REVIEW |
Despite the sharp and sudden decline in the weather, the
biggest East Anglian crowd of the year turned out for the Essex and
Suffolk Hunt. We arrived an hour before the first race and proceeded, in
Indian file, at funereal pace from over half a mile from the entrance. It
was the same last year. Perhaps it’s the children’s pony race; perhaps
it’s the large number of complimentary passes issued, or maybe simply
the chance of networking, or the social or economic advantage of being
seen to be there. Whatever the secret is, it works. Year after year this
Hunt attracts more spectators than any other in the region. I suspect,
however, the secret recipe to be more than just a love of the sport.
Again, in parallel with last year, a good third had departed by the end of
the fourth race, their duty obviously done. Of those that remained a large
number were, by then, rather inebriated. Most had spent the entire meeting
huddled around an assortment of well stocked car boots to guzzle free
alcohol and kiss each other excessively on both cheeks every time their
paths collided. Still, each to his own! I am sure that there were some
there who thought me, with camera, notebook and binoculars, to be the odd
one out! Twenty seven runners turned up to contest the six races, and
all bar the opening Hunt race, which was won by the 1/5 favourite (Endeavour),
produced an exciting finish. Many thanks (again) must go to the Turner
family, who provided a runner for every race in which they were eligible
to. One hates to think what would happen to the East Anglian scene,
particularly at the tail end of the season, if they were ever to withdraw
their support. The Turner’s jockey, James Owen, could have been forgiven for imagining himself as the Duke of York trapped in a pantomime of the sublime, for such was the swing in his fortunes throughout the day. Things began badly in the Restricted, for which six went to post. Four of them were still in with a shout five fences from home, but when Zafan, who had been travelling sweetly until then, hit the bottom of the fence and pulled up immediately after, the contenders were down to three. Owen chose this moment to make his move. The injection of pace caught his market rival, course winner Marmalade Mountain, completely flat footed and, as the peacemaking Lone Star tired, he quickly established a six length lead. As they raced between the last two fences he looked to have the race in the bag. Marmalade Mountain was closing, but only gradually; the deficit was still four lengths. Persian Hero flew the last. Too well. He over jumped and James Owen hit the deck. His certain victory was denied. A surprised, but delighted, Christian Ward Thomas steered Ruth Hayter’s Marmalade Mountain around his fallen adversary to record what had to be one of the luckiest victories of his career.
Luck has an uncanny way of evening itself out however. Not only did Mr Ward Thomas go on to unseat at the second on Cheerful Aspect in the Mens Open, but Mr Owen found himself in completely the opposite position in the days concluding race; the Open Maiden. Riding the odds on Captive, he was challenging, but seemingly held by Bede, as they approached the last. To make sure of victory Neil King saw a stride on Bede and asked him to go for the “big one”. He produced a massive leap, but stumbled on landing. His jockey was unable to hang on and exited through the side door. Owen seized the opportunity with a wry grin. Lady Luck had paid him back.
Sandwiched between the “up and down” was a “half way
up”. This came in the Confined and was, on the book, the most open race
of the day. Four of the five runners were priced at 4/1 or under, with
only Treasure Dome at greater odds. David Kemp had set out to make all the
running on Wise Advice, who had finished a close fourth to Fine Times in a
Cottenham Open last week. Andrew Braithwaite had stalked him on the
favourite, Step In Line, but found little when the leader produced another
gear four from home and went out with all the panache of a cheap light
bulb, a remark that also applied to the race’s other grey, New Ross.
This left the Turner’s Westfield John as Wise Advice’s only serious
challenger. The two jumped the second last in unison. Nothing separated
them at the final obstacle either. On landing, James Owen and David Kemp
both gathered their mounts and charged for the post. No quarter was asked
and no quarter was given. The commentator, as is prudent in East Anglia,
could not separate them. “I’ll leave it to the judge”. There was
then a long delay. Apparently the transmission failed. When it was
restored we learnt that the judge could not separate them either, and a
dead heat was announced.
David Kemp had earlier been fortunate to take part in the
Mens Open. His mount, the 14/1 outsider of four, Whatchowillie (obviously
named in a fit of puerile inebriation), had tested the Starter’s
patience by refusing to line up with the others on three occasions. The
Starter persevered with him, however; each time asking his three rivals to
“take a turn”. Eventually Whatchowillie consented to run, and, as
usual with runners from the Kemp stable, he soon found himself in pole
position. As mentioned earlier, Cheerful Aspect, Ruth Hayter’s
potentially promising recruit from Henry Daly’s National Hunt yard, was
an early casualty. This left the market leaders, Neil King’s Pangeran
and the Turner’s Corston Joker, as the only dangers. The latter was
never going well, having to be scrubbed along from the outset. His backers
were resigned to not collecting a long way from home. Pangeran, however,
looked to be travelling with plenty in hand and was ridden with the
confidence of one who knew he could take the race whenever he wanted. He
made a mistake at the sixth last and the gap between him and the leader
grew to ten lengths as they rounded the top turn. Many thought he was
merely being given time to recover but, as they came into the final
straight, he failed to respond to Neil King’s urgings and Whatchowillie
went further and further away from him. The stewards completed the
formality of inquiring into the winner’s improved performance, but
accepted David Kemp’s explanation that the horse’s jumping had
improved with schooling and he really appreciated the firm going.
The Ladies Open too only attracted four runners. With the
favourite at 6/4 and the third favourite at 9/4, they were nevertheless
well matched and the result was in doubt right unto the line. Amy Stennett
set out to emulate the previous victories of Endeavour and Watchowillie by
making all the running on Ruth Hayter’s Cinnamon Club. Mai Point gave
Rachael Barrow a painful fall in mid race and, when Hay Dance predictably
began to tire after two and a half miles, it was left to Zoe Turner on
Spring Gale to make a race of it. They had hunted round for the first
circuit and a half, deliberately leaving their effort late. They jumped
the second last a good four lengths down. This had reduced to two lengths
at the last. Amy Stennett had judged Cinnamon Club’s reserves well,
however, and the combination still had a head’s advantage on the line.
Two victories for the Turner’s, two for the Kemp’s, two
for Ruth Hayter, and a stroll in the park for George Cooper and Endeavour.
Despite the smallish fields, it had been an enjoyable, eventful and
competitive days racing. Having expressed doubts beforehand as to whether
East Anglia could sustain two meetings on firm ground on one weekend, I
was glad I had made the effort to attend. I had been justly rewarded. I
wonder though, with both the Turner’s and the Kemp’s apparently
preparing to contest Fakenham’s Hunter Chases on the Monday, whether
those who have saved themselves for the Marks Tey meeting will be able to
say the same? |