REVIEW
CHESHIRE FOREST
TABLEY
Sunday 9th April 2006
by Arthur Shone
Sunday’s Cheshire Forest meeting
between the flags at Tabley was very testing underfoot for both
horses and race goers alike. The hardest part was seeing if you
could get your car off the course without the aid of a tractor, as
the heavy rain, snow and hailstones before racing had made the
ground like a mud bath. The final race on the card the 5, 6 &
7yo Maiden race and the pony race was abandoned on the advice of
the medics. The reason for this was that rider David Painter took a
crashing fall on the Michael Oliver trained Godfrey in the previous
race and the medics treating him decided that he needed the air
ambulance. They advised the stewards that that could take up to an
hour to arrive, which left them no alternative but to abandon the
remainder of the meeting. In the end Painter was taken to hospital
by an ordinary ambulance by road.
Once again Hadnall trainer Sheila Crow took
the training honours with a double with Lord Bush in the Confined
and An Capall Dubh in the Men’s Open. This was her 17 th
winner of the season, both horses ridden by the champion rider
Richard Burton. This was Burtie’s 26 th winner of the season
and he only needs another two winners to reach a notable landmark
of 250 career winners.
There was a lot to like about the manner of
Lord Bush’s victory. The Lord Americo gelding made virtually
every yard from flag fall to win going away by 8 lengths from
Sarah’s Party with Julian Pritchard in the plate. This was
his third victory of the season and he is regarded very highly by
his trainer. Speaking after the race Crow said, “Richard (
Burton) told me that he is a real professional and always gives you
his all. He didn’t mind the ground today and he will probably
go on any going. He will go to Cheltenham for the hunter chase
meeting there next month and I think it will be an ideal course for
him.” The winner is owned by Richard French from Eccleshall
and David & Ann Carding from Walcot.
Only five runners went to post for the Mens
Open which went to the Sheila Crow trained An Capall Dubh, who made
every yard under Richard Burton to beat the rank outsider by Flat
Stanley by 6 lengths. The combination was handed the race three out
when Ikemba under Will Kinsey fell three out when upsides. Crow
said afterwards that her charge hated the ground and added that it
was his class that got him home. The winner ran in the well known
colours of Derek Pugh from Shrewsbury.
There was an even poorer turn out for the
Ladies Open with only four lining up to face the starter. Stormy
Sunrise followed up his Bangor win with another success under Tor
Stubbs, who beat the jolly Step and Run with Jane Williams in the
plate by three and a half lengths. The Glacial Storm gelding is
trained by the riders mother Elizabeth Stubbs at Crowton, near
Northwich and owned by her father Phillip, who said that his horse
would have a rest and would come back for the Club meeting here on
May 14th.
It was good to see Sherrifhales trainer
Caroline Robinson back in the winners enclosure following the
Restricted success of Rebel Lad, who was given a super ride by
Adrian Wintle, his 10 th of the season. The combination had a bit
more in hand than the 3 length margin over On The Forty from the
Steve Wynne yard would suggest. The Young Purty was a further 10
lengths back in third. Many people will feel justice was done
because at Weston Park Rebel Lad fell at the last with a lead of 6
lengths, which handed the race to On The Forty. Robinson said
afterwards that she knew the testing ground would suit her horse
but added that she was a bit concerned beforehand as to whether he
would handle the tight course. The winner is owned by a syndicate
calling themselves the Nagmatic Racing Club, which consists of
Marion Renaghan, Steven Nightingale and Richard Lane, most of them
come from the Clitheroe area.
Malpas trainer Steve Wynne did not leave the
Cheshire course empty handed following the much overdue success of
Guthrie in the Open Maiden. The Mister Lord gelding employed new
tactics this time. Wynne instructed Oliver Greenall to go out and
make every yard of the running, which he did to perfection, but in
the end it got desperate as he just held on by a head from the fast
finishing Striking Distance under Sarah Gorse. The runner up was in
front after the line, but they pay out on the jam stick. Wynne has
always thought very highly of the winner, speaking afterwards he
said, “He has been so unlucky this season. He got left at the
start last time out and this win would have done his confidence a
lot of good. He is a much better horse on better ground but you
can’t always get it, so that’s why he took his chance
today and he will come on from this race.” The winner is
owned by Dave Manning, also from Malpas, who is great supporter of
point to pointing.
The Cheshire Forest Members race is always
one of the best supported in the area in terms of numbers of
runners and yesterday was no exception. The race went to the
progressive Castleford who came with a perfectly timed run under
his trainer and rider Will Kinsey to beat Port Salon very easily by
10 lengths with Juralon was a similar distance back in third.
Kinsey who trains at Ashton, near Chester is having his best ever
season with 4 winners to date. The winner is owned by Caroline Page
from Ottley, who is the mother of one of the trainers old school
friends.
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