Race Reviews

Maiden	The meeting started with the course builders nightmare - a maiden race. Having taken several months to build all the jumps somewhere someone was on his knees praying - 'Please don't let the loonies wreck in my work and then have them expecting me to repair them all in half hour'. Eight potential fence wreckers faced the starter. Rumour Has It, runner-up last time out, piloted by Philip Hall was made the 2/1 favourite. At 7/2 was Arctic Drift under David Dunsdon. From Hampshire at 4's was David Phelan's mount Pandeli whilst Noel Wilson, on his own Spruce Goose, was priced at 5/1. The rest were 7/1 or more. Arctic Drift made it a good pace for the first circuit until absolutely belting the tenth putting his rider into orbit. Luckily for David the horse kept straight and was still underneath as he came down and no serious damage was done - although David was heard to be talking in a rather squeaky voice for the remainder of the day. The commentator reported that he had lost his irons but it is likely that a number of other items may have had a serious movement as well. Four broke away from the others going down the back straight second time of asking. Blakes Road was first to give best but Pandeli, Almazard (Chris Gordon 12/1) and Seymour Of Me (Jason Merry 16/1) had but a length separating them at the third last. Pandeli led by a length over the last from Almazard with Seymour Of Me the same distance behind - positions which remain unchanged to the line
Club Members	There were only four declared in the next. Winner of both his outings so far this season Toujours was a strong favourite - the bookies asking for 3 to 1 on for the Chris Gordon mount. Didy Rowell's Stylish Dave was just a point shorter than the other two being offered at 7/1. Stylish Dave was first to drop off the pace after a circuit. Going down the back straight the second time Lord Of The Flies started making mistakes effectively making it a two horse race between the favourite and Glenmont (Lisa Stock 8/1). The favourite had a two length lead over the third from home which was up to six lengths by the penultimate - a gap that Glenmont couldn't close. Stylish Dave ran on to take third.
Veteran & Novice Riders Confined	The veterans and novices race had seven declared. The first two in the betting were both piloted by riders yet to discover the first place spot in the unsaddling enclosure. Gareth Wigley's mount Lively Lord was priced at 6/4 whilst old campaigner Prime Course, under the guidance of Helen Gordon, was at 5/2. Next in the betting was veteran (Nigel Benstead) assisted Jack Of Kilcash at 3's. Russian Connection (David Phelan) - well beaten runner-up on Saturday to Struggles Glory at 6's was the only other runner not available at 14's. We lost two just after the fourth - one having lost its action and the other to a slipped saddle. By the end of the back straight Lively Lord and Jack Of Kilcash had already gone clear of the lone Tom Cappagh (Jeremy Wall 14/1) - and nothing much changed thereafter until Kniveniven (Brea Donelly 14/1) overtook Tom Cappagh in the run-in.
Mens Open	The Mens race had but three runners. The second and third in the Mens Confined at Detling re-opposed here - the second Pendle Hill (Peter Bull) was the 4/6 fav. whilst Real Value (Philip Hall) was priced at 7/4. Noel Wilson on his own Garrison Friendly was the outsider at 6's. Noel made the main contenders honest by making a good pace on Garrison - maintaining a four length lead for most of the first circuit. Pendle Hill jumped the better at the ninth to lead for a couple of strides. As they turned for home Real Value dropped sixth lengths behind the other pair. Pendle Hill had a length to the good over the third last with Real value four lengths adrift. By the penultimate the gaps were two lengths and the same. As they turned the final bend it was one length and the same. Garrison gave best and the other two rose together at the last with Pendle Hill making the better jump but Real Value battled back from a neck down 100 yards from the line to a head in front at the post.
Ladies Open	The Ladies Open had but one more than the Mens. Not surprisingly one of the top two or three horses in the area Sheriff's Friend, piloted by Jenny Gordon, was a 1/4 favourite. The only other runner not priced at 8/1 was the available at 4/1 Irish Sea under Pippa Hall. Red Channel did a nasty on Brea Donnelly and crashed out through the wings of the eighth fence. Shortly afterwards Irish Sea won the battle with Pippa Hall and was allowed to make a dash for home as they went down the back straight second time round. Jenny went in pursuit and it appeared that the pair had dropped Silver Lake (Kate Pegrum 8/1). As they turned for home Kate and the grey began to reel the leading pair back in. Sheriff's Friend and Irish Sea rose together at the second last. Irish Sea had had enough as they turned the final bend but Kate, creeping up inside Jenny nearly caught her napping and Silver Lake rose with the favourite at the last. The favourite, however, quickly skipped away when Jenny asked for full throttle.
Restricted	The meeting ended with four runners - two of which were maiden winners last time out. Winner at Parham under Chris Gordon and made favourite at 5/4 was Ministerial whilst the other Lord Alpha, assisted by David Phelan, was priced at 2's. The other pair were at 6's and 8's respectively. The four went round in a group at a sensible pace for the first circuit. Ministerial was the first to drop off the pack - not helped by his habit of trailing his hind legs at each fence. Four lengths still covered the field at the fourth from home. As they jumped the third from home Lord Alpha took the lead from long time leader Sliabh Foy (Philip Hall 8/1) whilst another mistake finished Ministerial's chances. Straight Baron (Peter Bull) took second from Sleibh Foy as they jumped the second last but could not close on the new leader.

Year 2004 Fixture List