Race reviews

Hunt	Seven went to post in the opening race. The Tindall/Gordon winner of a 2 mile National Hunt Flat Race two years ago Alice Reigns (Chris Gordon) was made the 4/6 fav. Next in the betting at 4's was course winner Straight Baron (Peter Bull) and at 7's was Tidal Reef (Gareth Wigley). The remainder, including winner of this race two years ago Jack Hackett (Philip Hall) could be had at 10's or upwards. Alice Reigns and Jack Hackett made most of the running. With a circuit to go Straight Baron attached himself to the rear of the two. The favourite had a three length lead over the third from home but lost momentum jumping badly left at the last. Jack Hackett hung left away from the whip up the straight whilst the favourite hung into the whip as Chris drove her out. Trying to make his run between the two of them Peter Bull found his target gap shrinking swiftly. The stewards inquired into the finish but allowed the result to stand as a win for Jack Hackett, beating the favourite with Straight Baron in third.
Restricted	There were five declared for the Restricted. Winner of the the 2m4f Maiden at the last Charing Toujours (Chris Gordon) was, like the previous race, the 4/6 fav. At 5/2 was Leading Case (Peter Bull). Kilvoydan (David Phelan) at 4's, East Anglian Good Thyne Murphy was at 5's whilst narrowly beaten runner-up in this race last year Ishma was the outsider at 10's. The five were closely bunched for the first circuit. Unfortunately at the half way stage Kilvoydan dropped off the pace leaving Ishma without company alongside - not for the first time in his career this was his excuse to throw in a refusal. Toujours and Leading Case jumped the fourth last together. The favourite pulled out a two length lead turning for home and always held the stronger hand of the only two to finish.
Confined	The betting in the 7 runner Confined race was very open. Favourite again, but this time at 5/2, was the Tindall/Gordon candidate Lively Lord. At 3's was the George Cooper ridden raider from East Anglia Jims Belief. At 7/2 were the Brea Donnelly piloted Quick Response and Cloudy Creek under Peter Bull. The other three runners could be had at 14's. With a circuit to go the trio of Lively Lord, Jims Belief and Cloudy Creek broke clear of the others. One again Chris made his move going to the third last - drawing out a three length lead over Cloudy Creek. He maintained this lead to the last but Peter Bull made good ground up the finishing straight but the winning post came too quickly. Jims Belief plodded on rather one-paced for third.
Ladies Open	There were seven declared for the Ladies Open. The layers had this reduced to a three horse race. Once again the favourite was the Tindall/Gordon entry (Jenny this time - not Chris) - Harding being priced up at 6/4. At 9/4 and 3/1 respectively were the two horses that had already won Ladies races this season - Tom Cobbler (Pippa Hall) and Kincora (Lisa Stock) respectively. The remainder were at 10's and upwards. Kincora did his normal front running with only Jenny trying to keep the gap from getting too big. With a circuit to go Tom Cobbler was moved up from the chasing pack to join the pair. With two circuits completed the trio had broken well clear of the others. Kincora had just started to drop off the other two when decanting Lisa at the fourth last. As soon as Pippa pressed the go faster button Tom Cobbler went away easily. Stylish Dave (Didy Rowell 10/1) was a remote third.
Mens Open	At last a race without a Tindall/Gordon favourite - cos they didn't have a horse entered. Only four declared but a race to look forward to - effectively a match between Little Farmer (Philip Hall) at 1/2 and Struggles Glory (Stuart Robinson) 5/2. The other two were priced at 8's. Kenny Davis unshipped Paul Blagg at the first open ditch. Full Egalite (Gordon Gallagher) showed full solidarity by declining to jump the same fence next time round - a message not passed on to rider Gordon Gallagher who negotiated it quite successfully whilst his mount watched from the take-off side. Going down the horsebox park dip for the last time Stuart Robinson noticeably upped the pace and opened out a two length gap. The lead was up to six lengths by the fourth last - a gap maintained to the post.
Veteran & Novice Riders	Not surprisingly neither Jenny nor Chris Gordon qualified as a Veteran or Novice rider. The bookies priced this up as a mach between two that had journeyed down from Essex - Paul Chinery's Royal Action was 4/5 fav. George Coopers Endeavour was at 5/4. Graphic Designer (Hannah Gordon) at 10's was the only other of the nine declared that could not be backed at 20's. All bar Crewski negotiated the first circuit as a bunch. With a circuit to go ten lengths still covered the leading seven. Endeavour upped the pace on the back straight with only Royal Action managing to stop him from stealing the race. The favourite was only three lengths behind at the third last but could make no further progress. Russian Connection (Andrew Ward-Thomas 20/1) was a further 10 lengths adrift in third.
Open Maiden	Normal favouritism resumed for the last race. Runner-up at the first Charing Granny Smith (Chris Gordon) was favourite at 2/1. Next at 7/2 was the recently placed in a Hunter Chase Pistol Knight (Stuart Robinson). Baron Bernard (Paul Chinery) could be backed at 5's whilst Philip Hall's mount Inis Eile was a 6/1 shot. The remainder were priced at 12's or up - including over half of the fifteen runners being backable at 33/1. The field were closely bunched at the end of the first circuit. The favourite and Private Percival (Paul Blagg 33/1) then pulled out a 10 length lead over the others with a circuit to go. Granny Smith thereafter kept drawing away and Prince Percival tired to allow Pistol Knight and Spruce Goose (Noel Wilson 33/1) to go past before the line.

Year 2004 Fixture List