East Kent
Aldington
Monday 5th April 2010
by Simon
McInnes
A bad day for the East Kent meeting, with
only eighteen runners turning out for the six races - all who did
deserve a mention. The going was barely raceable, and only the fact
that there was far, far less rain than forecast allowed the meeting
to get away with it. And as usual for the meeting, the local oddity
of the fewer the runners, the bigger the crowd that turns up did
apply. There was the usual car park bedlam, as the hillside parking
area inexplicably gets as bad, if not worse, than the field beneath
it, and the many undulations, often in random directions, hold the
water as well. On the upside, as it was the sixtieth year of racing
at Aldington, there was an excellent mini museum with photos of
from all across the era, and features on the statistical leaders
for the course. Reading one local newspaper report from 1959, which
bemoaned how few races were then won by genuine hunters, it is nice
to see that even way back then, the sport was not immune to a good
whinge!
Going: Heavy (Soft
places - which seemed a bit of straw clutching)
Race 1: Sammy Fuller
Open Maiden
1: Tobougg Welcome 2: Particular Man 3: Tostig
Winner owned: Random Optimists Partnership, trained: Rose Grissell,
ridden: Philip Hall
Tobougg Welcome: The form of his
second to Durante at Godstone has been working out well, and he was
favourite. Ambling round in front for a lap and a bit, he turned up
the pressure and did find that Tostig clung in there a bit longer
than expected, but ultimately seized a comfortable win. Particular
Man: Runner-up in a short maiden at Charing on Saturday, and a
couple of times mid-race looked as if he felt he had done enough
for one weekend. In the end he saw it out to the line, having been
left a few lengths adrift when the pace picked up four out. Tostig:
On his racing debut, tried to make a battle of it with the winner,
but never quite convinced that he was going to succeed, and tied up
quickly from the second last. Jumped soundly and will presumably
have learned from the experience.
Race 2: Hallett &
Co Restricted
1: Supa Tramp 2: Corybride
Winner owned: PA Bull & S Fisher, trained: Suzy Bull, ridden:
Peter Bull
Supa Tramp: Even setting a steady pace, he
often held a rather clear lead, and when the race needed to be won
from the third last, he effortlessly extended the margin.
Corybride: Was a rather in and out performer in Ireland, and even
though two UK runs have not excited, it was a bit disappointing how
easily Supa Tramp was able to brush him aside. Given that there do
not seem to have been many restricteds in the south-east this year,
an extra runner or two may have been expected, despite the
ground.
Race 3: McCabe Ford
Williams Non-Rules Runners Open Maiden
1: General Willie
Winner owned: T Allman & J Allman, trained: Chris Lawson,
ridden: Jody Sole
General Willie: Eventually finished
alone, and a couple of late blunders almost took away that
accolade. As was the case for most of the day, he seemed to gain an
edge by leading at a slow pace of his choosing. Nada Mas: A first
time runner, he was backed into favouritism and kept tabs on
General Willie until the effort found him out five from the finish.
After crossing the next fence, he was too tired to continue and
pulled up. Coralkov: Fell on his only previous run, and was not
impressive in the jumping department here, but survived until the
fifteenth, at which point he was getting left well behind and
sensibly called it a day.
Race 4: Paddy Hughes
Memorial PPORA Club Members, Veteran & Novice riders
1: He's On His Way 2: Myson 3: Master Alf
Winner owned: Huntin' Shootin' Fishin' Partnership, trained: David
Phelan, ridden: Tom Cannon
He's On His Way: Was third
favourite in this, and did not appear to attract much betting
interest, even though he has some occasionally decent Irish form,
and had been second in a hunter chase this year. Always within a
length or two of the leader, he nipped from third to first after
fence fifteen and although he looked to be struggling to last home,
the four length lead secured before the final fence stayed more or
less intact. Myson: Made the first two for the seventh time in
eight pointing runs, although five of them have been seconds. He
was rated a few pounds lower than the winner as a handicap chaser,
even though he managed to win a couple, which was beyond He's On
His Way. It could be argued that they ran more of less as the
handicappers said they ought to. Master Alf: Was not at his best
with his jumping, and after being niggled along at the twelfth, the
work rate was stepped up, mostly in vain, from fence fifteen.
Presumably the conditions were beyond him. Daretobedifferent: Yet
again looked the part, but dropped out of contention from the
halfway point and eventually pulled up. Rider David Evatt retired
after this race, although whether that is the result of 44 seasons
careful consideration or totally the horse's fault was not
specified.
Race 5: Hythe Bay Fish
& Seafood Restaurant & Bar Mixed Open
1: Honourable Spider 2: Ben Alder
Winner owned: EMG Roberts, trained: Suzy Bull, ridden: Peter
Bull
Honourable Spider: Won his third race on the spin,
which he has achieved without looking the talent that he was back
in 2008 and earlier. This was hard work, as his only rival proved
to be infuriatingly persistent, but a fifth course win (second on
the only other run) was duly secured. Ben Alder: A multiple winner
and hunter chase second in Ireland, both his runs in the 09/10
season had been pretty dismal. A move across the Irish Sea might
not bring him all the way back to his best, but this run showed no
wilting of his enthusiasm, and he is still only an eight year
old.
Race 6: S Watts
Leadwork & Roofing Members
1: Major Blue 2: One To Note
Winner owned: Mrs Libby Lawson, trained: Elizabeth Lawson, ridden:
Jody Sole
Major Blue: Caused a bit of an upset, winning
at age 15 a race he failed to make the frame in a year ago. Having
indulged in a cat and mouse battle with the runner-up for most of
the way, he was going better for most of the home straight, which
still only secured him a length or so lead at the last, which he
maintained to the line. One To Note: Looked very well beforehand,
and appeared to have the best form as well, plus was less than half
the age of Major Blue. He challenged for the lead four out, pecked
badly at the next, nearly got back on terms two from home, but just
could not worry the winner out of the triumph. No Stranger: Dashed
off into a twenty five length lead by the third fence, but was
slowly reeled in and headed at the twelfth. For a while after that,
he surprisingly refused to go away, but tailed off quickly from the
fourth last, eventually pulling up before the final fence.
Fleetwood Forest: Helped the main pair watch No Stranger toddle off
in front, and although he stuck with them when they eliminated the
wide margin, he could not live with the pace when it picked up, and
was soon adrift. He pulled up, possibly before the second last.