HEADLINES
IRILUT TAKES PRESTIGIOUS LORD ASHTON CUP
A reasonable crowd attended the Heythrop meeting at Dunthrop on Sunday. The weather was quite pleasant for the time of year and the rain held off to the meeting had finished. There were 61 runners on a 7 race card. The highlight of the day was the Lord Ashton of Hyde's Mens Open Race over 4 miles which was taken by the odds on favourite Irilut.
The first race on the card was a 7 runner affair and as pointed out in the preview of this race looked a match between Passerella and Moscow Court. This was a rather popular betting event with Denada being strongly backed into 2/1 favourite. There was also good money for FR Freddy and his price was also cut from 3/1 into 9/4. As the race panned out Denada and FR Freddy never looked like winning the race and both were beaten after a circuit. Passerella and Moscow Court dominated the race with Passerella taking them along for over a circuit, jumping better than Moscow Court at many of the fences but when Ian Howe sent Moscow Court to pressure the leader the pair of them drew well clear of their rivals. Moscow Court went to the front 5 from home but was quickly re-challenged again by Passerella on the flat, 4 out Moscow Court put in a good leap and set sail for home drawing well clear as Passerella tired in the ground. Moscow Court went on to score an easy victory by a distance and I am sure many people will look back on this race and wonder how an earth this was not backed going off at a massive 3/1.
The confined race was a very open contest from the entries but with only 6 runners declared. The race looked a match between Full Minty and The Hookie Bookie. Full Minty was sent off a very short 4/6 favourite after his good run behind Ballylusky at Cottenham. On this occasion jockey Rann Morgan gave the horse a different running style always being settled out the back on the first circuit. (At Cottenham the horse was near the front and led for most of the race). As they past the stands after a circuit The Hookie Bookie looked to be travelling strongly in front and this headstrong character never looked back, jumping impeccably throughout and keeping well clear of the field with Full Minty his nearest challenger, but these hold up tactics did not seem to do the trick for Full Minty and looked well held by the winner. Full Minty also looked to only just get the trip which was probably why Full Minty ran such a good race at Cottenham, as this is a very flat track and only just a 3-mile trip. The Hookie Bookie looked very impressive sauntering home in a canter and looks a horse to be on next time around especially as the Jimmy Tarry horses are usually in need of there first run. This horse looked very forward and could rise through the rankings if the preliminaries do not take too much out of him. Keep an eye on Full Minty in the future but he will need to put in a better performance than this to record another victory.
The Ladies race was over the extended trip of 3 miles, 5 Furlongs and 70 yds. Unfortunately, The Kings Fling did not make the journey on the day and Blue Business who was beaten a short head at Tweseldown recently was sent off a well-backed 5/2 favourite. Mrs Rucker always had Blue Business up with the pace as the runners were well bunched for most of the first circuit. It looked very open on the downhill run to the 3rd last with Chicuelo just out in front from Blue Business and Lady Baronette. Angela Rucker still looked to be travelling better than her rivals when Blue Business and Lady Baronette quickened clear of the weakening Chiculeo. This race looked as if it was going to be nip and tuck between the front two all the way to the line. Blue Business took a slight lead into the last fence and stayed on strongly to deny Lady Baronette who tried her best to come up the winners inside at the last but Blue Business would not be denied winning comfortably by an eased down 2 lengths as they crossed the line. Blue Business looked to enjoy this extended three mile five furlong trip and that pipe opener at Tweseldown obviously did the trick. Lady Baronette ran well and lost nothing in defeat especially as this was her first run of the season. Chicuelo was left in 3rd, this was a better run by Chiculeo but I don't feel she is really in love with the game at the moment and is best left alone. The disapointment in this race was Espresso Forte for Charlotte Tizzard who never got in the race and was well behind before being pulled up at the top of the hill. This horse is capable of much better and should enjoy a return back to the three-mile journey.
The Mens open which as hoped was going to be a great contest between Irilut and Honourable Spider never materialised, as Honourable Spider did not make the journey from East Anglia. This meant Irilut went off a very strong 4/9 favourite. Sam waley-Cohen had the horse well settled out the back for this mammoth 4-mile journey. The pace was set by Strong Weld who dominated from the front and was about 25 lengths clear after a circuit. Unfortunately for him the writing was on the wall when making a jumping error with a circuit to go and was swallowed up quickly on the run to the next fence. This left the whole field well grouped and when Irilut moved up stylishly to take up the running with 3 to jump many people would of thought this race was done and dusted. Still going well and pulling 5 lengths clear around the home turn looked home and hosed but Dimitri and Calvic were having none of it both being hard ridden by their respective jockeys. Calvic made several jumping errors but stays longer than your mother-in-law in what turned out to be a very gruelling contest. Dimitri and Calvic were both responding to the jockey's urges and the alarm bells started to ring out for Sam Waley-Cohen, as his horse seemed to be idling after jumping the last. On the approach to the line Irilut who looked extremely tired from his recent antics was hanging on grimly from Dimitri in second and Calvic trying to go through the gap in the middle back in 3rd but not even the cheek pieces could keep this one straight and he declined the offer of going through the gap. As they crossed the line Irilut hung on for a 3/4 length success. Irilut looks as if he needs a good rest after this and I would not be surprised if he was put away for a month. Dimitri improved for this step up in distance and Calvic also ran better than had showed in previous outings. Although he was none to keen when it came down to the business end of the race. This race was far more exciting than it was going to look on paper and Irilut should be put back to what he does best running over a stiff 3 mile journey. But it was nice to see a good horse win this prestigious event.
The Novice Riders race was also a disappointment as Kingston Banker never made the trip, as he looked to have very good chances. This left the door open to Cross the Highman. Cross the Highman has run consistently well all season, but as previously stated we were none to keen on his rider Claire Mitchell. I have to take my hat off to Miss Mitchell on this occasion as she never put a foot wrong and did exactly the right thing pushing Cross the Highman to the front from flag fall and never looked in any danger of being caught recording a very comfortable success under a well judged ride. Well done to Claire Mitchell on a very good ride. Let's hope we see her gain many more victories and this triumph can only build her confidence for the future. The other runners looked a poor punch with Rustic John coming out best of them. This was not a bad run by Rustic John but he will need to improve to take a similar contest. Coole Venture finished in third and he may come out best in this race on his first run of the season.
The maiden race with a good entry of 16 runners looked a very open event. The horse the punters wanted to be on was Blazing Guns backing him in from 5/2 into 7/4. This money was due to the horse running well behind the ever improving Worship the Stars at the course in December. Blazing Guns was always travelling well but on the run from the top of the hill stopped quickly and was well and truly beaten. This left the race setup for Marble Leader and Victor Victorious. Marble Leader hit the front on the run to the last and stayed on to strongly for Victor Victorious recording a good 3 length victory. Victor Victorious showed much improved form following the opening race at Tweseldown and should win soon. Rilly Goschen was looking for her 100th point to point winner on Victor Victorious and I am sure this won't be long coming. Marble Leader who had only 1 run last season pulling up at Kimble also should find another race before the end of the season.
Another good entry for the second maiden race saw another 16 runners go to post. Port Talbot opened favourite but was knocked out of that position after good support for Marblehead. Marblehead went off 9/4 favourite and was always travelling well throughout the race. Port Talbot also looked very dangerous moving up nicely into 3rd place before again unseating the rider as he did in December. If he can sort out his jumping he looks a winner in the future. The problem is when. This left Marblehead and Reflector out in front they were having a right ding-dong battle and when Reflector took up the running on the approach to the last it looked as if the race was over, but Mark Wall managed to get another run out of Marblehead and they were almost level jumping the last. Marblehead stayed on much stronger on the run-in to record what looked like an unlikely victory. Reflector looked as if he ran out of steam but lost nothing in defeat he looks to have a good chance next time around. Although it might be worth trying him over a less demanding circuit. As I got the impression that he did not quite stay the trip after travelling so nicely on the run to the last. Marblehead sent the punters home happy and they have the jockey to thank for his persistence on the winner.
On the betting front we did not do to badly with 2 winners from 7 bets although we did give you 3 winners from our second selection in which 2 races the first selection was a Non-Runner. I hope you managed to find a couple of winners on the day to add to your afternoon's enjoyment. The Selections for this meeting were :
Race 1 Moscow Court 1st (Passerella)
Race 2 Full Minty 2nd (Reel Dancer)
Race 3 The King's Fling NR (Blue Business)1ST
Race 4 Irilut 1ST (Honourable Spider)
Race 5 Kingston Banker (NAP)NR (Cross THe Highman) 1ST
Race 6 Fenny Lane NR(Johnny Be) Unplaced
Race 7 Port Talbot (N.B) Fell (Marblehead) 1st
Unfortunately, we do not have any pictures again for this meeting due to illness.
The next South Midland Meeting takes place at Tweseldown on Sunday 10th February 2008. I hope I will see many of you there for another great afternoon pointing.
Please email any comments to info@southmidlandp2p.co.uk