REVIEW |
A huge crowd enjoyed fine
racing on a glorious afternoon when the Cattistock staged their
point-to-point at Littlewindsor on Sunday. Enormous credit is due to
Robert Atkinson who watered the course to produce perfect going which was
praised by owners, trainers and jockeys alike. There was a family
success in the opening Hunt race when Blackwater Brave caught long-time
leader Highway Oak in the straight for a 3½ length win. Blackwater Brave
is owned and trained at Halstock by Caroline and Richard Fry and was
ridden by their 16-year-old son Harry. The Frys bought the strong-staying
Blackwater Brave privately from Paul Nicholls as a schoolmaster for Harry
and may aim the horse at a four mile race later in the season. Poppy Maroon was an
impressive 15 length winner of the 2½ mile Open Maiden race under Michael
Miller. Poppy Maroon is trained at Woolland by Michael’s father,
Richard, who bought the horse at the May 2002 Doncaster Sales for Alton
Pancras owner Sally Dangerfield and her son Roland. Poppy Maroon was an
unlucky loser at Didmarton earlier in the season and is one for the
notebooks. The Restricted went to
Onmywayhome and Polly Gundry who made most of the running and were left
clear when the challenging Earls Toy under Harry Fry crashed through the
wing at the last. Onmywayhome is the only point-to-pointer trained at
Lewdown near Launceston by Sue Smith who bought the horse at Ascot Sales
in June 2001. The winner could have run at Great Trethew but Sue decided
to make her first visit to Littlewindsor after hearing reports of the
anticipated good going. The Ladies’ Open went
to Jolitan who benefited from the application of blinkers for a
comfortable success. Forton trainer Philip Greenwood was especially keen
to credit rider Rilly Goschen for a “great ride” on the winner, who is
jointly owned by Pat Wilkins and Bruce Evans. Tony’s Time led three
out under Nick Mitchell and had the Men’s Open in safekeeping when
market rival Fair Wind refused at the last. Tony’s Time is one of four
horses owned and trained by Tiverton solicitors Sarah and Nigel Faulks at
their South Molton home. Sarah and Nigel bought both Tony’s Time and his
dam, Time Warp, seven years ago. Alex Charles-Jones got on
the scoresheet when taking the six-runner Intermediate race on Shock’s
Pride, who led three out and held the challenge of Barton Rose. Shock’s
Pride is trained at Milton Abbas by Sarah Clarke for Compton Valence owner
Charlie Sclater, a property consultant with FPDSavills. Charlie bought the
horse privately in Ireland 2 years ago and may aim him at the Intermediate
Hunter Chase Final at Newton Abbot on 29th April. The closing Open Maiden race went to Calfstown Lord and Richard Young, who just held the challenge of Restless Native and Polly Gundry by a short head. This was a first-ever winner for owner Sarah Lane, 24, and her mother Alison who trains Calfstown Lord at their Hazelbury Bryan home. Sarah, who bought the horse privately out of Carroll Gray’s yard, had been ‘under the weather’ for a few days so did not ride the horse herself, but found an able deputy in Richard, winner of this year’s Cheltenham Foxhunters on Kingscliff. |