Race reviews

Restricted	11 runners faced the starter in the first race. Winner of his last two races Dancing Fosenby was a strong odds on favourite (Mick Holdforth 4/5). Winner here last time in the Maiden Scotch Bob and a runner-up last time out Namrom vied for second position in the market at 5/1 & 11/2 respectively with the rest at 8's upwards. Turning for home the favourite led a group of three that had broken away. Mr. Chataway (Hannah Grissell 20/1) pressed the leader until fading two from home when Kilvoydan (David Phelan 16/1) took up the challenge. The favourite looked beaten as he was overtaken going to the last and half way up the run-in Kilvoydan still held the advantage. However the favourite found a bit more in the last fifty yards to snatch a one length victory. Mr. Chataway held on to finish third.
Mares Maiden	Second Thoughts (Nibby Bloom 6/4) was made favourite in the nine runner Mares Maiden - not one of the strongest races that will be seen in the area this year. Favouritism presumably brought about by the fact that she has at one time reached a finishing post - part of a racecourse unknown to the large majority of the other runners. Sister Ali (Sergio Gordon-Watson 20/1) led for the first circuit and a half. The favourite and The Flying Dragon (Peter Bull 9/1) led a group of four that drew away from the remainder. Although Peter got to within a length of the jolly going to the last that was as close as he could get. Newlands Girl (David Dunsdon 5/2) just took third.
Mens Open	In the 7 runner line up for the Mens Open the horse that finished first (albeit without rider) in the previous Charing Mens Open - Tough Terms (Peter Bull) was made 5/4 fav. The consistent, and still useful campaigner Seod Rioga (now 14 and clearly only fractionally younger than his rider Chris Gordon) was made 2/1 second favourite with Kenny Davis (Paul Blagg 15/2) and Satcotino (Phil York 8/1) next in the market. There was a question as to whether or not his heavy fall last time out might have affected Tough Terms confidence -and the answer seemed to be yes as he made several uncharacteristic mistakes each costing several lengths until he was pulled up. This allowed Seod Rioga to win as he liked with Kenny Davis (who used to specialise in falling when having races at his mercy in his younger days) to come home second whilst Satcotino, who rarely seems to show her best form nowadays to finish third.
Ladies Open	Sheriffs Friend, going for a seven timer, was a hot favourite (4/6) under Jenny Gordon in the 10 runner ladies race. Raider Celtic Duke from Joe Turner's Suffolk yard was next in the betting at 3/1 with Joe's grand-daughter Zoe riding. Considering his Hunter Chase success and runner-up positions last season the 6/1 about Didy Rowell's new acquisition Jolly Minster seemed rather generous. Celtic Duke fell going up the hill second time round and coming down the hill for home Jenny was having trouble shaking off the attention of Didy. The two ladies went side by side into the last fence but Sherriff's was the quicker away to win by two lengths. Caroline Holliday on her own Dook's Delight took the minor placing.
Club 'Moderate'	Not surprisingly Star Glow (Phil York), having already won three of three this season was a strong favourite at 5/4 in the 13 runner moderate. East Anglian raider Always On The Line (Alex Merriam) was next in the market at 7/2. There was not a lot in the market to choose between Whispering Pines, Lively Lord & Sound Gossin - all trading in the 6/1 to 8/1 bracket. Going up the hill second time round three horses Lively Lord, Star Glow & Commasaris (Jeremy Wall 33/1) had drawn clear of the remainder. The latter had to pull up quickly when his girth failed and the favourite eased away from Chris on Lively Lord as they set for home. Sound Gossin (Andrew Hickman 8/1) ran another consistent race to take third.
Club Maiden	There were 13 in the concluding maiden. Nigel Benstead on his own Jack Of Kilcash was made the 7/2 favourite. Sendonthecheque (Tim Underwood) (see the last race last week) who managed somehow not to come second on his last outing was fractionally, at 11/2, in front of 6/1 shots Glen Amber (Chris Gordon) & First And Fourmost (Nibby Bloom). Nigel decided to do it all from the front - setting a fair early pace. He still held the lead turning for home where Fables Green (Dan Dennis 25/1) was the first to challenge the leader but this faded quickly and Sendonthecheque made his move taking over the lead three from home. Bavardier (Dave Brightling) snatched third place in the run-in.

Year 2003 Fixture List