REVIEW NEW FOREST FOXHOUNDS LARKHILL SATURDAY 15 MARCH 2003 by Brian & Gill Armstrong |
Spectators enjoyed gloriously sunny conditions at the New
Forest Foxhounds point-to-point at Larkhill on Saturday. The opening
Confined Hunts race went to the Sally Alner-trained Oscar Wilde who jumped
well throughout and regained the lead entering the straight for a 5 length
win. This was a second win of the season for Stoke Wake rider Dan Drake,
19, who looks after three horses at the Alner yard including Kingscliff,
winner of the Christies Foxhunters Challenge Cup at Cheltenham just 48
hours earlier. Kustom Kat Grizzly and Rowan Cope regained the lead two out
to take the Open Maiden (Division One) race. Kustom Kat Grizzly is one of
eight horses trained at Stewkley near Leighton Buzzard by Fiona Kehoe and
is owned by an eight-man syndicate. Fiona, who runs a catering business in
the summer months, bought the horse out of the ring at Doncaster Sales two
years ago. Kingscliff’s rider Richard Young also got on the scoresheet
when Sun Lark made most of the running to take the Open Maiden (Division
Two) race. Sun Lark is trained at Ibberton by Andy and Susie Old for Fiona
and Charles Wilson, who bred Sun Lark at their Pitts Farm Stud at
Glanvilles Wootton. Sun Lark’s dam Sunylyn won seven races and is a
sister to 1985 Cheltenham Foxhunters winner Elmboy. The Open Maiden (Division Three) race went to Stormy Pass and
Charlie Wadland, who had already asserted when long-time leader Rosalee
Royale fell at the last. Stormy Pass is owned and trained near Rugby by
ex-Joint Warwickshire Hunt Master Jenny Hayward who bought the horse
privately out of Paul Webber’s stable in September. Sally Alner completed a double when Woodlands Beau took the
14-runner Mixed Open under Nick Mitchell. Woodlands Beau runs for a
syndicate, headed by Stoke Wake’s Richard Jenks, which leases the horse
from David Briers. Jackie Jenner, who looks after dual Cheltenham Gold Cup
winner Best Mate, took part in this race, completing the course on her own
One Of The Natives. Julian Pritchard won on his only ride of the day when
Carbonado forged clear from three out for a 12 length win from
disappointing favourite Find Me Another. Carbonado, who relished the good
to firm ground, is owned and trained by Thornbury farmers Jill and Bill
Tuck. The complexion of the Restricted changed when favourite
Duncliffe and Ablington Down fell independently at the sixth fence.
Sylphide and Jim Jenkins forged clear from four out to beat Dante’s
Promise with Highway Oak back in third. Sylphide was homebred by Highworth
owner, John Manners, who reported that the horse’s five-year-old
half-sister Rakassa will shortly be making her hurdling debut. The closing PPORA Club Members race went to the Richard
Barber-trained Ease The Pressure and 17-year-old Nick Williams, who got up
on the run in to deny Blackwater Brave and Harry Fry, 16, with Wild Edric
in third. This was Ease The Pressure’s fourth Larkhill win of the season
for owner Ray Geddes, who bought the horse at Doncaster Sales in November. |