BLOG: Opening Day
Detling – The opening meeting of the Season
By Treading The Divots
It seems like only yesterday that we were at the final meeting of the 2008 South East Point-to-Point season but we are now at the start of the 2009 season on top of a muddy and slightly cold (although not as cold as on other occasions) Detling hill.
We made a quick check of the website before leaving home after last night's persistent rain, but there was no indication that racing was off today so we all jumped into the car armed with flasks of hot water and a few sandwiches.
Traveling up to Detling we pass a couple of horse boxes and try to guess who will be in them. Will the reigning area champions Heather Kemp and Stuart Robinson be out or are they keeping their horses under wraps in a warm stable?
Will the stars of 2008 be able to repeat their performances in 2009, or will there be new horses taking winning honours this year?
In the hope of shedding a few of those extra pounds gained at Christmas, we decide to walk the course and check out the going for ourselves, the official going is good and the course does look to be in great condition although I’m not sure how the back straight will hold out as the going always seems to be softer there.
With race card in hand it’s off to the paddock to look at the runners for the first race, division 1 of the maiden. I can’t remember the last time a maiden was split in the south east; obviously owners have been out buying new horses over the summer. As there are still another 10 days before I get paid and credit card bills from November and December to pay off, my bets will only be small today but I’m already torn between two in the first. Lushes Run has already had a run this season finishing third, but has a change of jockey today, the other one I’m keen on is Sidney Charles who has shown a little ability over hurdles but will be ridden by Peter Bull and does look good in the paddock. Being a typical Piscean I’m still dithering as I head to the bookies, but then make my decision going for Sidney Charles who jumps well and manages to win by 6 lengths. There is a clearer favourite in division 2 in Nessa for the York team, but I plough my winnings into another horse that has had a run this season, Podium Pete. Nessa proves too good today, but Podium Pete runs well to finish second even if he is 10 lengths behind the winner.
The members conditions race again has me wavering, Stuart Robinson’s Magnus Veritas looks well in the paddock as does The Tailor Carey for the Gorman yard but El Viejo and Tom Cannon have good form at Detling. In the end I plump for Magnus Veritas but soon find myself out of pocket even more as Philip Hall secures his first win at Detling on Highland Chief who the bookies had justifiably sent off as favourite. I know where my money is going in the restricted race and I snap up the 2/1 the bookies are offering on Master Alf from Peter & Suzy Bull’s yard. Peter Bull has Master Alf at the front of the field from the start but in the back straight for the final time he is racing side by side with Cotton Bay from the Gorman’s yard. With one fence to jump Master Alf has gained a very narrow advantage. The last fence approaches, Master Alf is over but Cotton Bay hits the fence hard and Marcus Gorman is lucky to stay in the saddle. This gives Peter Bull the advantage he needs and he extends his lead up the run in to eight lengths, and I head of to the bookies to collect my winnings.
The Ladies open produces the shortest favourite of the day in Big Moment for Clare Douglas at 1/3. Having impressively won a ladies' open at Cottenham in November it is difficult to see them getting beaten, but a new recruit to the Haydon yard, Roaringwater, catches my eye in the paddock. My brother-in-law points out that Cynthia Haydon’s mount is carrying 7 pounds more than Big Moment but I decide to go for it. Nothing ventured, nothing gained and all that. Big Moment and Roaringwater are together in the middle of the field for most of the race until Cynthia pushes the button at the last fence in the back-straight to go to the front. Approaching the penultimate fence the pair are back together but Big Moment nods on landing handing the advantage back to Roaringwater. My throat is hoarse as I shout encouragement to Cynthia as Roaringwater lands over the last and is even hoarser as Cynthia manages to hold on by 2 lengths and cause the upset of the day.
I head off for a quick coffee in the hope of soothing my throat before the men’s open which again has an odds-on favourite in Dante’s Storm (Phil York) at 4/6 but having backed Glenblower Woods (Philip Hall for the Grissell yard) at the Folkestone Hunter Chase meeting in May I plan to go against the favourite again. Dante’s Storm has the race won in the back straight for the final time, barring a jumping disaster and I have to stand and watch my money head back into the bookie's pocket as Dante’s Storm puts in a fine display of jumping.
The final race of the day is the novice riders' race and again there is a 1/2 odds on favourite in Jack’s Present from Simon Tindall’s yard being ridden by Joshua Moore. However I go for an old favourite of mine in Indoux being ridden by Clare Douglas and feel pleased when I manage to get 14/1; at the moment I have just about broken even but it would be great to go home in profit. With three fences to jump the writing again looks on the wall as Joshua Moore makes it look easy on Jack’s Present. At the final fence Indoux has second place, behind Jack’s Present who storms to an eight length victory but Lord 'N' Master (Will Hickman) manages to overhaul Indoux before the winning post, relegating Indoux to third.
The first day of the South-East Point-to-Point season has been fantastic with good sized fields and a lot of interesting new horses on show and although we have a long wait to get out as we need to be towed by the tractor, the weather has been kind even if a bit cold towards the end of the day. We head home happy and optimistic about the next meeting in five weeks time.
