West Street Tickham
Detling
Saturday 26th January
2008
by Simon McInnes
An earlier start than usual for the
south-east saw the weather in co-operative mood, indeed from the
top of the hill, the crowd could see deep into the wilds of Essex,
and the fans came out in decent numbers. For the horses, and some
of the riders who had been out of action since May, the ground was
in decent nick, but there was a stiff wind blowing down the
straight, and the runners would be finishing the race going uphill
right into it over the last three fences. The signs of a generally
mild winter were that few of the very healthy numbers (and, for the
most part, quality) of runners turned out looking in need of the
exercise.
Going: Good
Race 1: Giles Hopper
Memorial Open Maiden
1: Balableu 2: Master Brew 3: Millview
Winner owned: Mr EMG Roberts, trained: Suzy Bull,
ridden: Peter Bull
Due to taking one wrong turn and
being at other times stuck behind some terminally bemused road
users, I only arrived in time to note down the runners for this and
watch the race, so positive and negative pre-race signals went
unspotted. Balableu, who unseated his rider as he was about to
leave the paddock, adopted quite aggressive tactics, and having
been clear four out, he found a little bit more late on when the
others had very gradually reeled him in. As this was race number
two of his career, there could well be more improvement to come. At
the age of ten, Master Brew has shown his limitations in various
theatres, but as Millview has made the frame in the past, this sort
of form could get him a win eventually. Connections of Some Story
were fined for using the racecourse as a training ground, but it
really would be some story if they used this educational as a route
to landing a maiden win with this twelve year old.
Race 2: Keenhay
Services Confined Conditions
1: Balau 2: Gielgud 3: Daretobedifferent
Winner owned: Mr C Cheesman, trained: Alison Hickman, ridden:
Philip York
Like the first race, the winner held on
after making a fairly early attack, and in Balau's case it also
maintained his frustrating history of winning when he does not
fall. Despite chasing hard, Gielgud could not take advantage of
dropping down from Hunter Chases. The surprise of the race was
Daretobedifferent, who had not been spotted on course very often in
recent years, and had shown little when he did emerge. Having
missed last season Exodous, who was possibly a little short of
100%, ran well until being pulled up entering the straight. A very
promising comeback for the near future, although he is not the most
prolific of winners. On the other hand, Nathos, who had become a
bit jaded under Rules, did not look refreshed by going pointing,
having second thoughts about continuing after both times that he
passed the post.
Race 3: Ovenden's
Restricted
1: Dante's Storm 2: Beareen Lad 3: Dizzy Massini
Winner owned: Mr IM Cobbold, trained & ridden: Philip
York
A typically unconvincing Restricted field, won by
the unbeaten Dante's Storm. His form figures looked much better
than his rivals, but he is the only one doing anything to show the
two previous successes in a favourable light. Eventually he will be
backed into an unwinnable corner, surely? Irish import Beareen Lad
did not post a bad first effort, but he does not look to be
anything out of the ordinary.
Race 4: Global Food
Technologies Ladies' Open
1: Heaven Is Above 2: New Entic 3: Heracles
Winner owned: Anthony Ward-Thomas, trained: Jenny Gordon, ridden:
Claire Allen
Eight went to post for this, and from the
off they went a good lick, with none of the participants happy to
sit off of the pace. Heaven Is Above pulled his way to the front at
the sixth and kept finding a bit more when Claire Allen asked, and
the other placed horses were snapping at his heels over the last
three fences. Since his switch from Rules, this was New Entic's
best effort as a pointer, although there is still a suspicion that
he needs a gentle three miles, or slowly run race. After missing
the last two seasons, connections must have been delighted for
Heracles to be in the frame and so close to the winner. Fourth
placed Peachy made too many mistakes to stay in contention. The
sponsor's name cried out GM Frankenstein Foods, so perhaps they
have something up their sleeve to sort that out.
Race 5: Volkswagen
Touareg Men's Open
1: Honourable Spider 2: Noakarad De Verzee 3: Turnstile
Winner owned: Mr EMG Roberts, trained: Suzy Bull, ridden: Peter
Bull
Another tick on Honourable Spider's roll of honour,
although he was not at his best today, in an open where the first
four home were encouragingly youthful. He jumped right often, and
hung over to the right on the run-in. For those who had not seen
him in action before, there should be better to come later in the
season. After disappointing on his UK debut, Noakarad De Verzee
showed much more life this time around, and he should be winning an
open sooner rather than later. Having succeeded in all disciplines
that he has attempted in the past, the same is possible for
Turnstile, but the fact that he left Howard Johnson's yard at a
fairly tender age (six) is a slightly ominous fact. Fourth was
Kadount, who faded from the eighteenth after being in front or with
the leader all the way. There is a stamina question about him, and
the conditions and tactics found him out today. As is becoming
traditional, The Grey Baron put in a laboured and generally
uninspiring seasonal debut. Will he repeat his usually gradual
enlivening?
Race 6:
Horsemart.co.uk PPORA Club Members Conditions, Novice Riders
1: Bucket Awl 2: New Lodge Express 3: Charm Lord
Winner owned: Mr & Mrs AH Walter, trained: Alan Walter, ridden:
Miss J Carr
All in all, it had been a rather sensible
day, but the last race put that right. On the second of the three
occasions that the fences in the home straight were taken, the
first pair were bypassed. The second had been hit hard by a faller,
but there were no obvious reasons for the first. As they approached
them for the final time, the markers had been removed from the
second of these two fences. Commonly, if a fence is bypassed once,
it tends to be repeated for the rest of the race, and Anthony
Ward-Thomas presumably had this in mind as he decided at the last
minute to steer around it on Splash And Dash. At the same time
Native Performance did not jump it either, possibly due to being
carried around it by Splash And Dash. These two crossed the line
first and third, but after a prolonged deliberation by the
stewards, and a public reminder to all jockeys to weigh in, just in
case, Splash And Dash and Native Performance were disqualified.
Having backed Bucket Awl, I cannot deny that Splash And Dash would
have beaten him as the sudden detour lost the hapless 'winner'
ground and only an uncharacteristic blunder at the fence or Native
Performance could have deprived him. All credit to the rider of
Bucket Awl for looking a tidy rider and also not being distracted
or made at all uncertain by the chaos around her. New Lodge Express
and Charm Lord inherited two places that they not otherwise have
got, although the latter at least posted a better effort than he
has for a while. Lively Lord may be recorded as having run out,
which would be due to a tack problem after a mistake early in the
race. This seems harsh, but he is even more cantankerous these
days, so do not expect a massive change in future.
Plus Points
Balableu (race 1): Pulled up on last year's debut, won first time
up this time. There is every chance of more improvement to
come.
Exodous (race 2): An adequate performance returning from a long
absence
New Entic (race 4): Had the race run to suit, but looked up to the
task on this occasion (unlike at Cottenham)
Noakarad De Verzee (race 5): Is getting there step by step
Turnstile (race 5): The doubt about his going pointing so early
remains, but in a true test his stamina seemed to hold out quite
well.
Bucket Awl (race 6): A fortunate winner, but had all of them jumped
two out, his effort would have still be a decent one
Down Arrows
Dizzy Massini (race 3): A performance are not quite as
encouraging as the form number it produced and it could be
over-estimated in a similar race
Peachy (race 4): Needs to brush up the jumping skills to be
challenging in competitive Open races Kadount (race 5): Appears to
be a likely candidate to struggle over three miles
New Lodge Express (race 6): Was the one most flattered by the
outcome of the stewards' work