Bowdens Lane strolls to Lord Ashton Glory
Below : David Mansell and Bowdens Lane have time to acknowledge the crowd before taking the Lord Ashton of Hyde Cup at Dunthrop on Sunday.
Picture very kindly supplied by Neale Blackburn.
The opening race on the card was a maiden for 6 year olds and upwards which saw William Somers always travelling well throughout the race and when Mark Wall sent him to the front early on the second circuit and he soon put 25 lengths between himself and the rest of his rivals. Shammy Buskins who was the only other survivor of the 12 strong field looked to mount a challenge but William Somers easily pushed him aside and breezed home by an ever increasing 20 length margin and should easily be able to follow up in a Restricted. William Somers recorded a 11 second quicker time than the second division so although Shammy Buskins was clearly second best on this she occasion should easily find a small race in the near future.
Below : William Somers and Mark Wall clear at the last to win Division 1 of the Open Maiden for 6 year olds and upwards.
Picture very kindly supplied by Neale Blackburn.
The second part of the open maiden race was a much closer contest with the well supported Arctic Fire who was backed in the market from 12/1 into 5/1 just getting run out of things by the improving Nuits St George. Nuits St George ran a fairly good race at Barbury before pulling up behind Backstreet Lad the previous week-end but jumped much better on this occassion and managed to run the legs off Arctic Fire on the run to the final fence. Arctic Fire battled all the way to the line and should easily land a maiden contest in due course. Nuits St George looks to be improving and should be able to win a restricted as long as his jumping continues in tact.
Below : Nuits St George and Paul Toole foil the gamble on Arctic Fire to take Division 2 of the Open Maiden for 6 year olds and upwards.
Picture very kindly supplied by Neale Blackburn.
On Paper this looked a very poor contest with Maranach from the in form Julie Houldey yard going off a very skinny 4/6 favourite. David Mansell always seemed to have matters under control in this race but was not the most impressive of winners, especially considering Frosty Spring made a terrible mistake at the 3rd last fence. Maranach beat the opposition against him on the day and will probably struggle on this showing to take a restricted although with age on his side and the Julie Houldey's yard absolutely flying at present we may of not seen the best of him yet. Frosty Spring again tried to run the legs off them out in front but battled on well to just get beaten for 2nd but he should have a good chance of landing a maiden in the not to distant future. The same comment applies to Run Out the Guns who was well handled by Paul Toole to rob Frosty Spring of second and should go close on his next appearance.
Below : David Mansell and Maranach pull clear on their way to landing the Open Maiden Race for 4,5,6 and 7 year Olds.
Picture very kindly supplied by Jackie Oliver.
The Hunt Members race followed and this looked a match between Nez Rouge and Moscow Court. The pair took control of the race passing the stands on the second circuit. Locked in battle from fence to fence Nez Rouge looked to be travelling and jumping the stronger but as they made their way along the back straight Nez Rouge, who looked to hold a good 1 and 1/2 length advantage, suffered the same fate as at Barbury by not getting high enough at the fence and threw young Sam Twiston-Davies out of the saddle. This left Moscow Court out on his own with a good 20 length advantage. As they came around the final turn Taxi Fare under a strong Andy Martin ride looked to be chasing Moscow court in vain even though the deficit was closing fence by fence and as they came down to the last Moscow Court was obvioulsy feeling the affects of the very soft and testing conditions but still looked to hold a good 10 length unassailable advantage. On the run to the line Moscow Court really threw in the towel and came to what can only be described as a very slow walk approaching the finish. Taxi Fare was at least still galloping and the crowd could not believe their eyes as Taxi Fare shot past Moscow as if he was stood still (which he was nearly) to go on to score by an increasing 3 and 1/2 length advantage. Moscow Court will need a good rest after this slog and should be tried again on his more likeable good or good to firm surface. Taxi Fare was a lucky winner on the day and may not find other rivals so generous in the future. The downside of this race was the fact that Nez Rouge looked the winner but jumping is the name of the game and it let him down again.
Below : Taxi Fare and Andy Martin cannot believe their eyes as Moscow Court(on the rail behind) stops to a walk just before the line in the Hunt Members Race
Below : All smiles as connections celebrate Taxi Fare's unlikely victory in the Hunt Members Race.
Pictures very kindly supplied by Jackie Oliver.
After the amazing performance of Taxi Fare in the previous race this set up what looked on paper to be a difficult to solve Ladies Open Race over the longer 3m and 5f journey. Touch Closer who ran some consistent races last season was sent off the 11/8 f. The whole field were closely packed up together for the majority of the race. Derawar was jumping the fences better than his rivals but was quickly reined back by his very competent jockey Mrs L. Barry. As they came around the home turn 3 horses looked in with a shout. This race looked as if it was going to be decided on the jumping and the stamina to really stay out the Journey. Mrs L. Barry on the run to the last came up alongside the longtime leader Move Over and jumped as impressively as he had all the way around only then did Mrs Barry let the horse have his head and quickly raced into a 2 to 3 length advantage. Touch Closer was not stopping and stayed on well towards the line but Derawar had his measure on this Occasion. Derawar looks a useful individual just as long as he can keep those Refuseds off his card he could have a very successful season. Touch Closer lost nothing in defeat and should continue to run consistently well for the rest of the season. Move Over finished in 3rd but looks very one paced at present.
Below : Derawar and Mrs L. Barry are destined for victory in the 3m 5f Ladies Open Race .
Picture very kindly supplied by Jackie Oliver.
A stamina sapping 4m journey faced the runners for the Lord Ashton of Hyde Cup which turned out to be a very one sided affair. David Mansell and the in form trainer Julie Houldey had Bowdens Lane near the front for the majority of this contest but as soon as Dave Mansell let the hand brake off there was only ever going to be one winner. If this had been a boxing match the ref would of stopped the other runners a long way from home as Bowdens Lane galloped them into the ground. James Tudor and Lord Attica tried to hang on to the leaders coat tails but the leader was far to classy and Dave Mansell roared to the crowd after jumping the last and was punching the air as he eased down Bowdens Lane on the run to the line winning by very wide margin. Bowdens Lane should be tried over the 4m trip at Cheltenham later in the season. This also brought up double figures for the season for David Mansell who is going great guns at the moment and I would not rule out the Gentlemens Jockey Championship this season especially if the Julie Houldey yard continues in its current manner.
Below : Bowdens Lane and David Mansell jump the last in splendid isolation from the rest of the field to land the Lord Ashton of Hyde Cup .
Picture very kindly supplied by Jackie Oliver.
Below : David Mansell points out how good Bowdens Lane was after an impressive victory in the Lord Ashton of Hyde Cup.
Picture very kindly supplied by Neale Blackburn.
The novice riders race saw the smallest field of the day go to post and this looked a very good chance for Grenfell and the Twiston-Davies team to get some compensation for Nez Rouge's earlier mishap. However, Grenfell never travelled or looked the same horse as he did when dotting up at Cottenham earlier in the season. Maybe the ground was against him here, but the same cannot be said for the mud loving Eskimo Jack who was exceptionally handled by Jack Sherwood to record his first winner in points. Eskimo Jack who is usually a front runner was settled nicely in midfield before rushing through to the front and staying on really well to record a decisive 5 length victory. Earl of Buckingham who was not fancied in the market made most of the running but was just not quite good enough on the day. He finished a gallant runner-up and should win soon. Grenfell finished a well beaten 3rd and deserves a rest after so many runs in soft ground conditions.
Below : Jack Sherwood has a quick peak between his legs looking for dangers before taking the Novice Riders race .
Picture very kindly supplied by Jackie Oliver.
The final race of this fascinating 8 race card was the restricted race which saw 7 runners go to post. This race looked a match between Supreme Royal and Pretty Lady Rose and so it turned out. Pretty Lady Rose was sent to the front on the second circuit and beat off all but one of his challengers in Supreme Royal. Supreme Royal who was ridden by a confident Ryan Bliss sat in behind the leader and with four to jump moved up alongside to test the leader's jumping at the fences. Ryan Bliss then asked Supreme Royal to quicken to the front and within a matter of moments quickly went 2 to 3 lengths clear of Pretty Lady Rose. Jumping three out Supreme Royal had extended his advantage to about 6 lengths with Pretty Lady Rose looking tired in behind but to be fair to the little horse she battled away and closed up again on the still travelling well leader. As they came down the hill Supreme Royal was always holding Pretty Lady Rose but she was not giving up without a fight and continued to battle on courageously. Supreme Royal just had too much class for Supreme Royal and jumped the last well in control staying on strongly with the look of a horse that should win plenty of races before the end of the season. Pretty Lady Rose lost nothing in defeat and her turn will surely come sooner rather than later but a good race between them to finish what can only be described as an interesting days racing.
Below : Supreme Royal and Ryan Bliss show plenty of grit and determination to see off the renewed challenge of Pretty Lady Rose before landing the Restricted Race .
Picture very kindly supplied by Neale Blackburn.
An extremely poor tipping guide was given for this meeting with zero winners, please accept our appologies for that but lets hope we can return to winning ways in a fortnight's time when we head to Tweseldown for the South Midland Club meeting on Sunday 8th February 2009. Please come and support this meeting as I am sure another great days racing looks in store.
A very big thank you to Jackie Oliver of Graftonwood Photography and Neale Blackburn of Chasdog who very kindly supplied the photos for this review. If you require any photos from this meeting you can contact either Jackie on www.graftonwood.co.uk or Neale on www.chasdog.com
Please email any comments to info@southmidlandp2p.co.uk