HEADLINES
You could have been forgiven for thinking this meeting was run in May rather than the middle of February as the usual 5 layers including hat, coat, scarf and any other item of clothing you can lay your hands on that is usually required, was left at home on a beautiful Sunny day with clear blue sky and warm temperatures in the heart of the Hampshire countryside. This produced a reasonable crowd for the South Midland Area Club meeting at Tweseldown. There were 67 runners on a 7 race card. The Maiden race as mentioned in the preview was not in fact split on the day as 17 of the 33 runners went to post for the start. The highlight of the day was Oracle Des Mottes facile victory in the Ladies Open Race and a Joan Tice and Stuart Morris Double with Teeton Dazzler and Teeton Bollinger. Unfortunately, for the crowd we did not see Gaye Trigger turn out in this event as he ran at the Larkhill meeting on Saturday losing his unbeaten record in points finishing second in the Coronation Cup behind The Man from Highworth. The crowd would not of been disappointed by his absence as Oracle Des Mottes was an able substitute putting up what can only be described as a absolutely breathtaking performance producing an exhilarating round of jumping and looks another superstar for the Barber yard.
The first race on the card was a 8 runner affair and looked a decent chance for Winsley to record a double at the course and get back to winning ways, after his rider Nolan Byrne lost his irons at the previous meeting when out in front, eventually running out on the second circuit. Winsley was sent off a short priced 4/5 favourite and led the field from flag fall, Winsley really loves Tweseldown and ran his rivals ragged taking a commanding advantage of 6 to 7 lengths after the second fence and never looked back from thereon in. The remainder of the field could not live with the pace of this flying grey and although they closed up on the winner Nolan Byrne saved plenty in the tank to kick on again and record and easy ten-length victory. Winsley was followed home in second place by Reel Dancer with Native Emperor running on to take 3rd. Reel Dancer ran another good race after his victory at Dunthrop but could not live with the pace of the winner. Reel Dancer should get back to winning ways in a slightly less competitive event. The horse to take out of the race was The Baille who was settled out the back and moved through the field nicely until running out of steam at the bottom of the hill. The Baille probably needed this first run of the season and should be watched closely next time out. The two selections of the site Sudden Arrival and Noakarad De Verzee never turned out which was very disappointing but this was not a bad first race to kick the meeting off.
The Restricted race looked competitive on paper although the betting suggested this was going to be a cakewalk for Caramill Gift and Phillip York sending him off the clear 4/5 favourite. Caramill Gift won very nicely at Dunthrop in December but was never travelling on this occasion. After a circuit of the track it was plain to see the jockey was not having an easy time of it. Combined with a couple of very sloppy jumps at the first 2 fences on the second circuit, Phillip York soon had to give the horse plenty of reminders and came under a hard drive on the approach to the downhill fences. Making several more jumping errors and giving the jockey very little co-operation Phillip York had no option but to pull the gelding up at the bottom of the hill. This left the race up for grabs and was won in some style by the Joan Tice trained Teeton Dazzler. Stuart Morris had Teeton Dazzler switched off at the back of the field and under impeccable handling moved up stylishly behind the leaders 3 from home, when Stuart Morris asked Teeton Dazzler to go about his business the horse responded swiftly hitting the front on the run through the cutting. This race was well and truly settled as the winner drew well clear to score in some style very nicely. I heard an American commentator on the television the other day use the phrase " From the Outhouse to the Penthouse" and this summed up this ride by Morris to a tee. This was a very good opening run of the season by Teeton Dazzler and looks a horse to follow in the future. Sideline Critic who led for the majority of the race plugged on gamely to finish 2nd with MeandMrsJones in 3rd. Obviously the disappointment of the race was the performance of Caramill gift and I recommend a watching brief on him next time out.
The big guns never turned up for the Mens Open race but this did look a good chance for Whereareyounow to get back to winning ways following his good 3rd behind Irilut and Reflected Glory at the course earlier in the season. Whereareyounow opened at 5/4 and was absolutely friendless in the market sending him off around the 5/2 mark. The Jockey John Maxse employed different running tactics holding the horse up at the back of the field. These tactics never suited the horse at all and I am sure next time out they will refer back to a more dominating style. However, Whereareyounow never jumped or ran with anything like the same fluency or enthusiasm he had shown against Irilut and cannot be a reliable betting opportunity in the future. This left the race wide open for many of the other runners. Hautclan who was well supported in the market and eventually went off the 15/8 favourite was up with the pace throughout along with You Do The Math and Moscow court who took the field along at quite a strong pace. You Do The Math was well in control as they came down to the last from Moscow Court in Second and Hautclan in 3rd. You Do the Math flew the last and stayed on far to strongly for his rivals. Moscow Court took a heavy fall at the last fence but would have finished a good second and should be able to win a similar contest. Hautclan was the beneficiary of this last fence fall and he plugged on to fill 2nd spot with Gunther Mcbride in 3rd. The winner who was previously trained by Alan King jumped well throughout and should be able to score again in the future. Hautclan seemed to look a bit one paced and it was not a bad first run of the season by Gunther McBride who would of appreciated the good going and could land a small race with similar racing conditions. The winner was not fancied in the market going off at 20/1 but this was a decent battling performance.
The Ladies Open had 2 Barber superstars entered and as discussed above the race goers who were looking forward to seeing Gaye Trigger after his impressive win at Barbury racecourse were not disappointed by the Barbers other runner Oracle Des Mottes. Oracle Des Mottes was sent off a short priced 1/2 favourite and was held up for most of the race at the back of the field by Rachael Green. After a circuit Rachael Green was still taking a hard pull on the horse even though Blue Business and Five Seven Live were setting a decent pace. when Blue Business shrugged off Five Seven Live 3 from home Oracle Des Mottes was sitting in his slipstream absolutely swinging on the bridle. Oracle des Mottes cruised to the front and was still hard held as they came down to the last, Oracle Des Mottes drew right away from Blue Business and a staying on Shareef but there was only one horse in this race and Oracle Des Mottes who never seemed to have to get out of first gear won very impressively and It will take a really good horse to lower his colours. Blue Business finished a gallant second and Shareeef also ran as well as could of been expected back in 3rd. Oracle Des Mottes looks certain to run up a sequence of victories and should be aimed at a Hunter Chase in the near future.
The Intermediate race looked a good competitive race on paper but again the race went to Stuart Morris and the Joan Tice Trained Teeton Bollinger. Mrs Tice's horses seem very forward with both her runners winning on their seasonal reappearance on the day winning 2 competitive races. Teeton Bollinger was in front rank throughout and quickened up nicely to take a good 3 length advantage from Flax Hill on the run to the last fence. Flax Hill made a bad error at the last and looked like coming down but managed to find a leg from somewhere to stay on to finish in second place. Teeton Bollinger was always holding his rival and won well and looks another decent horse of Mrs Tice's to follow. Flax Hill apart from that bad mistake at the last put in a good performance and should easily win an intermediate in the near future. Pro Am also ran well to finish in 3rd and can only improve for this reappearance run of the season. Mr Goofy who won well at the last Tweseldown meeting fell and crashed out on the first circuit and you could give him another chance if able to get these jumping problems under control.
The Maiden race was a very open race with 17 inexperienced runners going to post, this looked a nightmare for the punters. They sent the Richard Barber newcomer My Mystery Man off as favourite around the 5/2 mark. My Mystery Man is a full brother to Bon Accord but was well behind for most of the race until staying on for Rachael Green into 4th place at the finish. My Mystery Man would have learned plenty from this opening run but will need to improve a great deal to win a maiden in the future, but he has plenty of time on his side. Lady de Paris under Rachel King swept to the front on the run to the last fence and stayed on well to record a decent victory. This horse finished a respectable 3rd behind Royal Niece at Barbury racecourse and seems to be improving nicely and a restricted success is certainly not out of the question on her next start if she can maintain this improvement. Juniper Green finished in 2nd for Charlotte Tizzard and it will not be long before he opens his account on the evidence of this race. Dr Flight camee home in 3rd and should also have a good chance of breaking his maiden tag before the end of the season. Nothing else really caught the eye in a race which should of been monitored carefully for some future winners.
The Club Members Conditions race looked a good opportunity for Phillip York and Peppershot to gain compensation after falling when clear at the last fence at Horseheath earlier in the month. Although the horse made a couple of jumping errors again he was by far the best horse in this race, winning in some style by an ever increasing 25 lengths. The other runners looked a poor bunch, with Aqua Ardente coming out second best which was not a bad effort on his seasonal debut and Sweet Minuet ran on to take 3rd but never ever looking likely getting in a blow at the winner. It will take a much weaker race for him to get involved in the finish, as he was along way adrift with 4 to jump and needs to keep much closer to the pace to be able to score. Peppershot was sent off the 6/4 favourite and sent the punters home happy and also recorded the sites first winner of the day. We always save the best till last.
On the betting front we had 1 winner from 7 bets with 2 winners from our second selections. We also had several non-runners so it was not the greatest of betting performances. The disappointment of the day was Caramill Gift in the Restricted race, myself and many others expected much better after a decent maiden victory at Dunthrop but this never looked likely. A great day weather wise matched with some good competitive racing to close the season's meetings at Tweseldown racecourse. All roads lead to Dunthrop for the Bicester with Whaddon Chase meeting on the 2nd March and let's hope we take the weather with us and enjoy another exciting days pointing.
The selections for this meeting were : BR>
Race 1 Sudden Arrival NR (Noakarad De Verzee) NR
Race 2 Caramill Gift PU (Teeton Bollinger) 1st
Race 3 Something Small NR (N.B.) (Lord of Illusion) NR
Race 4 Gaye Trigger NR (NAP) (Oracle Des Mottes) 1ST
Race 5 Merry Vic NR (Mr Goofy) Fell
Race 6 Delayed In Dublin NR (Blazing Guns) NR
Race 7 Peppershot 1st (El Viejo)Unplaced
Unfortunately, we are unable to provide any photos from this meeting.
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