REVIEW
TEDWORTH
BARBURY CASTLE
SUNDAY 5 MAY 2002
by Brian & Gill Armstrong

The Tedworth Hunt held their annual point-to-point at Barbury Castle near Marlborough on Sunday. Highlights included a win for Dictum in the Gerrard Ladies' Open, while Charlie Fox's Red Brook Lad was a very comfortable winner of the Tedworth Gold Cup in the hands of Nick Mitchell.

The opening Hunt race went to Lucky Tanner and Rowde (near Devizes) rider, Gill Young, who led three out and forged clear for a five length win. Lucky Tanner was bought for £460 at the October 2001 Ascot Sales jointly by Gill, her partner Mark Johannsen and her sister Jenny, who also trains the horse at Calstone, near Calne.

Mark Wildsmith from Ledbury rode his first winner of the season when Clara's Pride took the Restricted race. Clara's Pride made all the running and had the race in safekeeping when nearest challenger Indian Muse refused three out, baulking Greg's Profiles. This was a real family success, as Clara's Pride is owned and trained by Mark's father Martin, assisted by Mark's mother Doreen and sister Emma. The Wildsmiths bought Clara's Pride from Northern Ireland vendor Peter McGill at the June 2000 Malvern Sales.

The Ladies' Open went to the Fiona Browne-trained Dictum, who led four out and held the renewed challenge of Polden Pride to win by ¾ length in 5 minutes 59 seconds. Dictum is owned by rider Susie Samworth, whose Cheltenham Gold Cup and Grand National winning boyfriend, Jim Cullotty, was present to see her success. Susie had taken Dictum to the Albrighton meeting at Weston Park the previous day, but elected not to run due to the firm ground.

The Men's Open race for the Tedworth Gold Cup went to Red Brook Lad and Nick Mitchell, who led entering the straight for a comfortable 5 length success. Red Brook Lad may run once more this season in a Hunter Chase, but will not be risked if ground conditions are not suitable. The horse broke a bone in his leg when falling at Larkhill last season, so is a credit to Bridport owner Charlie Fox, who bought him privately from Epsom trainer Simon Dow three years ago.

There was no fairytale ending to the Countryside Alliance Members' race for the Wilesmiths'  16-year-old All Weather, pulled up at the 14th on his final racecourse appearance, nor 17-year-old Granville Grill who finished fifth under Simon Howe. The race went to Perryman, who made virtually all the running to give owner, Susie Goess-Saurau, her first-ever winner at the family-owned Barbury Castle course. Perryman, rejuvenated by hunting since being given to Susie by Epsom Racecourse MD, Sue Ellen, was a third winner of the season for rider Alistair Beedles, a 28-year-old farmer and Joint Master of the South Shropshire Hunt from Dorrington near Shrewsbury. Alistair was deputising for Polly Gundry, who is recovering in the USA from injuries sustained riding in the Maryland Hunt Cup.

The closing Open Maiden went to Chaucers Miller, who jumped well and got the better of a sustained duel from the 15th with Chief Suspect to give rider Jamie Snowden his seventh winner of the season. Chaucers Miller is trained at Appleshaw (near Andover) by Bill Gould for owner-breeder Hilary McCall, who raced that fine horse Senator of Rome in the late 1980s.