis who had recorded a win at Kilworthy on Brook Castle - a horse he trains. It was his first ride back after being concussed at Great Trethew a month ago.
Well, watch out for Rockwithacaveman, that's all I can say after watching him beat our Lisheen Storm at a very muddy Buckfastleigh meeting.
We ran in the Confined instead of the Mixed open as that was the big prize money West Country Champion Chase, and in theory it should have been the easier race, but we ran into an even better horse in doing so! Well, hindsight is a great thing. However, Storm must be one of the most consistent horses on the circuit ( apart from Rockwithacaveman who was notching up his fourth win of the year) as he ran another great race only to find one better! At least his form stands up whichever way you examine it and, with hindsight again, he hated the ground which was getting tackier by the minute.
Rockwithacaveman jumped the last like a very good horse indeed and stays forever - rumours were flying round on course that connections had turned down a massive sum of money for him already.
Richard Woollacott deputised for our regular pilot Tim Dennis (who is still recovering from being concussed at Great Trethew), and did a great job on tricky ground.
The mixed open by the way was won in bizarre style by Dare to Dream and Neil Harris after Jalon's Star (Ben Robarts) had done all the hard work, got in front and promptly stopped after the last fence. Harris had to ride like a cowboy to stop Dare To Dream joining in with Jalons Star! Polly Gundry was second on Balinova who will improve no end for the outing with the gutsy Concert Pianist third under Richard Woollacott.