Irilut returns to his best to take Mixed Open in style

One of the best Point-to-Point meetings staged so far the season was held at Ashorne near Warwick on Monday. This Bank Holiday Monday afternoon fixture drew a massive crowd and anyone who turned up would not of been disappointed with 71 runners turning out on a 7 race card. The afternoon was full of decent racing with plenty of incidents to look back on.

The first race was the 5 year olds and upwards Maiden race in which the well supported Alan Hill runner Sir Ronan was sent off favourite, backed in from 3/1 into 2/1. The race looked all to play for with 3 to jump with another of the fancied runners in the race Newnham Rambo just in front with Sir Ronan gaining ground on the front three hand over fist. But what was about to happen I have never witnessed before. The leading four runners all fell at the 3rd last fence, which left Just Playfull who was about 20 lenghts behind the front four clear as the sole remaining rival. James Tudor ran after Sir Ronan and remounted to eventually finish the course in 2nd place, behind the very lucky winner who although with no opposition to beat nearly threw it away as he clampered over the last fence. Sir Ronan's day will surely not be long coming with a little more luck in running.

So after the meeting got off to a crazy start, the confined race was next on the card and this saw a flip flop in favourites by Persian Hero to Fiddle. Fiddle won a Warwick Bumper a couple of years ago but was disappointing on his pointing debut. He was sent of the 2/1 favourite with Persian Hero drifting out to 3/1. Fiddle and Sam Waley-Cohen were always up near the pace and when they hit the front they did look like the winners, although John Russell had other ideas as he sat patiently off the pace and came with a good late rattle to join the leaders as they jumped the last fence. Persian Hero stayed on too strongly for Fiddle and recorded a one length success.

The afternoon was full of horses coming from off the pace to take victory so it was best to avoid the front runners. I think this was mainly due to many of the races being run at too strong an early pace, therefore playing into the hands of the stronger finishing horses. Present Love from the Geofrey Deacon yard was strongly backed from 5/1 into 2/1 and sent off favourite for Division 2 of the Open Maiden race . This race saw a confidently riden Banjaxed Girl record a decent success from the long time leader Alanna's Oscar with Boddington Lad also showing improved form.

The Hunt Members race followed and we were hoping Reel Dancer was going to turnout in this race. Unfortunately this was not the case and the consistent If you Must was sent off a strong even money favourite. This race was won in very decent style by Uppertier although he did make a few jumping errors along the way and was given a patient ride by G. Hopkinson hitting the front with three to jump. Castle Banquet for Fred Hutsby did not like the slow early pace and was in front for most of the journey but a bad jump 3 out cost him all chance and he looked a tricky customer hanging all over the course after that. This left Uppertier in front from the rather one paced looking If you Must and Uppertier galloped on strongly to the line to record a comfortable 10 length victory.

The Mixed Open Race was the highlight of the card with Marblehead, Reach For The Top and Irilut looking the main players. Marblehead was sent off favourite just in front of Reach For The Top. Marblehead took the field along for most of the race but soon came under pressure when Reach For The Top hit top gear down the far side on the final circuit. Irilut who travelled extremely well in the race was poised just in behind Reach For The Top and looked a very big danger as the pair drew clear with three to jump. Irilut was still travelling strongly and came upsides Reach For The Top at the second last and Irilut seemed to be gaining the upper hand as they drove towards the last but despite a terrific effort from Ben Tuckey to try and keep his mount straight, Reach For The Top was having none of it and the rider did extremely well to avoid the wing of the fence as he cocked his jaw and duly ran out. This left Irilut clear of Picabo Kid and Marblehead. Irilut would of probably won the race but it would of been extremely interesting if Reach For the Top had not run out at the final fence.

If all that excitement and drama from the first 5 races was not enough then the Restricted race provided much the same with three runners all going hammer and tongs at their respective mounts at the last fence and all three of them bumping and barging on the run to the line. It was not surprising that a Stewards Enquiry was called. All the horses and jockeys concerned were trying their hardest and when the official result was that accidental interference had been caused by Fuselier rolling into Babysitter who then rolled into Mistress Katie, eventually the correct outcome was reached.

The final race on an absolutely exhilharating card was the PPORA club Members Race with Tribal Venture already scoring three times this season under his novice rider jockey. He was sent off the well backed 5/4 favourite. The old man of the party My Best Buddy took them along for most of the race but as he wilted out of it with three fences to jump it looked as if Prioritisation, who put up a terrific effort at the course two seasons ago to run Irilut very close, who looked like he was going best from the favourite Tribal Venture. Tribal Venture's jockey Ollie Murphy never paniced and after giving him a few reminders he was staying on strongly as the pair took up the running at the last. Tribal Venture stayed on strongly up the hill to deny Priorisation who was a gallant runner up who never gave up even though he was beaten.

A terrific afternoon / evening of racing which proved a credit to the hard work by all concerned in preparing decent jumping ground on a great course. This meeting was in stark contrast to the meeting held at Hackwood Park on the same afternoon where only 13 horses contested a 6 race card. Well done to all concerned and I looked forward to a return visit to the course next season for more inspiring action.

Below : Just Playfull and Mark Rimell struggle to get over the last fence but are clear of the depleted field to take Division 1 of the Open Maiden Race.



Below : John and Richard Russell in the winners enclosure following the victory of Persian Hero in the Confined Race.



Below : Banjaxed Girl and Sam Drinkwater take Division 2 of the Open Maiden Race for 5 Year Olds & Upwards.



Below : Uppertier and G.Hopkinson jump the last clear of his rivals to take the Hunt Members Race.



Below : Irilut and Sam Waley-Cohen (Orange and Brown Colours) are handed the Mixed Open race on a plate as Reach For The Top runs out at the final fence .



Below : Babysitter and Sam Drinkwater (Middle: Green Colours) win the drive to the line ahead of Mistress Kaytee (Left: in Blue) and Murphy's Fuselier (Right: in grey and red) to produce the best finish of the day in the Restriced Race.



Below : Tribal Venture and Ollie Murphy take it up at the last before striding away with the PPORA Club Members Race for Veteran and Novice Riders.





A very big thank you must go to Jackie Oliver of Graftonwood Photography who very kindly supplied the photos for this review. If you require any photos from this meeting you can contact Jackie on www.graftonwood.co.uk

Please email any comments to info@southmidlandp2p.co.uk