CATSFIELD April 19th 2009 Race by Race Reports from TEAM DEAN
Report by Nicola, Stephanie & Martyn Dean
Race 1: The East Sussex & Romney Marsh Hunt Members, Subscribers & Farmers Race.
A field of 5 were declared for the opening race of the day. No Reward (Matt Braxton) was the bookies' favourite at 4/7 with Boulliac (Ben Manning) at 3/1, Major Jon (Cynthia Haydon) at 4/1 and Kingsun (P Menzies) and Conna Court (Philip Hall) both at 10/1.
Major Jon took the early lead followed by No Reward, Conna Court and Boulliac with Kingsun held up at the rear of the field. The five runners all jumped the first four fences well, Boulliac hit the fifth fence and lost a position dropping to the back of the field. Conna Court was cautious over the first open ditch and received reminders on landing and had moved up to join Major Jon at the front of the field at fence eight. Major Jon jumped right over fences ten and eleven where Conna Court made a mistake and was pulled up before the twelfth. No Reward had again moved up to jointly lead with Major Jon at the thirteenth. At fence fifteen, No Reward was urged to increase the pace and had opened up a couple of lengths advantage over Major Jon by fence sixteen, whilst Kingsun and Boulliac continued even further back. Major Jon chased after No Reward but jumped to the right over the penultimate fence and nodded on landing allowing No Reward to pull even further away. No Reward got in very close to the last fence but landed safely and continued to pull away on the run in from Major Jon. Kingsun also made a mistake at the last but was able to hold onto third from Boulliac.
11st No RewardMatt Braxton4/7(Favourite)
2nd Major Jon Cynthia Haydon4/1
3rd KingsunP Menzies10/1
4thBoulliacBen Manning3/1
Time 6 mins 30 secs Distances 10 lengths and 5 lengths. Four finished.
Race 2: The South East Hunts Club Members Race for Novice Riders
A field of 5 went to post in the novice riders race. Lord N Master (Will Hickman) was sent off the 1/2 favourite with Soldershire (Rose Grissell) at 2/1, It’s Showtime (Miss J Hermansky) at 4/1, Moscow Summit (J Park) at 7/1 and Gola Leader (Kelly Keefe) the outsider at 10/1.
Lord N Master set off at a reasonable pace and was the first over fence one followed by It’s Showtime and Soldershire with Gola Leader and Moscow Summit just behind them. Gola Leader got in close to fence three but was much better over the fourth. The leading trio continued at a good pace with Gola Leader a couple of lengths further back and Moscow Summit further back struggling to go with the pace being set. By fence eight both Gola Leader and Moscow Summit were tailed off from the other three who were continuing in a group together. Lord N Master made a mistake at fence nine and Soldershire made a mistake at fence ten but both were much better over fence eleven where Gola Leader was pulled up and Moscow Summit ran out. The remaining trio were in the air together over fence thirteen, Soldershire had just taken up the lead position at fence fourteen but was joined before fence fifteen by It’s Showtime. It’s Showtime started to open up a gap between himself and Soldershire on the approach to fence sixteen at the same time Lord N Master had dropped back a couple of lengths. It’s Showtime landed first over the penultimate fence whilst Lord N Master started a renewed challenge and was gaining on the leading pair. It’s Showtime still had the advantage over the last fence, Soldershire was switched to the inside on landing and pushed to close the gap whilst Lord N Master continued to gain ground. It’s Showtime was not going to be denied the victory and maintained the lead he had established, Lord N Master just managed to overhaul Soldershire before the winning post to take second.
1stIt’s ShowtimeMiss J Hermansky4/1
2nd Lord N MasterWill Hickman1/2 (Favourite)
3rdSoldershireRose Grissell2/1
Time 6 mins 28 secsDistances 4 lengths and ½ length. Three finished
Race 3: The Mixed Open Race
5 runners were declared for the mixed open. Unsurprisingly Letterman (Nick Pearce) who had recorded four wins this season was sent off the odds on favourite at 4/6 with Highland Chief (Philip Hall) at 6/4, Honourable Spider (Peter Bull) at 4/1 and Tallow Bay (Rupert Stearn) and Daretobedifferent (David Evatt) both at 10/1.
The five runners set off in a tightly bunched group at a reasonable pace with Tallow Bay just landing first over fence one. Highland Chief made a mistake at fence two but didn’t lose any ground. The five runners continued in a group over the remainder of the first circuit with Daretobedifferent moving to lead the field at fence seven. Honourable Spider started to move up through the field at the start of the second circuit whilst Letterman was also switched to the inside line. The five runners continued to jump well although Letterman was low over fence eleven. As the field set off down the back straight for the second time the pace increased and Daretobedifferent and Tallow Bay started to get detached from the other three runners. At fence fourteen Daretobedifferent was pulled up leaving Tallow Bay twelve lengths behind the leading trio which saw Highland Chief leading from Letterman and Honourable Spider. Letterman had joined Highland Chief at fence sixteen whilst Honourable Spider was a couple of lengths further back. Highland Chief and Letterman were still together over the penultimate fence and ran side by side towards the last fence. Letterman had just taken the lead at the last fence but Highland Chief continued to challenge on the run in, however Letterman just had enough left to hold off the challenge. Honourable Spider continued to take third whilst Tallow Bay continued at his own pace to finish fourth.
1st LettermanNick Pearce4/6 (Favourite)
2ndHighland ChiefPhilip Hall6/4
3rdHonourable SpiderPeter Bull4/1
4th Tallow BayRupert Stearn10/1
Time 6 mins 27 secsDistances 1¼ lengths and 7 lengths. Four finished
Race 4: The South East Hunts Club Members Conditions Race
For the fourth race in a row, 5 horses were declared to run. Jack’s Present (Nick Pearce) was the even money favourite to take the race with Master Alf (Peter Bull) also popular at 6/4. Magnus Veritas (Stuart Robinson) was next in the bookies' market at 5/1 whilst Hercules Morse (Hannah Grissell) and New Street Express (Paul Blagg) were both available at 10/1.
Three of the five runners were in the air together over the first fence, Jack’s Present had the inside line, Magnus Veritas was on the outside and Master Alf was between the two with New Street Express and Hercules Morse together just behind. The five runners continued in a group over the next three fences. At fence five, Hercules Morse made a mistake and nodded on landing but was more fluent over fence six. At fence seven Jack’s Present and Master Alf were together with New Street Express third, and Hercules Morse and Magnus Veritas jumping together a length further back. As the field set out on their second circuit Jack’s Present continued to lead Master Alf and New Street Express with Magnus Veritas and Hercules Morse a couple of lengths behind. Magnus Veritas was slow over fence eleven and received reminders on landing. Jack’s Present had to fiddle his way over fence twelve having got in close. At fence fourteen the leading trio of Jack’s Present, Master Alf and New Street Express started to pull away from Hercules Morse and Magnus Veritas. Master Alf moved into the lead at fence fifteen but Jack’s Present and New Street Express both gave chase after Master Alf and the trio were back together at fence sixteen where Hercules Morse was pulled up. Magnus Veritas was pulled up at the seventeenth where New Street Express had just taken the lead but on the run to the last fence Jack’s Present and Master Alf both passed New Street Express and the pair were together approaching the last. Jack’s Present was the first to land and pulled away from Master Alf on the run in to justify favouritism and take the race.
1stJack’s PresentNick PearceEvens (Favourite)
2ndMaster AlfPeter Bull6/4
3rdNew Street ExpressPaul Blagg10/1
Time 6 mins 27 secsDistances 2½ lengths and 4 lengths. Three finished
Race 5: The Restricted Race
Four runners were declared for the restricted race in which Ten Horse Power (Kelly Smith) was sent off 4/5 favourite. It’s All about Luck (Harry Fowler) was next in the bookies' market at 5/2, with Balooba (Kelly Keefe) at 3/1 and Billie Bay (Jody Sole) at 7/1.
It’s All About Luck was the early leader in the race followed by Balooba, Ten Horse Power and Billie Bay. Balooba dived at the third fence and went out to the left so received a slap down the neck on landing. The four runners continued and all jumped the open ditch well on the first circuit. Billie Bay started to move up after fence eight and was level with It’s All About Luck at fence nine where the two horses came together. All four runners were together in a line over fence ten. Balooba jumped left at fence eleven and lost ground on his three rivals. Ten Horse Power had taken the lead at fence twelve where It’s All About Luck was very slow and started to drop back. Ten Horse Power continued to lead with Billie Bay just behind whilst Balooba and It’s All About Luck continued further back. At fence sixteen Billie Bay started to try to close on Ten Horse Power, but was quickly pulled up and dismounted before the penultimate fence leaving Ten Horse Power a distance clear of Balooba and It’s All About Luck who were continuing with their own battle. Ten Horse Power cleared the last and was eased on the run in, whilst Balooba was victorious in the battle for second.
1stTen Horse PowerKelly Smith4/5 (Favourite)
2ndBaloobaKelly Keefe3/1
3rdIt’s All About LuckHarry Fowler5/2
Time 6 mins 38 secsDistance Distance and 3 lengths. Three finished
Race 6: The Grants Cherry Brandy Open Maiden Race
A field of 11 from the 16 entries were declared for the final race of the day, but two were withdrawn before the start of the race leaving 9 to contest the race. Trenley Lawn (D Turner) was sent off the 6/4 favourite with Creadon Boy (Georgina Andrews) and Fairy Vic (Nick Pearce) at 2/1. Hitsfromtheblitz (Peter Bull) was next at 4/1 whilst Amaya Silva (Philip Hall) and Club Captain (Phil York) were at 10/1 and Carmel Lyne (Tom Cannon), Hot Chocolat (J Park) and Mad Genius (Ben Manning) were all at 20/1.
The nine runners set off at a good pace, Mad Genius made a mistake at the first and dropped to the back of the field, Hot Chocolat got in close to the second. Club Captain led at the third fence with Trenley Lawn also close and jumping well. Hot Chocolat jumped into the lead at fence four where again Trenley Lawn put in a good jump. At fence seven the pace of the race had steadied and Hot Chocolat, Club Captain and Trenley Lawn were in the air together followed by Amaya Silva, Carmel Lyne, Mad Genius, Creadon Boy, Fairy Vic and Hitsfromtheblitz. Fairy Vic made progress through the field after fence eight. At fence ten Mad Genius was given a slap down the shoulder as he started to lose ground on the other eight runners. Hitsfromtheblitz got in close to fence eleven and Amaya Silva made a mistake at fence twelve. Mad Genius was pulled up at fence thirteen where Hot Chocolat made a mistake and lost places. Trenley Lawn had moved back into the lead at fence fifteen with Hitsfromtheblitz making progress and Club Captain and Fairy Vic also prominent, Amaya Silva was pulled up at the fifteenth and Creadon Boy was pulled up at the sixteenth. At the penultimate fence Trenley Lawn, Club Captain and Hitsfromtheblitz were in the air together with Fairy Vic further back. Before the last fence Hot Chocolat and Carmel Lyne were pulled up. Approaching the last fence Club Captain and Hitsfromtheblitz continued side by side but Trenley Lawn was unable to go with the pair and had dropped back a couple of lengths. Club Captain and Hitsfromtheblitz were together over the last and battled side by side on the run in with Club Captain just getting his head in front at the winning post.
