REVIEW
BEAUFORT
DIDMARTON
SATURDAY 6 MARCH 2004
by Peter Mansell
Photos by Graham Fisher

Didmarton has played a crucial role in Alison Dare’s Point to Point career. The six times Ladies Champion had her first ride and her first winner at the course and she had further cause for celebration when Machalini’s victory in the Duke of Beauforts Members race secured her first training success.  
Machalini is one of four horses that Alison trains at Horsley, on the hills above Nailsworth. Despite a 2 ½ year absence, the winner jumped like a stag in the hands of owner/rider Andrew Morley and this partnership had the race in safekeeping before their nearest pursuer Mazury parted company with Emma Tuck at the 16th.  
Morley, a 47-year-old Property Developer based at Wotton under Edge was enjoying his fourth success, his last win coming way back in the 1999 season.


Machalini and Andrew Morley are out on their own in the Hunt race - a first winner as a trainer for Alison Dare


All smiles as Andrew and Machalini are led in by Lois Chappell

Radbrook Hall carried the colours of Tom George to victory in Division I of the 5, 6 & 7 year old Maiden. The Slad trainer was busy saddling Tremalt at Newbury so missed this win but his wife Sophie was on hand to greet this progressive 5-year-old on his return to the unsaddling enclosure.
Patiently ridden by Paul Callaghan, Radbrook Hall was produced to dispute the lead with Eastern Apple over the final three fences, and looked to have taken his rivals measure on the flat, but the runner up proved a difficult opponent to overcome and Callaghan had to drive his mount out to the line before securing a length verdict.


Tom George's Radbrook Hall and Paul Callaghan go on from Eastern Apple (2nd) and Ben Pauling at the penultimate in the Younger Horses Maiden Div 1

Harry Dowty is enjoying his gap year prior to University and the winners are beginning to flow now that he is able to devote himself to the sport fulltime. He was seen to good advantage on Daisy Fay who was noted making significant progress on the downhill run to the 15th and the 9-year-old mare was in full command of the Restricted until she started to slow dramatically approaching the last.
This allowed Campden Kitty back into contention, but once Dowty got down into the drive position, the result was never in doubt and the mare sprinted clear of her toiling rival to record a 3 ½ length victory.
The winner is trained at Shenbarrow Hill, near Broadway by the husband and wife team of Giles and Kim Smyly for a triumperant of locals owners Patrick McCanlis, Gaynor Crofts and Susan Evetts.


Daisy Fay and Harry Dowty go clear of Camden Kitty and Fred Hutsby in the Restricted despite the attentions of the riderless favourite Misty Ramble

The Mixed Open was the West Midland Area Feature Race but the lure of extra prize money attracted just five runners and resulted in a comprehensive victory for the Keith Cummings trained Friar Waddon who was winning his third consecutive race over the course having won the Intermediate in 2002, and the Mixed Open the following year. The favourite Shobrooke Mill was in trouble at the 15th and was unable to respond when the winner drew clear at the next.


Friar Waddon and Colin Heard are clear at the last in the Mixed Open

Jumping played a crucial role in several of the races. Kerstino Two started favourite for the Intermediate but made several errors including a bad mistake at the 11th which Jamie Snowden did well to survive. It says much for the 7-year-olds constitution that the partnership were still in contention at the last but Michael Miller and Skip’N’Tune soon took command and had little difficult holding their advantage down the long run in. Trainer Richard Miller had bypassed a more local meeting at Charlton Horethorne in such of better ground.  


Skip'n Tune and Michael Miller (extreme right) challenge leader Kerstino Two and James Snowden two out before going on to win the Intermediate - followed by Pulham Downe (3rd) and Camden Carrig (4th)

Favourite backers were extremely lucky to collect on Brass Razoo in the closing Maiden. Stuart Morris’s mount had been left floundering as Billie Whitelies held a race winning lead at the second from home. Unfortunately for jockey/trainer Scott Joynes his mount made his only error in an otherwise faultless round and paid the penalty. Left in front, Brass Razoo was all out to hold the determined challenge of Beau Jake on the flat.


Billie Whitelies and Scott Joynes crash out at the second last in the Older Horses Maiden leaving Stuart Morris on the grey Brass Razoo to come home clear of Beau Jake and Richard Armson - both horse and rider appeared none the worse afterwards

Caroline Keevil looks to have a useful prospect in the 5-year-old Western Frontier who got the better of a sprint finish with Saffron Hill in Division II of the younger Maiden.


Eventual winners of the maiden Div 2 Western Frontier and James Snowden (left) are still only fourth two out to Victim (4th), Willoughby Flyer (3rd) and Saffron Hill (2nd)