GODSTONE ROUNDUP
SOUTHDOWN & ERIDGE
Saturday May 2nd 2009
GOLDING HOP SCORES AT LAST
Golding Hop has tried harder than most to lose his maiden status in recent seasons - and in his fifth attempt of this this year he finally managed it, finishing alone after his three rivals variously came to grief. Chris Thomson's grey and pink colours have become familiar, usually leading maiden fields for two circuits before fading. This time he was on his own with three fences to go after Amaya Silva had fallen, and Jack Knappy and Podium Pete had pulled up - the latter with a fatal injury.
Golding Hop is named after a pub in Plaxtol, Kent.
PRINCE RODNEY MAKES IT THREE
IN A ROW
In a day of disappointing fields, the Restricted was the biggest of seven races with five runners. Prince Rodney, who had won twice over Easter for trainer David Phelan with Will Hickman in the saddle, took this with authority. Shadowing leader Reymysterio for most of the way, the 6/4 favourite made his move two fences from home and quickly went clear.
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THE LEGEND OF CARRYONHARRY
Racing historians will surely be delving into the books to confirm just how special is Carryonharry, who not only won his 18th Ladies Open but did so in what is probably a record time for the Godstone circuit. At the age of 15, plenty of point-to-point fans keep wondering how much the magnificent grey has left to give, doubts that are reflected in his starting prices this season when there has usually been another rival preferred in the betting. But "Harry" keeps on defying the odds, his doubters and his age. In this race King Du Berlais was favourite and Carryonharry's other rival was receiving a stone from both of them. Ridden as usual by Cynthia Haydon (now with an unbeatable lead in the ladies' title race) the pair received the loudest cheer of the day when pulling out a race-winning lead in the run to the last fence.
MASTER T PREVAILS ON HIS GROUND
With Pete Bull and Nick Pearce fighting it out for the jockeys' title, this was a critical race for both riders. Master T had taken a six lengths beating from Letterman at Charing's Easter meeting and had been beaten (unluckily) in a Members' race at Penshurst only a week earlier, while Letterman was bidding for his sixth successive win of the season and was already pencilled in as the Area's champion horse. Market sentiment was solidly behind Simon Tindall's nine-year-old, who went off as 1/3 favourite despite a few reservations about the firm ground. Master T, who was Pete Bull's "back-up" entry in case the ground was too firm for his Honourable Spider, was available at 4/1 for a time. Usually ridden from behind, tactics were different for this three horse race and Master T was never headed. Letterman, who seemed not to enjoy the conditions underfoot and finished sore, just held on to second place from Reflex Blue, 12 lengths behind the winner. The result put Pete Bull five points clear in the title race.
POSSEXTOWN TAKES WILL TO NOVICE TITLE
Riding the second leg of a double on Possextown for Kent trainer David Phelan and a consortium of Ashford owners, Will Hickman, aged 17, a recruit from pony racing, is now unlikely to be beaten in the novice riders' championship. Possextown, second favourite behind Suffolk raider Thoutmosis, faced three rivals but was not troubled to win by four lengths under a very capable ride from the champion-to-be.
Will has now overhauled Phil York in the senior riders' championship and lies fourth behind Pete Bull, Nick Pearce and Philip Hall in unconfirmed calculations.
BLOODLESS WIN FOR DAD SAYS HEAZLE
Steve Spice and Dad Says Heazle didn't have to break sweat for their second win in a week. After a hard fight at Penshurst where the pair beat Master T and Sharlom, at Godstone all they had to do was canter past the judges for a walkover. Owner Jenny Donegan now has another magnificent trophy for the sideboard and Dad Says Heazle has a 4lb penalty for his next race.
In the action-free lull before the last race a stag party, who had arrived at Godstone in an open-top bus, entertained the crowd with a race of their own. For the record, the race (from the last fence to the winning line) was won by Fraser Stewart, who works for the MCC. The man getting married was Chris Gibson. Some of the runners would not have passed a post-race breathalyser test.
ONYX D'ACE WINS
THE MATCH
The final race was called the "Gone Away" Intermediate - and by coincidence all the home entries had gone away by the time two visitors from East Anglia responded to starter Howard Jarvis's last-ever flag-waving moment at Godstone.
Onyx D'Ace led Luke Lively at a mostly leisurely pace for the whole race, stepping on the gas towards the finish to win by an easy eight lengths.
