A gentle work-out for Galeaway

Eventual winner Scotch Bob

Ballinure Boy with plenty in hand.

If it's good enough for my younger brother (winner of race 1)!

A first victory for Zoe

And then it all goes wrong for Chris!

Six lined up for the Hunt Race and Galeaway under Hannah Grissell was the odd-on favorite at 4/7. Next in the betting at 11/4 was Commasaris (Jeremy Wall) at 11/4. Everything else was at 11's upwards. Petra Bryan-Brown's race lasted no further than the first fence whilst Rose Grissell found that Mr Chataway clearly felt that there was no real need for him to go past the horseboxes more than once. Halfway through the second circuit we were down to a match. Once again Commasaris found little in the last half mile of a three mile race and Hannah had an easy victory.

A rather worrying two runners in the Restricted. Both runners - Carlton Brae and Scotch Bob were Maiden winners earlier this season but only the former had come close to moving up the ranks since. Philip Hall was down in the race-card to ride both - which would have been quite an impressive feat - he opted for the favourite Carlton Brae whilst the ride on the other went to David Dunsdon. David having dashed back from riding a 200-1 shot on the telly at Ayr the previous day (it ran like a 200-1 shot as well!). This turned into a tactical affair - effectively a six furlong sprint from the turn for home which the outsider won.

There were four runners for the Open in which Ballinure Boy was made the 4/7 fav. He was ridden by Andrew Hickman - making his return frrom a broken collar-bone sustained four weeks ago at Detling. Supreme Irony (Chris Gordon) was next in the betting at 9/2. Brackenheath (Philip Hall 12/1) was the first to drop off the pace. Pampered Gale (James Owen) stayed with the favourite as they turned out the back straight but as soon as Andrew pressed the button it was always a question of 'by how much' not 'if'. Chris Gordon got Supreme Irony into the runner-up slot in the run-in in front of Pampered Gale.

There were only three declared for the Ladies. Winner last week at Penshurst and all the way down from the northern echalons of East Anglia for the second consecutive Sunday Spring Gale (Zoe Turner) was made favourite at 4/6. Leading South-East Ladies horse of last year, but not found his form yet this year, Storm Castle (Julie Wickins) was 6/4 against whilst Bitofamixup, last seen failing to negotiate Bechers Brook (on the steep inside Jenny!) was available at 10's. Storm Castle was the first to come under pressure going down the back straight second time round. Julie was the first to go for the whip but couldn't get her horse to join the other two turning for home. Clearly not phased by the fact that the fences seemed to have shrunken since he last raced Bitofamixup slowly drew clear over the last two fences. Anybody who took the 'outsider of three' at 10's will be having a good week. Spring Gale was second in front of a disappointing Storm Castle.

There were six declared for the Confined. Legal Storm (Tim Underwood) and Sean's Minstrel (Philip Hall) vied for favouritism - the former generally available at 2's a quarter of point shorter than the 9/4 available about the latter. Gypsy Gerry (Zoe Lilly 16/1) did most of the early running alongside Tim. Tidal Reef and White Smoke dropped off the pace with just under a circuit to go. The favourite then started to drop off the leaders - perhaps coming too soon after his hard race at Penshurst last week. Possibly had she known that Chris Gordon and Philip Hall were lining up behind her turning for the last two fences it might have worried Zoe - but with an smashing schoolmaster (who ran up 21 consecutive placings, including seven wins, between 1997 and 2001) under her Gerry certainly had no intention of letting anyone past him before the line - to give Zoe a win in her first season. Graphic Designer (Chris Gordon) beat Philip to the runner-up slot.

Six again for the maiden. Twice third this season Bob Nickel (Philip Hall) was 5/4 fav. Next in the betting was an 'outsider' from the New Forest, Forest Fortress at 3's. Intriguingly Phil York was on a new 'un - a nine year old that had refused at the first last time out - Eastern Point. Three jumps from home Chris Gordon cruised to the front on Going Primitive (8/1) who, with Jack Of Kilcash, had been well clear of the others before falling eight from home at Charing last time out. Phil York drove his yards new acquisition up alongside Chris going to the second last and once again Going Primitive's jumping let him down and he crashed through the fence and down. Forest Fortress (D Turner 3/1) and Bob Nickel (Philip Hall) failed to peg back Philip's lead.

Year 2003
Fixture List