REVIEW
SOUTH DEVON
BLACK FOREST LODGE
SUNDAY 9 MARCH 2003
by Lee Glanville

An incident-packed men’s open race kept race-goers on the edge of their shooting sticks at the South Devon point to point at Blackforest Lodge. 

Robbie Rawle’s Doublet fell heavily when in contention with a circuit to go, Jolitan blotted his copybook once again by running out through the rail back to the lorry park decanting rider Bruce Evans on the way, and Andrew Congdon’s Select Star crashed at the last when running on to challenge for third place. Both fallers got up unharmed to the cheers of the crowd. 

Welsh raider Do Ye Know Wha  ridden by Christian Williams won, but it was close at the line with second placed Shocks Pride (Michael Miller) making up ground fast. The winner had won five races under NH rules and has also run on the flat at Royal Ascot.

Bet of the day had been in the opener, the confined race, where Don Royal, from the same stable as Porlock Hill and Cheltenham foxhunters entry County Derry was sent off at 10-1, punters favouring Khayal and Sir William. Don Royal took the running up three from home and held off the Khayal  (Les Jefford) challenge by three lengths under a stylish ride from Neil Harris.

Harris went on to record a double in the next race, the two and a half mile open maiden on Eric Wonnacott’s Elegant Light. Second placed horse Four of a Kind, owned and trained by David Rogers, who was chairman of the stewards’ panel, ran on well under Sarah Gaisford and should do better over a  longer trip.

The ladies’ race was turned into a procession by the David Pipe trained, Charlotte Stucley ridden Phoenix Phlyer who was never headed.

The heavy ground at Ottery St Mary the previous week had not been to Teddy Boy’s liking but he showed no ill effects for the run and won the Restricted, ridden by Richard Woollacott, going away from Mandy Hand on the hard pulling Jo’s Wedding.

Mrs Peggoty had been second at the Silverton meeting on this course, and won the Marsh Private Clients/TBA/PPORC members’ mares maiden this time, qualifying, along with the three behind her, for the championship final at Garthorpe in May.

The meeting finished with a hunt race walkover for Young General and Richard Darke.

Results

Confined: 1, Don Royal, N Harris; 2, Khayal, L Jefford; 3, Sir William, D Edwards. 14 ran, 3l, 10l, 6.18.

Open Maiden (2 1/2 m): 1, Elegant Light, N Harris; 2, Four of a Kind, Sarah Gaisford; 3, Lilabet, C Heard. 13 ran, 6l, 1 1/2l, 5.51.

Ladies’ Open: 1, Phoenix Phyler, Miss C Stucley; 2, Bells Wood, Miss V Lucas; 3, Normania, Miss S West. Four ran, 10l, 12l, 6.18.

Restricted: 1, Teddy Boy, R Woollacott; 2, Jo’s Wedding, Mrs M Hand; 3, Mystic Warrior, R Darke.12 ran, 1 1/2l, 3l, 6.23.

Men’s Open: 1, Do Ye Know Wha, C Williams; 2, Shocks Pride, M Miller; 3, Mr Magnetic, N Harris.9 ran, 1/2l, dist. 6.15.

Mare’s Maiden: 1, Mrs Peggoty, J White; 2, Five Minutes, R Woollacott; 3, Butler DidIt, L Jefford. 9 ran, 10l, 2l, 6.27.

Hunt race: 1, Young General, R Darke. Walked over.