Godstone May 2nd 2009

Race 1: The Batcheller Thacker Open Maiden Race.

Division 1

Podium Pete was 4/9 favourite with Amaya Silv at 2/1, Jack Knappy and Golding Hop both on 8/1.

4 runners went to post in the maiden race. Amaya Silva (Philip Hall) and Golding Hop (Chris Thomson) took the early lead followed a couple of lengths further back by Jack Knappy (Alyce Fisher) and Podium Pete (Gordon Gallagher). Podium Pete out-jumped Jack Knappy at fence four to move into third. At the end of the first circuit Golding Hop had a 2½ length advantage over Amaya Silva who had a similar advantage over Podium Pete with Jack Knappy a further 4 lengths back. Jack Knappy was slow over fence nine (second open ditch) and was starting to get tailed off from the other three runners. Amaya Silva fell at fence ten where Jack Knappy was also pulled up leaving just 2 runners remaining. Golding Hop had a 4 length advantage over Podium Pete as the pair set out on their final circuit, but on the approach to fence fourteen Podium Pete started to make up ground on Golding Hop, however turning towards fence fifteen (third open ditch) Golding Hop started to pull away again. Podium Pete was slow over fence fifteen and was pulled up before the sixteenth having suffered a fatal injury, leaving Golding Hop the task of jumping the final three fences to lose his maiden status which he successful managed despite an anxious moment at the last.

1st Golding Hop, Chris Thomson 8/1

Time 6 mins 25 secs Distances Finished alone, 4 ran

Race 2: The CB Richard Ellis Restricted Race.

A field of 5 went to post for the restricted race. Prince Rodney (Will Hickman) was 6/4 favourite with the bookmakers with Reymysterio (Georgina Andrews) also popular at 2/1.

Reymysterio led over the first fence followed by Master Shuil (H Miller), Prince Rodney, Lovely Day (Nigel Benstead) and Home Chat (Emily Harbour) and the field continued at a reasonable pace. At fence three (first open ditch) Lovely Day jumped to the left and lost fourth place to Home Chat. After fence four, Prince Rodney put in a big jump and moved up into second place behind Reymysterio who continued to lead by a couple of lengths. The five runners continued over the next four fences all jumping well. At fence nine (second open ditch) Home Chat made a mistake and lost a couple of lengths on the others and allowed Lovely Day to move back into fourth place. As the five runners continued, Reymysterio led with Prince Rodney and Master Shuil 2 lengths further back, and Lovely Day and Home Chat a further 2 lengths behind. The five runners continued over the next complete circuit with no change in the placings. Home Chat made a mistake again at the third open ditch (fence fifteen) but didn’t lose any more ground on his rivals. Approaching fence sixteen Prince Rodney started to close the gap on Reymysterio, and turning into the home straight with two fences left to jump moved into the lead. Reymysterio had nothing left to give and Prince Rodney started to open up an advantage after the penultimate fence whilst Lovely Day also started to make up ground and started to close in on Reymysterio. Prince Rodney cleared the last to take the race whilst a mistake at the last by Lovely Day allowed Reymysterio to hold onto second place.

1st Prince Rodney, Will Hickman 6/4 (Favourite)

2nd Reymysterio, Georgina Andrews 2/1

3rd Lovely Day, Nigel Benstead 8/1

4th Master Shuil, H Miller

5th Home Chat, Emily Harbour

Time 6 mins 30 secs Distances 6 lengths and 4 lengths

Race 3: The Highfields Farm Ladies Open Race

Only 3 runners were declared for the Ladies Open race. King Du Berlais (Louise Allan) was sent off the 8/11 favourite with Carryonharry (Cynthia Haydon) at 5/4 and Mai Cure (Georgina Andrews) the outsider at 5/1

Mai Cure decided to lay down a challenge from the drop of the starter's flag and led over the first fence with Carryonharry and King Du Berlais continuing side by side a couple of lengths behind. Mai Cure had an eight length advantage by fence three (first open ditch) but Carryonharry and King Du Berlais decided to stop Mai Cure from getting too far in front and started to close the gap almost immediately as the three runners continued over the first circuit. At fence seven Mai Cure’s advantage had decreased to three lengths over Carryonharry with King Du Berlais two lengths further back. A mistake by Mai Cure at fence nine (second open ditch) allowed Carryonharry to join Mai Cure and all three runners were in a line together over fence ten. Carryonharry had moved to take the lead at fence eleven where he made an uncharacteristic mistake and received reminders from Cynthia Haydon. King Du Berlais gave chase after Carryonharry and the pair started to pull away from Mai Cure. At fence fourteen Carryonharry had a two length advantage over King Du Berlais with Mai Cure a further ten lengths back. After the final open ditch (fence fifteen) King Du Berlais started to mount a challenge on Carryonharry and the pair jumped the sixteenth side by side where Mai Cure was pulled up when tailed off from the leading duo. Turning into the home straight Carryonharry had the advantage of the inside line and King Du Berlais ran slightly wide on his outside handing a slight advantage back to Carryonharry. Both jumped the penultimate fence with the possibility of winning the race but Carryonharry opened up a two length advantage before the last fence where he put in a perfect jump to seal the race.

1st Carryonharry, Cynthia Haydon 5/4

2nd King Du Berlais,Louise Allan 8/11 (Favourite)

Time 5 mins 56 secs Distances 3 lengths

Race 4: The Volkswagen Touareg Men’s Open Race

The men’s open also saw 3 runners going to post. This season’s leading horse for the South-East Area Letterman (Nick Pearce) was sent off at odds of 1/3 to achieve his sixth successive win of the season with Master T (Peter Bull) at 3/1 and Reflex Blue (Will Hickman) at 6/1.

Master T engaged in a new tactic and was taken into the lead at fence one by Peter Bull followed by Reflex Blue and Letterman and the three runners continued at a reasonable pace for the first circuit. As the three runners set out for their second circuit of the course there was very little change with Master T leading from Letterman and Reflex Blue who raced side by side two lengths further back. The three runners all continued to jump well and as they set out on their third and final circuit Master T continued to lead two lengths ahead of Letterman who had a length advantage over Reflex Blue. After the final open ditch (fence fifteen) Letterman started to chase after Master T and the pair approached the sixteenth together. Turning into the home straight the race was open for the taking, Letterman slowed into the penultimate fence allowing Master T to regain an advantage, which he took. At the final fence Master T had a four length lead over Letterman with Reflex Blue also gaining ground on Letterman. Master T put in a good jump at the last and landed full of running to pull even further clear of his rivals at the winning post whilst Letterman just held onto second place ahead of Reflex Blue. Letterman was dismounted after the line and found to be sore.

1st Master T, Peter Bull 3/1

2nd Letterman, Nick Pearce 1/3 (Favourite)

3rd Reflex Blue, Will Hickman 6/1

Time 6 mins 20 secs Distances 12 lengths and ¾ length

Race 5: The Dodson & Horrell PPORA Club Members Race for Novice Riders

4 runners were declared for the novice rider’s race which saw Thoutmosis (Ed Turner) sent off the 6/4 favourite. Possextown (Will Hickman) was next in the market at 9/4 with River Bailiff at 5/1 and Brigadier Du Bois (Ben Bentley) the outsider at 8/1.

Possextown led over the first fence from Thoutmosis and Brigadier Du Bois whilst River Bailiff jumped slowly over the first and was a couple of lengths further back. River Bailiff continued slowly and was 8 lengths behind his three rivals after fence three (first open ditch). The four runners continued at a reasonable pace over the first circuit and after fence seven Possextown led by two lengths from Brigadier Du Bois with Thoutmosis four lengths back in third and River Bailiff eight lengths further back. Brigadier Du Bois jumped to the right over fences eleven and twelve but was beside Possextown at fence thirteen where River Bailiff was pulled up when tailed off. Thoutmosis continued but several lengths behind the leading pair. Possextown and Brigadier Du Bois continued to race side by side over fences fourteen, fifteen and sixteen. Turning into the home straight for the final time Possextown had the advantage of the inside line and approaching the penultimate fence had opened up a four length advantage over Brigadier Du Bois whilst at the same time Thoutmosis had also started to close the gap on the leading pair and was starting to catch Brigadier Du Bois. Possextown cleared the last with a four length advantage over Brigadier Du Bois and Thoutmosis who were together at the last fence. On the run to the winning post Possextown couldn’t be caught by Thoutmosis who managed to pass Brigadier Du Bois to take second place.

1st Possextown, Will Hickman 9/4

2nd Thoutmosis, Ed Turner 6/4 (Favourite)

3rd Brigadier Du Bois, Ben Bentley 8/1

Time 6 mins 03 secs Distance 4 lengths and ½ length

Race 6: The Robert Wilkins Countryside Alliance Club Members Conditions Race

With only 1 declaration for the race, Dad Says Heazle (Steve Spice) was able to follow up his narrow win at Penshurst in the Veterans and Novices race with a nice little canter from fence five to the winning post.

1st Dad Says Heazle Steve Spice

Walked Over

Race 7: The Gone Away Intermediate Race

A field of just 2 were declared for the final race of the day. Onyx D’Ace (Rupert Stearn) was the 1/4 favourite with the bookmakers with Luke Lively (A Pennock) at 9/4.

The pair set off at a very sedate pace with Onyx D’Ace leading by two lengths throughout the first circuit of the race. As the pair set out on their second circuit they continued at a sedate pace with Onyx D’Ace still leading by two lengths and both jumping well. Onyx D’Ace hit the twelfth fence and after the thirteenth was pushed to increase the pace of the race. Luke Lively gave chase after Onyx D’Ace and continued to race a couple of lengths behind Onyx D’Ace until the sixteenth fence where Onyx D’Ace injected another increase in pace and started to pull further clear of his only rival. Turning into the finishing straight Onyx D’Ace only had to jump the last two fences safely to secure the race which he did with ease whilst Luke Lively continued to take second place.

1st Onyx D’Ace, Rupert Stearn 1/4 (Favourite)

2nd Luke Lively, A Pennock 9/4

Time 6 mins 36 secs Distances 8 lengths