Munsters Best  (Alex Merriam) tumbles at the second last but recovers to go on to win.


Millenium Way on his way to victory (photo courtesy of Ginni Beard)


From left - Altereek (4th), Bally Wirral (2nd), Heaven Is Above (3rd) and Whites Touch (winner) turn to face the last

So where did she come from?

Race Reviews

Ponies	Pony Races - click here to go to the Pony Racing Page. Sponsored by Rockpool Kids 13h2 Twyford Cointreau (Tabitha Worsley 25/1) (for whom it is unfortunate that there isn't a 12h2 race) tried to make it from the front against 1/4 fav. Tiny Tim (Frankie Hickman) (who actually looked like Giant Tim in comparison) but the favourite sees out the trip all the way to the line. TC's short legs were still going nineteen to the dozen but the longer legs of Little Star (Imogen Cowling) 5/1 relegated him to third by the time the finishing post came. If the leader is Tiny what does that make the second? Tiny Tim makes it four wins in 2006. 14h2 The owners of Pharlop, from Newmarket, only entered her at Charing because they were too far down the reserve list for the East Anglian equivalent race. With no indication as to where she come from and having never raced before the local bookies, knowing that there was a strong entry of locals, initially marked her up at 20/1. Connections didn't even know, before arriving, that betting was going to be allowed, but knowing that their ponies mum had won a number of flat races they felt that this was rather generous and backed her down to 3's rather quickly. The local defence came from Penshurst winner The Little Brown Mare (Hector Worsley) at 3 to 1 on. However the mare can be a bit temperamental, as had happened at Parham, and when the flag dropped she promptly whipped round - leaving the odds on favourite pointing in completely the wrong direction. Third favourite Dalestown Rose (Tom Cheesman 5/1) thought that this seemed quite a nice novel idea and promptly did exactly the same - leaving two thirds of the bookies Ibiza holiday savings funds pointing towards Maidstone instead of Ashford. Ironically it was left to Ivory Girl (Tom Cannon 12/1), who had been slow away at Bexhill on her racing debut to give the odds-makers any hope of buying anything bigger than a Creme Egg for the kids tomorrow. Tom got IG up alongside Pharlop at the halfway point but Emma Clutterbuck inched away up the straight and paid for the fuel back to Newmarket (and a little bit extra to pay for a very nice Easter Sunday lunch as well.). Pharlop (left) and Ivory Girl lead the charge On further investigation of the video it appears that Dalestown Rose stood up as the flag dropped - Tom Cheesman doing incredibly well to remain in the saddle. At this point TLBM (yellow) first went backwards and then whipped round, taking out Dan (Lizzie Norman 33/1) and Belmont Princess (Charlotte Parkin 20/1) and narrowly missing the descending Dalestown Rose. Other than that a nice clean start! Dalestown Rose (orange cap) livens up the start
Restricted	THE LIPSCOMB VOLVO RESTRICTED A good turn-out of nine for the Restricted. With a circuit to go the market leaders had drawn clear of the remainder. Coming down the hill Chris Gordon had got Court Award (2/1) to within two lengths of the favourite Saffron Hill (Richard Bandey 5/4 fav.) However that was as close as he could get. Miss Biddy (Olivia Maylem 4/1) led home the chasing pack.
Maiden	THE GRANTS CHERRY BRANDY 2m4f 4, 5, 6 & 7 year old MAIDENs As they turned for home five of the ten maidens were still in with a shout. Luteur Des Pictons (Gareth Wigley 6/1) and the favourite Munsters Best (Alex Merriam) had opened up a five length lead by the time they met the second last. The favourite slipped on landing, slid along on his knees and Alex was pitched up between his ears. Somehow or another Alex stayed in the saddle but now Milanista (Phil York 6/1) was chasing him for second and LDP had a six length lead turning for home. Not for the first time LDP found nothing in the closing stages and not only did Alex pay tribute to his brand of glue by getting the favourite up to win but Milanista even snatched second from LDP.
Mens Open	THE LOTUS MENS OPEN RACE The race winner qualifies for Towcester Hunter Chase on May 15th Marcus Gorman took the odds on favourite Cape Stormer (4/7) to the front at the end of the first circuit. Bard Of Drumcoo (David Kemp 6/1) made a total mess of the Open Ditch and was lucky to get up after somersaulting twice on landing effectively putting Cedar Chief (Gordon Gallagher 6/1) out of the race in doing so. By the time they reached the top of the hill the favouirite had opened up a ten length lead over Little Herman (Chris Gordon 5/2). Chris could not reduce the lead to less than two lengths by the line with Cedar Chief eventually taking third.
Ladies Open	THE EASTWELL MANOR LADIES OPEN RACE The race winner qualifies for Huntingdon Hunter Chase on May 16th Favourite Millenium Way (Caroline Taylor 1/2) slowly wound up the pace in the six runner Ladies - dropping the opposition one at a time. Galeaway (Hannah Grissell 12/1) took up the lead for a few strides six furlong sfrom home but could not sustain the challenge and eventually gave best to a fast finishing Indoux (Cynthia Haydon 3/1) on the run-in but Caroline was well gone by then.
Club	THE SOUTH EAST HUNTS CLUB RACE (Kindly sponsored by Hythe Bay Restaurant) A steady first circuit and a bit and ten of the twelve runners were still within twelve lengths of the lead as they started the last mile. Altereek (Gordon Gallagher 5/1) had opened up a gap of five lengths in front of a bunch of five over the fourth from home. As they turned to meet the last - four were in line across the course - Whites Touch (Phil York 8/1) on the rail, Heaven Is Above (Alex Merriam 5/2 fav.) on his outside. Next out was Bally Wirral (Godfrey Maundrell 3/1) with Altereek on his outside. Altereek was half a length down on the other three as they all rose together at the last. As they sprinted up the finish it was Whites Touch then Bally Wirrell and then Heaven Is Above as they reached the line.
Hunt	THE HOBBS PARKER HUNT CUP & FARMERS RACE With Rusinga (Darren Page 10/1) having refused to leave the paddock for several minutes and Minino (Caroline Taylor 4/7 fav.) known to occasionally play up at the start the starter must have been pleased to see all five horses jump off when he dropped the flag - although Nicodemus (Helen Williams 9/2) allowed them all a ten length start. The leading four went round together for the first circuit - with Nicodemus twelve lengths behind. Going up the hill the second time the two outsiders dropped away allowing Minino a two length lead over Dick McCarthy (Sarah Ashby 9/4) - with Nicodemus twelve lengths behind the pair. Positions remain unchanged and the favourite retained the two length gap over the second last fence - with Nicodemus still twelve lengths behind. At Penshurst, for the first time since he teamed up with his owner/first season rider, Nicodemus found himself within striking distance of the sole standing opponent when turning for home - a turbo kicked in and he had sprinted home to record his riders first victory. Clearly the button hadn't fouled up as, still ten lengths in arrears turning the last bend, the turbo kicked in once more - down to eight lengths by the time the last jump was met - and he has whooshed past both Dick McCarthy and then Minino before either of the two experienced lady riders in front were aware of the fact that an express train had been unleashed making it two.wins for the partnership in a fortnight.

Photos	Videos
Professional photos were taken by - Paul Saville LBIPP, Pleasure Prints, PO Box 171, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, KT12 4NL 01932-254500	Click here for details of meeting DVD's - From the SouthEast PtP Supporters Club

Year 2006 Fixture List