Charing Easter Saturday April 11th 2009
Race By Race Reports by Nicola, Stephanie & Martyn Dean
Race 1: The Restricted Race.
5 runners were declared for the first race of the day. Say Grace (Nick Pearce) was the 1/3 favourite with Ilikehimmac (Paul Blagg) at 3/1, Sironi (Ben Bentley) at 6/1 and Carvilla (Olivia Maylam) and Luteur Des Pictons (Philip Hall) both at 10/1.
Carvilla led the field over the first fence followed by Luteur Des Pictons, Ilikehimmac, Say Grace and Sironi who was being held at the back. Carvilla had gained a five length advantage at the front of the field by fence three with his four rivals all grouped together. Ilikehimmac made a mistake at fence four (first open ditch) loosing a couple of strides but had joined Carvilla to jointly lead by fence seven. Ilikehimmac had moved to lead by fence nine and Sironi also started to make up places. Sironi was very slow over fence twelve where he also jumped to the right. Say Grace started to make up places and the pace started to pick up at fence thirteen. At fence fifteen Carvilla was pulled up when at the back of the field whilst Ilikehimmac continued to lead from Say Grace, Sironi and Luteur Des Pictons. Turning down the hill for the last time, Ilikehimmac and Say Grace where together with Sironi and Luteur Des Pictons several lengths further back. Luteur Des Pictons fell at fence seventeen. At fence eighteen, Say Grace jumped into the lead on the inside of Ilikehimmac who had to reach to negotiate the fence. Turning towards the last fence Say Grace started to pull away from Ilikehimmac and had a clear advantage at the last which was safely negotiated. Ilikehimmac and Sironi both continued to fill second and third.
1st Say Grace, Nick Pearce 1/3 (Favourite)
2nd Ilikehimmac, Paul Blagg 3/1
3rd Sironi, Ben Bentley 6/1
Time 6 mins 19 secs Distances 8 lengths and 10 lengths. Three finished.
Race 2: The Grants Cherry Brandy Four, Five, Six & Seven Year Olds Open Maiden Race (2m 4f)
A field of 6 went to post in the maiden race which saw racecourse debutant Tork To Me sent off the 2/1 favourite. Lord Brownlow (Phil York) was also well backed at 9/4 as was Dr Sparrow (Marcus Gorman) who was backed into 3/1 from 6/1. Prince Rodney (Will Hickman) was next in the market at 7/2 followed by Young Emma (Peter Bull) at 4/1 and Steak N Kidney (Clare Hobson) was just the outsider at 5/1.
Steak N Kidney was the early leader ahead of Lord Brownlow, Prince Rodney, Tork To Me, Young Emma and Dr Sparrow and the six runners continued in a group throughout their first complete circuit. Prince Rodney was moved up to lead at fence nine whilst Steak N Kidney started to drop back. At fence eleven Prince Rodney led from Lord Brownlow, Tork To Me, Steak N Kidney, Young Emma and Dr Sparrow who then started to make a move as the six runners turned at the top of the hill. Prince Rodney and Young Emma were both untidy over fence twelve and Steak N Kidney started to get tailed off from the other five runners and was pulled up after the thirteenth fence. Prince Rodney continued to lead with Dr Sparrow close behind over fence fourteen. Prince Rodney jumped the last just in the lead but Dr Sparrow was close behind and the pair battled it out on the run in with the verdict from the judges that Prince Rodney had just held on. Lord Brownlow held onto third from Tork To Me and Young Emma.
1st Prince Rodney, Will Hickman 7/2
2nd Dr Sparrow, Marcus Gorman 3/1
3rd Lord Brownlow, Phil York 9/4
4th Tork To Me, Tom Cannon 2/1 (Favourite)
Time 5 mins 35 secs Distances a neck and 7 lengths. Five finished
Race 3: The Mens Open Race.
A field of just two were declared for the men’s open race. Letterman (Nick Pearce) was sent off the 2/5 favourite with Master T (Peter Bull) at 7/4.
The pair set off at a sedate pace and Master T blundered over the first fence but continued beside Letterman. The pair continued to race side by side over the next three fences before Master T moved up to lead Letterman by a couple of lengths over fence five. The two runners continued at a steady pace over the next circuit with Master T just leading Letterman. At fence fourteen Letterman jumped up beside Master T and the pair jumped the fifteenth together. As the two runners turned at the top of the hill Master T was urged to pick up the pace and the two runners started to race as they turned down the hill. Master T just led Letterman over the sixteenth, but Letterman was back beside Master T at the seventeenth where Letterman hit the fence hard allowing Master T to gain an advantage again. Letterman had closed the gap again by the penultimate fence, and turning into the home straight had opened up a four length advantage over Master T. Letterman put in another good jump at the last and pulled away by another couple of lengths from Master T before the winning post
1st Letterman, Nick Pearce 2/5 (Favourite)
2nd Master T, Peter Bull 7/4
Time 6 mins 27 secs Distances 6 lengths. 2 finished
Race 4: The Ladies Open Race
3 runners were declared for the ladies open race. Soldershire (Rose Grissell) was the bookies' favourite at Evens with Exodous (Anna Sansom) at 6/4 and Ballyrainey (Olivia Maylam) at 3/1.
Soldershire led over the first fence from Exodous and Ballyrainey. Ballyrainey out jumped Exodus at the second fence to move into second and the three runners continued at a steady pace over the next couple of fences. Ballyrainey jumped up to join Soldershire in the lead at fence six with Exodous a couple of lengths further back. Ballyrainey and Soldershire both got in close at fence seven and Ballyrainey moved up to lead approaching the eighth where Exodous was again slow and lost more lengths on his two rivals. Ballyrainey got in close to fence nine and was untidy allowing Soldershire to move up again on the inside. Soldershire and Exodous were both untidy over fence eleven. Soldershire started to add pace to the race from fence twelve, Ballyrainey was urged to chase after Soldershire whilst Exodous started to get detached from this pair. Turning at the top of the hill Soldershire started to open up an advantage, but Ballyrainey gave chase and the pair were back together at fence sixteen. Ballyrainey made a mistake at fence seventeen and received reminders as Soldershire started to open up an advantage again. By fence seventeen Exodous was a fence behind the leading pair. Soldershire had the advantage turning into the home straight and jumped the last clear of Ballyrainey, but Soldershire started to hang on the run in allowing Ballyrainey to close down the advantage Soldershire had gained but the winning line can just in time for Soldershire. Exodous was dismounted on the run-in.
1st Soldershire, Rose Grissell Evens (Favourite)
2nd Ballyrainey, Olivia Maylam 6/4
Time 6 mins 21 secs Distances ½ length
2 finished
Race 5: The South East Hunts Club Members Conditions Race
A field of 5 were declared for the member’s conditions race. Young Collier (Peter Bull) was sent off the 4/6 favourite with Youlbesolucky (Phil York) at 5/2, Lord Atterbury (Stuart Robinson) at 4/1 and Dad Says Heazle (Steve Spice) and Native Performance (Will Hickman) the outsiders at 10/1.
Native Performance was taken into the lead at the drop of the starter’s flag with Youlbesolucky and Young Collier just behind and Dad Says Heazle and Lord Atterbury a length further back. The five runners continued at a reasonable pace over the second and third fences. Native Performance fell at fence four (first open ditch) and brought down Youlbesolucky and also hampered Dad Says Heazle leaving Young Collier and Lord Atterbury to lead with Dad Says Heazle a couple of lengths further back. The pace of the race settled as the three runners continued up the hill for the first time. Young Collier was low over fence nine but continued to lead from Lord Atterbury and Dad Says Heazle and the three continued down the hill. Fence twelve was bypassed by the runners by which time Dad Says Heazle had started to make up ground on the leading pair. Young Collier was pushed on at the top of the hill and had a two length advantage over Lord Atterbury at fence sixteen whilst Dad Says Heazle was starting to drop away from this pair. Lord Atterbury continued to chase Young Collier over fences seventeen and eighteen, but turning towards the last fence Young Collier increased the pace again and pulled further away from Lord Atterbury who wasn’t able to go with the leader. Young Collier safely negotiated the last to win the race six lengths clear from Lord Atterbury. Dad Says Heazle continued to take third place.
1st Young Collier, Peter Bull 4/6 (Favourite)
2nd Lord Atterbury, Stuart Robinson 4/1
3rd Dad Says Heazle, Steve Spice 10/1
Time 6 mins 15 secs Distance 6 lengths and 20 lengths
Three finished
Race 6: The Ashford Valley and West Street Tickham Hunt Members, Subscribers and Farmers Race
A field of 4 was declared for the final race of the day. Little Saltee (Anna Sansom) was sent off the 1/2 favourite by the bookmakers with Reflex Blue (Peter Bull) at 5/2, Dauphin Des Carres (Claire Douglas) at 3/1 and Cedar Chief (Lisa Stock) the outsider at 6/1.
The four runners set off in a tightly bunched group with Little Saltee just landing first over fence one from Cedar Chief, Dauphin Des Carres and Reflex Blue. The four runners continued at a reasonable pace and all four jumped well over the first six fences. Climbing the hill for the first time Little Saltee opened up a five length advantage with the other three runners in a line together across the course. The four runners bunched together again as they raced back down the hill and all four continued to jump well with Little Saltee just leading from Dauphin Des Carres, Cedar Chief and Reflex Blue. Reflex Blue started to make up places as the four runners turned up the hill for the final time. At fence twelve (second open ditch) Cedar Chief was slow and was relegated to last place. Cedar Chief made a mistake over fence thirteen and lost more ground on his rivals. As the four runners turned at the top of the hill, Little Saltee and Reflex Blue were side by side with Dauphin Des Carres also close behind and Cedar Chief four – five lengths further back. Reflex Blue put in the better jump over fence sixteen but Little Saltee continued to lead. Dauphin Des Carres made a mistake at fence seventeen losing some of his momentum and allowing Little Saltee and Reflex Blue to extend their advantage. Reflex Blue jumped into the lead at fence eighteen and started to pull away from Little Saltee on the turn towards the last fence. Reflex Blue blundered badly at the last fence but Peter Bull managed to sit tight in the saddle and managed to get Reflex Blue moving again on the run in although Little Saltee had run his race and was not able to take advantage of the mistake. Dauphin Des Carres continued to finish third several lengths clear of Cedar Chief who completed to take fourth.
