The heavy rain on Friday evening forced
the stewards to inspect the course at 12 noon before the track
passed the inspection with flying colours. The only change was the
going which was changed to Soft with heavy patches. It was
certainly a day for point to point enthusiasts as the weather was
cold with driving rain for most of the afternoon. Quite a few
racegoers needed the services of the tractor drivers to get off the
course at the end of the meeting.
Hadnall trainer Sheila Crow and Nantwich
trainer Gary Hamner took the training honours with a treble each
and Hamner also rode a treble at the Cheshire course as did
Shrewsbury rider Richard Burton, which brought his tally for the
season to 29, which extended his lead further in the National
Riders Championship.
Sheila Crow and Richard Burton achieved the
first leg of their treble very easily with Joe Brown in the Open
Maiden race. The Overbury gelding beat the only other finisher
Strong King by a distance under a very confident ride from
“Burtie”. The winner is owned by a syndicate of owners
from Staffordshire which are Paul Berrington from Stone, Clive
Archer from Fulwood and Alan Longden from Little Haywood. This is
the first time that any of the owners have ventured into racehorse
ownership and it looks as if they have struck gold because their
trainer Sheila Crow thinks very highly of her charge. She said,
”I was very pleased with his performance and he jumped very
well and the ground was no problem. He will improve from that race
and I will bring him along quietly before stepping him up in
grade.”
Forty five minutes later the same combination
were back in the winners enclosure with the improving Darnil who
was not extended in beating Cutina. The runner up is trained at
Maesmawr, Nr Welshpool by Phil Jones, who did an excellent job as
secretary of the Tanatside Hunt for many years. The winner was
recording his fourth win of the season for Shrewsbury owner David
Rogers. This gelding is one of the trainers’ favourite horses
in the yard as she explained, ”I ride him out every day at
home and I know how good he is. He is so genuine and is as honest
as the day is long. He is the type of horse that would lay down and
die for you, he always gives you everything in his work and in his
races. The Bangor Final on May 14 th is a possible
target.”
Crow and Burton completed the treble with
Uncle Neil in the Mens’ Open. The Roselier gelding made every
yard from flag fall and found a nice turn of foot between the last
two fences when challenged by the “jolly” Another Club
Royal under Gary Hamner to pull away by five lengths at the line.
The winner was recording his fourth win of the season for Nantwich
businessman Nick Morgan. Crow was delighted with her charges win,
she said, “He stays really well and just keeps improving all
the time. He wouldn’t have blown a candle out today and this
is a stiff course.”
Nantwich trainer and rider Gary Hamner is
walking on water at the moment following his success on Just
Cliquot in the Lady Dudley Cup at Chaddesley Corbett the day before
which in pointing circles is regarded as the Holy Grail. He picked
up some more silverware following the very easy success of Tinarana
Lord in the opening Members race. The Teamster gelding had too much
in hand for the Donald McCain Junior runner The Eens and the
winning margin of four lengths flattered the runner up. The winner
is owned by the crazy gang syndicate which is made up of the
trainers mother Gwyneth Hanmer from Nescliffe and John and Brenda
Shaw from Bridgenorth. Gwyneth said afterwards that their horse
would go hunter chasing next.
Hanmer went on to train and ride the middle
leg of a treble with Sarah’s Party who ran out a very easy
winner of the Restriced beating Burton on the Steve Wynne trained
Scarlet Gunner by a very comfortable 10 lengths. The winner is
owned by Eric Pennington from Longville and Pam Thompson from
Cressage. Hamner went on to complete the treble aboard Flying
Through in the two and a half mile Maiden. The winner is owned by
former racehorse trainer Peter Milner who lives just down the road
from the course at Tarporley.
24 yr old Sarah Holmes from Kenley Nr
Shrewsbury rode her first ever winner between the flags when
partnering her own horse Cascum Lad to a 15 length success over
Tania Harrison on Mytimie. The veteran gelding is trained at
Bishops Castle by Pam Sykes, who is currently on holiday in Spain
and judging by yesterdays inclement weather, she was in the right
place. This was Sarahs third season riding and she was thrilled to
finally break her duck.