Review of the Oakley Meeting at Brafield on the Green on Sunday 13th April 2008

Unfortuantely, I was unable to attend this meeting therefore the review of this meeting will be shorter than normal.

The meeting kicked off with a competitive looking Hunt Members race which saw Good Vintage sent off the strong 10/11 favourite. Gemma Andrews sent Good Vintage to the front as the tape was released and ran the opposition into the ground, Parsonhumfrywebber gave chase but never looked like catching the winner finishing 20 lengths behind as the winner crossed the line. It was then a quick dash for Gemma Andrews and James Owen to get to Hackwood Park where Owen who finished second in this race rode Mountain Trooper to victory in the Maiden Race. Gemma Andrews could only finish second on Monty's Tag behind the impressive Bobosh.

The Open Maiden Division 1 followed and on paper this looked a competitive contest with not much to choose between Pennytino,Velvet Red and Watchthespace. The race turned out to be just as close as was predicted with Pennytino just coming out on top from the fast finishing Velvet Red who was denied at the line by only a neck. Watchthespace also ran a good race to finish a further length behind in 3rd.

The second division of the maiden was run 4 seconds slower than the first but saw a very impressive victory from Jubilee George who has looked an improving type after finishing 3rd behind Victor Victorious earlier in the season. Richard Armson took the horse to the front from flagg fall and never looked back, Inchadoney Boy rallied in vain pursuit of the leader but could never put in a challenge and finished a well beaten 12 lengths adrift. Silk Rope also could not get in a blow and will need to improve on what he has achieved so far to take a similar race.

The Ladies race looked a good chance for Frosty Run to get back to winning ways and was nicely poised just behind the leaders when unseating the rider at the 15th fence this left the race to be fought out between Free, Wincy Spider and Lava and a very close race it turned out to be, with Free just gaining the upper hand to win by a head from Wincy Spider with Lava a further neck back in 3rd.

Longville Lad was sent off favourite for the Mens Open race but soon dropped away after leading throughout the majority of the race. Tender Tangle who was always traveling well behind the leaders quickened up really nicely and went on to score a very easy victory by 15 lengths in a very fast time from My Best Buddy in Second, this was not the greatest of Mens Open races but Tender Tangle won impressively and recorded an excellent time and it would be no surprise to see him follow up in a much more competitive race than this next time around.

The Confined Race looked a good chance for Stuart Morris to record another double on the card following his double at Guilsborough the previous day with Northall Lad, Northall Lad was sent off as the 11/8 favourite but on this ocassion was clearly put in his place by Cheyne for Richard Hunnisett who put up 4lb overweight, which made Cheyne's performance look all the more impressive. Cheyne was always in close rank of the leader He's a Dinger for most of the race and when asked by Hunnisett quicked up nicely to record a decent victory by 15 lengths, this looks a horse to follow in the future especially if the jockey is able to do the correct weight allocated.

Highland Vasco was sent off the 5/4 favourite for the final race on the card and although he rallied strongly in the closing stages he could not peg back the long time leader Quid Pro Quo who was given a very decent ride by Miss Kelly Smith. Quid Pro Quo had just about enough left in the tank to hold on by a dimishing 3/4 length, Lord Payne stayed on at one paced to finish a further 4 lengths back in 3rd.

Not a bad meeting considering the Pytchley Hunt staged a re-arranged fixture just down the road at Guilsborough the day before, I hope many of you followed the selections of the site as this would have given you 4 winners on the 7 race card, if you had backed the alternative selection with the main selection not turning up. This should of given you plenty of cash to come back and reinvest for the next South Midland meeting which takes place on Saturday 26th April at Guilsborough.

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