Catsfield Pony Racing Report, April 13th 2008

After two weekends of lost racing a good crowd of enthusiastic jockeys, ponies and supporters arrived to enjoy the sunshine at Catsfield. By very kind permission of the Jockey Club, Meeting Secretary and the Start Team, four pony races took place. Owing to some soft patches on the original pony racecourse it was decided to use the more consistent ground along the back straight and to run the pony races “backwards”.

Eight ponies contested the 138cm and under Novice Combination race with many making their seasonal racecourse debut. Unfortunately, Rivenhall Playboy whipped round at the start, depositing Charlotte Cheesman and the loose pony accompanied the remaining runners. Rebecca Cushen on the much improved Molly, took up the running as they came down the hill towards home, hotly pursued by Hannah Miles on Bellhurst Andrus, Charlie Marshall on Pete and Sophie Thorbeck on Satanta. As the riders negotiated the gap before the climb for home all did well to keep the loose pony in their sights. Rebecca Cushen held on to the lead from a fast finishing Hannah Miles. Charlie Marshall held a tight racing line to take third with Sophie Thorbeck only 2 lengths behind in fourth. An enthusiastic crowd then gave a tremendous cheer for the final finishers on their wonderful hunting ponies – Romney Hole on Fudge, Quentin Wedmore on Quizzie and Flora Hickish on Lucy.

Having been checked by the doctor after her fall in the first race, Charlotte Cheesman was quickly legged up onto Kylemore Shiloh for the Novice Combination 138 to 148cm race. No problems at the start here and four runners were all quickly away. Gemma Cobb on Cherubino soon opened up a tremendous lead, which she held to the end unchallenged. Charlotte took second place and there was a great competitive battle between the two sisters, Sophie and Martha Knight on their magnificent skewbald hunting cobs for third and fourth with Martha just prevailing by a length.

The Open 138cm to 148cm race was set to be an exciting re-match between Aaron Chave on Tenants Super and Lizzie Norman on Flash IV with Ozzie Wedmore and Fleeting Image the wildcard amongst the entries. All three were away to a very quick start but as they came down the hill, the two more experienced ponies were able to pull away from Fleeting Image. Through the gap, Lizzie Norman held the inside line but was just unable to make up the deficit and Aaron crossed the line first by a neck to continue his pony’s unbroken record this season.

Not to be outdone by the bigger ponies the 138cm and under ponies also gave the punters a terrific race. Charlie Marshall on Little Tinker was quickly away from the start and there was little to tell between all four ponies as they raced down the hill. George Crate and Covenham Generation, who had raced only the day before at Ascot, looked fresh and full of running as they came through the gap towards home but Charlie drove his pony to the line to win by xx lengths. A tremendous effort by Charlotte Cheesman who took third place on Hayne Valley Peek-a-boo - her third ride in less than an hour, an achievement not matched by any of our adult jockeys! Hugo Pearson Wood partnered Rio for fourth, his first outing on Charlie Marshall’s pony.