Thisthatantother gives young Barber an armchair first ride.
DAY 2 HighlightsBelow : Thisthatantother under a confident first ride by Jack Barber glide over the last to record a bloodless victory in the Dodson & Horrell PPORA Club Members Novice Riders race .
Below : Polly Gundry and the flying Labarynth on their way to victory in Division 1 of PPORA Club Members Mares Maiden Race.
Below : Big Bird and David Mansell show an impressive turn of foot to land Division 2 of PPORA Club Members Mares Maiden Race.
Below : Another great jumping performance from the awesome Turthen in the Ladies Open Race.
Below : A smiling Charlotte Tizzard returns to the unsaddling enclsoure after Turthen's win in the Ladies Open Race
Below : We're Confused notches up his second victory of the season to take the Mens Open Race.
Below :Backstreet Lad and Paul Tolman make the long journey from Pembrokeshire pay off as they jump the last in front to win Division 1 of the PPORA Club Members Maiden Race.
Below : Rachael Green and My Mystery Man put in a good jump at the last to seal victory in Division 2 of PPORA Club Members Maiden Race.
A great two day meeting which had a blend of some older high class horses combined with some very nice youngsters on show. Julie Houldey was the top trainer with 3 winners and David Mansell was the top jockey also with 3 winners. James Tudor recorded a double on the Saturday but could not add to his tally on what looked on paper to be some decent rides on the Sunday.
Wickford recorded the fastest time on Saturday closely followed by Gentle George whose time was 1 second slower. Both these horses look to be going places in points as they were both impressive. Gentle George's trainer Steven Flook said "Gentle George will contest the final of the Connolly Red Mills series later in the season" and he looks a very progressive youngster. James Tudor's double on Saturday came from Cannington Brook and Overbury Pearl. Cannington Brook defeated the well touted New Series, from the Alison Dare yard, by 4 lengths, and looks another very nice horse for the future recording a fast time for the shorter 2m 4f trip. New Series although beaten into second here was a distance clear of the rest of the field and looks bound to run up a sequence before the end of the season and should be a Maiden certainty on his next start. Lord Attica revelled in the soft but sticky ground conditions and was also a very good 15L winner of the first division of the PPORA Club Members race. Pimbury and Orient Legend provided the closest finish of the day with Pimbury coming out on top by a 1 1/2 length margin. Top Benefit added to his Maiden victory at Dunthorp with a decisive win in the last race of the day. This improving grey horse won in good style by 30 lengths in a 2 second quicker time than the first division won by Overbury Pearl. Top Benefit has a bright future and should be one to follow this season.
Thisthatandtother showed some of his former top class form and along with Turthen were the most impressive winners on Sunday. Other winners to watch out for are Big Bird who is a brother to Something Small. He showed an impressive turn of foot in what can only be described as glue like conditions. Turthen was sent off the 4/5 favourite to land the Ladies Open Race and his job was made easier by the early departure of Kiama who gave Polly Gundry a crushing fall. Turthen took up the running on the far side on the second circuit and the race was settled in a matter of strides, even though Tighe Caster did manage to rally, Charlotte Tizzard always had matters well under control. We're Confused also showed he is an improving type following his recent victory at Dunthrop and more Men's open joy should await him before the end of the season He could also be tried in a small Hunter chase and looks worth following for the immediate future. Backstreet Lad made the journey from Pembrokeshire and this paid off even if he seemed a lucky winner of the first division of the Maiden race. Backstreet Lad was about 25 lengths clear of the field for the majority of the race but when coming down to the second last it looked as if his rivals were all queuing up to take him on but he was the only horse who could keep up some sort of gallop as many of the others failed to even finish. My Mystery Man was gifted the last race in which the field were almost at a walk coming down to the last fence. My Mystery Man suffered a bad blunder at the second last with Rachael Green doing really well to stay in the saddle but put in the best jump of all at the last which sealed victory as they plodded over the line. The biggest terror in this race was Royal Crystalcadou who came down to the 2nd last full of running only to jump the fence and then veer towards the field as if he felt like a days hunting and gave many lengths away, the jockey got his steering back and he still looked to be going cosily as the rest of the field were plodding towards the last only for the horse to do exactly the same. The jockey did eventually manage to get him to co-operate and cross the line but by this time the rest of the field had passed him and he rolled in last.
A very big thank you to Jackie Oliver of Graftonwood Photography who very kindly supplied the photos for this meeting. If you require any photos from this meeting you can contact Jackie on www.graftonwood.co.uk
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