Detling race by race Part One - races 1 - 4

West Street Tickham Hunt Point-to-Point

Saturday 14th March 2009.

Race by Race reports by Nicola, Stephanie & Martyn Dean

The Kevin Ferrett Memorial West Street Tickham Hunt Members, Subscribers & Farmers Race

Five runners were declared from the six entries in the Hunt race, which saw Little Bit Of Hush (Jason Merry) sent off the 11/10 favourite with Little Saltee (Anna Sansom) at 3/1, Montayral (Gordon Gallagher) and Reflex Blue (Phil York) both at 4/1 and Carvilla (Olivia Maylam) the outsider at 10/1.

Montayral took the early lead, with all five runners jumping the first three fences well. Carvilla got into the bottom of fence four and was then slow over fence five loosing ground on his rivals. Montayral continued to lead over fences six to ten where Little Saltee moved up to join Montayral. At fence thirteen Little Saltee was taken into the lead by Anna Sansom and was joined by Little Bit Of Hush at fence fourteen whilst Reflex Blue and Carvilla were starting to struggle with the pace. Montayral found the increased pace to much at fence sixteen where he started to drop away from the leading pair. Little Bit Of Hush had taken the lead at this point and started to open up an advantage approaching fence seventeen. Little Saltee was urged on again approaching the penultimate fence and started to make up ground on Little Bit Of Hush, but was unable to close the gap over the final fence and on the run to the line. Reflex Blue ran on well to take third whilst Carvilla outran Montayral on the run in to take fourth.

1st Little Bit Of Hush Jason Merry 11/10 (Favourite)

2nd Little Saltee Anna Sansom 3/1

3rd Reflex Blue Phil York 4/1

4th Carvilla Olivia Maylam 10/1

Distances 2 lengths and 12 lengths Time: 6 mins 24 secs

The South East Hunts Club Members Race for Gentleman Riders.

10 runners made their way to the start for the Men’s race. Godstone winner Letterman (Nick Pearce) was sent off the 4/6 favourite with Valley Henry (Phil York) and Master Alf (Peter Bull) next in the bookies market at 4/1. The other seven runners were priced at 8/1 and bigger. Sharlom (J Ackhurst) took the early lead with Youlbesolucky (Philip Hall) also near the front along with Jazz Attack (Harry Fowler). Lord N Master (Will Hickman) unseated at the third fence whilst Mambo Des Mottes (Rupert Stearn) moved to the front. Jazz Attack hit the fifth fence loosing some momentum and Mambo Des Mottes was slow over the sixth which in turn hampered Youlbesolucky. Master Alf put in a huge jump over the first open ditch (fence seven) to move into the lead. Youlbesolucky and Master Alf continued to lead the field over the next half a circuit. At fence thirteen Sharlom started to loose places whilst Nick Pearce started to niggle Letterman along. Valley Henry also started to move through the field towards the front of the field and had taken up the lead position at fence sixteen. At fence seventeen Valley Henry led from Master Alf with Letterman trying to catch the leading pair, whilst Mambo Des Mottes was pulled up. Letterman had gained the lead at fence eighteen from Master Alf and Valley Henry with Jazz Attack and Youlbesolucky trying to catch the leading group. Letterman touched down in the lead over the last fence, but had Jazz Attack and Master Alf right behind him. Letterman was challenged all the way to the line by Jazz Attack but just managed to hold on by ½ a length, with Master Alf holding off the challenge of Youlbesolucky to take third.

1ST Letterman Nick Pearce 4/6 (Favourite)

2nd Jazz Attack Harry Fowler 20/1

3rd Master Alf Peter Bull 4/1

4th Youlbesolucky Philip Hall 14/1

Distances ½ length and 2 lengths Time: 6 mins 18 secs

The South East Hunts Club Members Race For Lady Riders

10 horses also made their way to the start for the ladies race. Big Moment (Clare Douglas) and Myson (Rose Grissell) were both priced at 6/4. Master T (Hannah Grissell) was priced at 4/1 whilst Attorney General (Anna Sansom) and Fantastic Champion (J Lodge) were both at 10/1. The other five runners were priced at 12/1 and bigger.

Major Jon (Cynthia Haydon) led over the first fence where Attorney General made a mistake and unseated Anna Sansom reducing the field to nine. Major Jon continued to pull hard and maintained the lead over the first circuit. At the start of the second circuit Major Jon led from Myson and Master T and all three jumped well over fences nine and ten. Major Jon jumped right handed at fence eleven and twelve, by which time Alpine Slave was starting to struggle and become detached from the other eight runners. Master T hit the thirteenth hard and lost ground whilst Major Jon continued to lead with Myson just behind. Blaze On (C Walker) unseated at fence fifteen whilst Big Moment and Barton Star (Hannah Watson) started to make up ground on the leaders. Fantastic Champion also started to gain ground on the leaders on the approach to fence seventeen where Barton Star had taken the lead. Master T made a mistake at the penultimate fence allowing Myson, Big Moment, Barton Star and Fantastic Champion to pull away. All four approached the last together with Myson just landing first. Myson was pushed on first on the run in but Big Moment and Fantastic Champion were not giving in easily and all three approached the line together and it was upto the finishing line stewards to split the three horses with the decision going to Fantastic Champion by a neck from Myson with Big Moment a neck further back in third. Barton Star held onto fourth from Master T. Further back in the field Alpine Slave (A Panman) was pulled up at the last.

1st Fantastic Champion J Lodge 10/1

2nd Myson Rose Grissell 6/4 (jt favourite)

3rd Big Moment Clare Douglas 6/4 (jt favourite)

4th Barton Star Hannah Watson 20/1

Distances a neck and a neck Time: 6 min 16 secs

The Shepherd Neame Kent Grand National Mixed Open Race – 4 miles

9 horses lined up for the feature race of the day, the Kent Grand National. Bee An Bee (Stuart Robinson) who won the race in 2008 returned to defend his title and was sent of the 2/5 favourite. Honourable Spider (Peter Bull) was the second favourite with the bookies at 3/1 and Bob Ar Aghaidh (Andrew Braithwaite) was next at 8/1. The other six runners were all priced at 18/1.

Bee An Bee set off under his usual tactics of catch me if you can with Tallow Bay (Rupert Stearn), Honourable Spider and Bob Ar Aghaidh just behind him over the first couple of fences. Tallow Bay made a mistake over the fifth fence, but was much better over the sixth and remained second just behind Bee An Bee. At the end of the first circuit Bee An Bee continued to lead from Bob Ar Aghaidh who had moved into second with Tallow Bay and Honourable Spider just behind. Indoux (Clare Douglas) was starting to struggle despite the reasonably steady pace to the race and was further detached from the field by fence twelve. Bob Ar Aghaidh got in very close to fence thirteen where Bee An Bee put in a huge leap. Honourable Spider was very low over fence fourteen and brushed through the top of the fence, whilst Rear Dancer (H Kinchin), Satco’s Deception (Tom Cannon) and Viciana (Harry Fowler) started to make up ground leaving Indoux and Heaven Is Above (F Ramsahoye) a short way behind the rest of the field. At the end of the second circuit Bee An Bee continued to lead with Honourable Spider close behind in second and Bob Ar Aghaidh in third and the rest of the field a couple of lengths further back. At the end of three miles at fence nineteen, Indoux had enough and was pulled up having become tailed off from the other eight runners. Honourable Spider jumped right handed over fences nineteen and twenty allowing Bee An Bee to open up a four length advantage and also allowing Bob Ar Aghaidh to move back into second place. Bob Ar Aghaidh was very low over fence twenty two. Bee An Bee put in a huge leap over fence twenty three (the final open ditch) and looked to be pulling away from the others, but Bob Ar Aghaidh was sent after Bee An Bee with Honourable Spider, Tallow Bay and Heaven Is Above continued in chasing after the leading pair whilst Reel Dancer, Viciana and Satco’s Deception were all pulled up in the final back straight. Bee An Bee had the advantage turning to the final two fences but Bob Ar Aghaidh was not going to give up easily and was making up ground approaching the penultimate fence, despite his continued efforts Bee An Bee was not going to be denied and was being eased down on the run in by Stuart Robinson to retain the race for a second year beating Bob Aghaidh by 1½ lengths having led from start to finish. Honourable Spider jumped the last in third a distance behind the leading pair but was a very tired horse and was caught on the line by both Tallow Bay and Heaven Is Above who were having their own battle on the run in.

1st Bee An Bee Stuart Robinson 2/5 (Favourite)

2nd Bob Ar Aghaidh Andrew Braithwaite 8/1

3rd Tallow Bay Rupert Stearn 18/1

4th Heaven Is Above F Ramsahoye 18/1

5th Honourable Spider Peter Bull 3/1

Distance 1½ lengths and a distance Time 8 mins 32 secs

Only 5 finished