REVIEW
CROOME & WEST WARWICKSHIRE
UPTON ON SEVERN
TUESDAY 22 APRIL 2003

by Peter Mansell

Tim Jewitt and Sean Lycett both recorded their first training successes during Tuesdays Croome and West Warwickshire meeting at Upton on Severn.

Northern Motto was thought by connections to appreciate soft ground but after the 10-year-old's success under Katie Clift in the Mixed Open that statement may need reassessing. Northern Motto led from halfway but had to pull out all the stops to hold the persistence challenge of Rusty Fellow up the run in before securing the prize for his Sandhurst (Gloucester) based owner/trainer.

Sean Lycett spent 7 years working for Nigel Twiston Davies before setting up his own yard at Barnsley, near Cirencester and he still rides out for the Naunton trainer. Judging by Chocolate Bombes victory in Division I of the 2 mile 5 furlong Maiden that experience has obviously paid dividends.

The 6-year-old was always in the leading group but showed signs of immaturity throughout the contest until taking the measure of Coppermalt between the final two fences. With victory looking assured, Chocolate Bombe started to look round him and coupled with Coppermalts renewed efforts his lead was being whittled away all the way up the run in. With Julian Pritchards help and assistance, Peter Berrymans 6-year-old was just a neck clear of his rival at the line.

The Ryalls Court fences take some jumping but two horses showed a particular aptitude for this and both scored pillar to post victories. Mark Wilesmith took Coddington Girl into the lead at the first in the Members and they never saw another rival from that point and came home a distance clear of Acton Bank to secure the prize for owner Tracey Chapman and his trainer/daughter Heather.

Mary Mitchell's granddaughter was due to partner Bolshie Baron this season but a recent fall on the road led to alternative plans being made and he joined Harry Wheelers yard near Broadway three weeks ago. The 14-year-old gained lengths over his rivals at every fence and was not unduly troubled to hold the challenge of Borderline Breeze on the run to the post.

Upton on Severn trainer Mike Daniells and his near neighbour Sue Troughton enjoyed to successful weekend with Smile Pleeze's Eyton win on Monday being followed by Run to the Glens success in the Mares Maiden. The 8-year-old was partnered by the champion jockey elect Richard Burton and after this combination had come home 2 lengths clear of Bold Baby they had to survive a steward enquiry before victory was assured.

 
RESULTS
MEMBERS
1ST CODDINGTON GIRL M WILESMITH 5/2
2ND ACTON BANK P BRITTEN 11/2
(ONLY TWO FINISHED)
3 RAN DISTANCE
RESTRICTED
1ST SOUL KING A CHARLES JONES 7/2
2ND JEROME JEROME S BLACKWELL 10/1
3RD OUTREGEOUS AFFAIR MISS R REYNOLDS 12/1
6 RAN 1 LENGTH - DISTANCE
MARES MAIDEN
1ST RUN TO THE GLEN R BURTON 5/2
2ND BOLD BABY D BARLOW 12/1
3RD BUTLEIGH ROSE J SNOWDEN 7/2
9 RAN 2 LENGTHS - DISTANCE
MIXED OPEN
1ST NORTHERN MOTTO MISS K CLIFT 20/1
2ND RUSTY FELLOW MRS M FINCH 4/1
3RD PRETORIA DANCER F O'BRIEN 2/1
9 RAN 2 - 5 LENGTHS
CONFINED
1ST BOLSHIE BARON M HARRIS 11/10
2ND BORDERLINE BREEZE MISS H WATSON 2/1
3RD BRAND NEW DANCE F HUTSBY 10/1
6 RAN 4 - 15 LENGTHS
8-YEAR-OLD AND UPWARD MAIDEN
1ST PENTHOUSE MINSTREL J SNOWDEN 11/8
2ND ALMOST A DAY D MANSELL 2/1
3RD PEACETOWN M HAMMOND 20/1
4 RAN 6 LENGTHS - DISTANCE
5-6-7 YEAR OLD MAIDEN - DIVISION I
1ST CHOCOLATE BOMBE J PRITCHARD 4/5
2ND COPPERMALT M JACKSON 5/1
3RD A LOT TO LIKE J SNOWDEN 4/1
5 RAN NECK - DISTANCE
5-6-7 YEAR OLD MAIDEN - DIVISION II
1ST ITALIAN CLOVER S BLACKWELL 9/2
2ND KNOCK EM BACK MISS C THOMAS 11/4
3RD SNITTON WEST M JACKSON 4/1
7 RAN 1 - 15 LENGTHS