REVIEW |
Highlights of a windswept Eggesford meeting on Saturday, were
a double for jockey Colin Heard and a blanket finish in the confined race. Heard initiated his double in the members’ race when Bill
Me Up got the better of his sole rival in the members’ race, Saintly
Thoughts ridden by Sarah West and went on to win the men’s open on Bomba
Charger. This result was the race of the season from Rebecca Welch’s 12
year old horse as he beat runner up Sir William – who has won three
races already this season - by
25 lengths, in 6.09, just short of the ladies’ race time. Another form horse to be overturned was four-time winner this
season Phoenix Phlyer in the ladies’ open. Phoenix found nothing when
challenged at Cherrybrook and Tamsin Trickey used the same tactics on
Itsnotsimple in this race, taking on CharlotteStucley’s front-runner
with a circuit to go. Tamsin led the way and first Last of the Gales and
then Alska followed suit. The four were all hard at it over the last two
fences with Last of the Gales getting up in the last strides to take first
place for Sarah West, Phoenix Phlyer settling for fourth spot. There was another exiting finish in the confined, with three
horses jumping the last two fences together. Jennifer Congdon, enjoying
her first ride this season on Destin D’Estruval dropped her reins two
out and she felt that cost her victory but she was only half a length back
in third, with Leslie Jefford on Happy Team, trained by Linda Blackford,
and Zatopek ridden by Liam Heard having to be split by the judge, Zatopek
got the verdict. The confined maiden had most upsets. Favourite Atlantic Drift
was a first fence faller and later brought down Richard Woollacott on All
Sewn Up and Roy Emmett on Darcy Jones, cutting across them at the run
through. When Dark Venetian fell,Straight Courage was hampered and
unshipped Liam Burns. He remounted to finish a distance second to Mervyn
Woodward and Cath’s Lass. Colin Heard was denied a treble in the young horses’ maiden
when Gunner’s Mistake was held by Marquis Max. The Eggesford had made a great effort to produce their course
in good condition and it was great to see new fences all round, a great
improvement on previous years. It was also good to see Richard Woollacott
back riding – although he probably didn’t have the ideal
reintroduction he had hoped for – and Sarah West back riding at her
best. Results: Members: 1, Bill Me Up, C Heard; 2, Saintly
Thoughts, Miss S West. Two ran, 20l, 6.28. Ladies’ Open: 1, Last of the Gales, Miss S West; 2,
Itsnotsimple, Mrs T Trickey; 3, Alska, Miss W Southcombe. Six ran, 1l, 1
1/2l, 6.05. Confined: 1, Zatopek, L Heard; 2, Happy Team, L Jefford; 3,
Destin D’Estruval, Miss J Congdon. Four ran, nk, 1/2l, 6.25. Restricted: 1, ThMoonsABalloon, S Partridge; 2, Henwyn, R
Darke; 3m, Kiddysart Lady, J Young.11 ran, 1/2l, 6l, 6.16. Men’s Open: 1, Bomba Charger, C Heard; 2, Sir William, D
Edwards; 3, William O’Dee, R Woollacott. Five ran, 20l, dist, 6.09. 5,6 and 7 year olds Maiden: 1, Marquis Max, W Smith; 2,
Gunners Mistake, C Heard; 3, Silver Image, M Sweetland. Four ran, 6l, 15l,
6.49. Confined Maiden: 1, Cath’s Lass, M Woodward; 2, Straight Courage, L Burns. Seven ran, only two finished. Dist, 7.47. |