Race reviews

Hunt	There were five declared for the opening Hunt race. Winner here last year Esprit De Cotte was a strong favourite at 4/5. Next in the betting was The Grey Baron (Peter Bull) at 7/4 and the other three runners were at 6's and up. After a circuit the two favourites and King Of The Dawn (Jody Sole 8/1) drew clear of the other two. King Of The Dawn led the trio. The Grey Baron pulled up before the sixth from home. Phil started to work on the favourite after the fifth from home but could not get any closer than two lengths behind King Of The Dawn who went away to win fairly easily although the pair both finished very tired. Silver Lake (Kate Pegrum 8/1) eventually finished third.
Club Conditions	The Point-to-Point Owners Club race had eight runners. Subject of a successful raid from East Anglia a fortnight ago East Anglia's Endeavour (owned and ridden by George Cooper) was made the 5/4 fav. Another raider from outside the area, this time from the west, Rhythm King (G Mandrell) was priced at 3's as was the local defence - the Chris Gordon ridden Lively Lord - both could be backed at 3's. Tod's Brother (Alex Merriam) was priced at 5's and the remainder of the field could be backed at 10's or higher. Lively Lord did most of the early work. With a circuit to go he, Endeavour, Rhythm King & Tods Brother drew away from the others. Four fences from home Tods Brother dropped off the leading three. Rhythm King took up the lead jumping the third from last but Endeavour had regained a half length advantage going to the next where Rhythm King ducked out to the left of the fence at the last moment. Endeavor held a ten length lead turning for home over Tods Brother who was now coming with a wet sail. As the favourite stopped to nothing Tods Brother reeled him in and jumped into the lead at the last passing Endeavour who could only just clamber over it..Nobody else finished.
Restricted	Eight runners again for the Restricted. Five year old debut winner at Detling Balua (Peter Bull) was just favourite at 9/4. A quarter-point longer (at 5/2) was another 5 yr old seasonal winner - this time George Cooper's Magic Lodge. At 7/2 and 5/1 respectively were two last time out members race winners - Kilvoydan (David Phelan) and Phar Afield (Jody Sole). Also at 5's was Native Spin (Dan Dennis) while River Bailiff (Phil York) was only a point longer at 6's. Second longest price was still only 8/1. Native Spin led for the first circuit - at a slower pace than the previous two races as the riders realised the course was taking its toll on the horses. Kilvoydan joined Native Spin at the front after the first circuit was completed and the pair drew out a five length lead. The pair still had a five length lead over the sixth last but both jumped right at the Open Ditch and allowed the chasing bunch to close to within a couple of lengths. As they passed the starting point after two circuits Phil York took the lead on River Bailiff and after the next fence Balua moved up into second. Kilvoydan fought back to rejoin the leader jumping the second last. Balua had slipped a couple of lengths behind and on hitting the top of the fence was unable to get the tired lengths in the correct positions on landing. River Bailiff then drew out a two length lead turning for home but Kilvoydan fought back to within a length over the last. Despite getting back within half a length half way up the run-in Phil York found a little bit more in the last fifty yards. They were the only finishers.
Mens Open	The Mens Open had only six runners and was marked up as effectively a match between the two thirteen year olds in the field. The odds on favourite, at 4/6, was old area favourite Struggles Glory, ridden by even older area favourite - owner David Robinson. The 'other horse' was another long time area campaigner Real Value ridden by the youngster of the quartet Philip Hall (And not Andrew Hickman as stated in an earlier report of mine! Rather shameful having detailed the wrong details of a rider - even more so bearing in mind that the site editor spent a large portion of the day assisting on the number board - putting the numbers up as fast as they blew down and having been struck on the back of the head by a flying Mrs J Godon (the well known mis-painted rider) at a height of over 20 feet.) The supposed hangers-on were at 5/1 or more. Cedar Chief (Jason Merry 10/1) had a pillar to post victory, under Gordon Gallagher, in the Confined here last year - the tactics seemed to be to try to do the same again this year. Half way through the race he held a ten length lead over the remainder. Over the sixth from home he still held a twelve length lead. Real Value had the gap back to eight lengths over the fourth from home and the pair were well clear from the others. Real Value could then find no more and Cedar Chief won easily. Struggles Glory was a long way back in third.
Ladies Open	Ten were declared for the Ladies. Clear favourite, at 4/7, was the Jenny Gordon piloted Sheriff's Friend. At 4's were Dick McCarthy (Sarah Ashby) and Fair Kiowa (Sam Hodge). The others were backable at 8's or more. Surprisingly the ladies got the message about the tiring ground and were happy to go round in a bunch for the first circuit. Dick McCarthy started the second circuit leading a bunch of seven. As they started the last circuit Sheriffs Friend, Dick McCarthy, Storm Castle and Fair Kiowa broke away from the rest. At the second last it was Sheriffs a length to the good over Storm Castle with Fair Kiowa another length behind with Dick McCarthy two lengths in arrears. They then stayed in roughly the same positions until Sheriffs found a couple more lengths in the last 100 yards.
Maiden	Biggest field of the day was the fifteen declared for the Maiden race. The betting was close. Sharing favouritism at 5/2 were, not totally surprisingly, the Gordon & York candidates - Highfields Clover (Chris G) and Royal Cruise (Phil Y). Just half a point longer at 3's was the unlucky at Charing Midnight Lord (J Pemberton) whilst Gale On The Lake (Philip Hall) was only another half point longer at 7/2. The remainder were priced at 7/1 or higher. Ginger Sprout (Chris Thomson 8/1) made the running for the first circuit. At the end of the first circuit what was a tightly bunched pack behind the leader started to stretch out very quickly. Naughty Noah (Gordon Gallagher 25/1) took up the running with a circuit to go but then the field started to bunch up once again with six fences to go. Midnight Lord was the one that came from the pack to join Naughty Noah but then the pack bunched once again. As Naughty Noah dropped from the pack going to the second last Midnight Lord led by a length from Gale On The Lake, Sugar Toi (Gareth Wigley 14/1) another length back and yet another length to Highfields Clover. The latter jumped the second last poorly and seemed to have lost any chance but then ran on turning for home but the gap to Midnight Lord was too big at this point. Gale On The Lake won the battle for third.

Year 2004 Fixture List