Aldington race by race

Report by Nicola, Stephanie & Martyn Dean

Race 1: The Open Maiden Race.

12 runners were declared for the first race of the day. Midleton Madness (Gordon Gallagher) was sent off the 7/4 favourite with Good Gordon (Tom Cheesman) at 2/1, Conna Court (Philip Hall), Flora Ana (Tom Cannon), Kanga Gold (A Panman) and Master Shuil (H Miller) all at 6/1 and the others all at 8/1 and bigger.

Midleton Madness led over the first fence where Little Legend (Cynthia Haydon) who was making his racecourse debut unseated. Bleak Friday (Yoni Sharp) pulled hard on the long run between fence one and two to move to the front of the field and then decided that she didn’t want to jump the second fence and ran out. The remaining ten runners continued in a group together with Midleton Madness just leading and Mad Genius (Ben Manning) just the back-marker. Conna Court was very slow over fence four having almost refused. The ten remaining runners continued together at a reasonable pace over the rest of the first circuit and all jumped the fences well. Midleton Madness continued to lead as the runners set out on their second circuit with Kanga Gold also prominent. At fence eleven Conna Court was pulled up and at fence twelve Golding Hop (Chris Thomson) fell hampering Flora Ana. At fence fifteen (second open ditch) Midleton Madness continued to lead but Good Gordon and Master Shuil were both starting to make progress. At fence sixteen Good Gordon had moved into the lead, Midleton Madness hit the seventeenth but had a better jump over the eighteenth and started to close in on Good Gordon again along with Master Shuil, and these three had pulled away from the other remaining runners. At the last fence Good Gordon, Master Shuil and Midleton Madness were in the air together, but on landing Master Shuil found an extra burst of speed to pull away from Good Gordon on the run in with Midleton Madness in third. Carvilla (Olivia Maylam) completed at his own pace to hold onto fourth from Flora Ana whilst Jack Knappy (Alyce Fisher) and Mad Genius also had their own battle as they too completed the course.
1st Master Shuil H Miller 6/1
2nd Good Gordon Tom Cheesman 2/1
3rd Midleton Madness Gordon Gallagher 7/4 (Favourite)
4th Carvilla Olivia Maylam 25/1
Time 6 mins 41 secs Distances 1½ lengths and 3 lengths. Seven finished.

Race 2: The Hallett & Co Restricted Race

A field of 6 went to post in the second race of the day. Not Another Barney (Nick Pearce) was sent off the 2/1 favourite with Man From Moscow (Philip Hall) also popular at 5/2. Finnow Shan (Jody Sole) and Lovely Day (Nigel Benstead) were both at 3/1 with Ballybough Billy (Heather Kemp) at 6/1 and Double Measure (Alyce Fisher) was the outsider at 12/1.

Ballybough Billy was the early leader although reluctantly, ahead of Double Measure, Finnow Shan, Not Another Barney, Man From Moscow and Lovely Day. Lovely Day was slow over fence two but continued at the back of the group of runners. Man From Moscow moved up through the field into second place behind Ballybough Billy after fence six (the first open ditch). At fence nine Lovely Day was slow again and started to lose ground on his five rivals. As the runners set out on their second and final circuit Ballybough Billy continued to lead but Finnow Shan had moved up into second ahead of Not Another Barney and Man From Moscow with Double Measure a couple of lengths further back and Lovely Day several lengths further back. The four in the leading group increased the pace of the race after the twelfth fence and Finnow Shan had moved up to take the lead at fence thirteen with Not Another Barney just behind. Finnow Shan continued to lead with Not Another Barney and Man From Moscow sitting just behind waiting to make their move as Ballybough Billy started to drop back. At fence sixteen Man From Moscow started to look as if he was struggling with the pace that Finnow Shan was setting and Ballybough Billy was pulled up. Man From Moscow started to mount another challenge approaching the eighteenth fence and joined Not Another Barney in chasing Finnow Shan. Finnow Shan jumped the last fence ahead of Man From Moscow and Not Another Barney but Man From Moscow laid down a renewed challenge on the run in and the pair were locked together at the winning post. The judges' verdict was that Man From Moscow had just got up on the run in to take the race by a short head with Not Another Barney a couple of lengths further back. Lovely Day took fourth from Double Measure.
1st Man From Moscow Philip Hall 5/2
2nd Finnow Shan Jody Sole 3/1
3rd Not Another Barney Nick Pearce 2/1 (Favourite)
4th Lovely Day Nigel Benstead 3/1.
Time 6 mins 41 secs Distances a short head and 2 lengths. Five finished

Race 3: The Paddy Hughes Memorial PPORA Club Members Race for Novice Riders.

A field of five were declared for the novice riders race. Detling restricted winner Nessa (Tom Cheesman) was sent off the even money favourite just ahead of Lord N Master (Will Hickman) at 6/4. Harrycone Lewis (Mark Clark) was next in the market at 3/1 with No Stranger (Joe Akehurst) at 8/1 and It’s Showtime (Miss J Hermansky) just the outsider at 10/1.

Lord N Master and No Stranger led over the first fence where Harrycone Lewis was very slow and received reminders. Lord N Master had moved up to lead at fence two followed by No Stranger, It’s Showtime, Nessa and Harrycone Lewis. Harrycone Lewis was slow again over fence four and was starting to get tailed off from his four rivals by fence six and was eventually pulled up at fence eight. Lord N Master continued to lead from It’s Showtime, No Stranger and Nessa as the runners set out on their second circuit. The four runners continued to jump well over the next six fences. At fence fifteen (second open ditch) Lord N Master had opened up a four length advantage over the other three runners who were in a line together. Lord N Master injected an increase in pace at fence sixteen and at fence seventeen Nessa made a mistake and lost ground and was then pulled up at the eighteenth leaving It’s Showtime and No Stranger chasing after Lord N Master who had started to pull away. It’s Showtime was the only one to go after Lord N Master but a safe jump over the last saw Lord N Master take the race with It’s Showtime clear of the only other finisher No Stranger.
1st Lord N Master Will Hickman 6/4
2nd It’s Showtime Miss J Hermansky 10/1
3rd No Stranger Joe Akehurst 8/1
Time 6 mins 31 secs Distances 5 lengths and 15 lengths. Three finished

Race 4: The Hythe Bay Fish and Seafood Restaurant & Bar Men’s Open Race

2 runners were declared for the men’s open race. Hatsnall (Jody Sole) was sent off the odds on favourite at 1/5 with Sharlom (Joe Akehurst) at 5/2.

The two runners set off at a sedate pace with Hatsnall leading Sharlom over the first. Hatsnall was slow over the second fence and after the third was pushed on to increase the pace. By fence six Hatsnall had opened up an eight length lead over Sharlom and Jody Sole was looking to see where his rival was. As the two runners set out on their second circuit, Hatsnall had a twelve length advantage and continued to run his own race with Sharlom doing the same thing. At fence fifteen (second open ditch) Hatsnall had a huge advantage over Sharlom and had the race won so long as he managed to negotiate the remaining fences safely. Hatsnall safely negotiated fences sixteen and seventeen and then put in perfect jumps over the last two fences to win the race having been untroubled throughout. Sharlom continued to take second place despite blundering his way over the last fence.
1st Hatsnall Jody Sole 1/5 (Favourite)
2nd Sharlom Joe Akehurst 3/1.
Time 6 mins 32 secs Distances Distance. Two finished

Race 5: The McCabe Ford Williams Ladies Open Race

Again a field of just 2 runners were declared for the ladies open race and the pair, Major Jon (Cynthia Haydon) and Sheriff’s Friend (Hayley Moore) were evenly matched in the bookies' market both starting at 4/6.

The two runners jumped the first fence together, but Major Jon was keen to get on with the race and pulled his way to the front at fence two. Major Jon continued to lead down the back-straight for the first time but jumped right handed at fences three, five and six. As the pair completed their first circuit, Major Jon had settled and was not pulling as hard but still had a couple of lengths advantage over Sheriff’s Friend. At fence twelve Major Jon was pushed to increase the pace of the race again by Cynthia Haydon, but again jumped right handed over fences thirteen, fourteen and fifteen allowing Sheriff’s Friend and Hayley Moore to remain just behind. At the fifteenth (second open ditch) Major Jon had a two length advantage over Sheriff’s Friend but after fence sixteen Sheriff’s Friend started to close the gap on Major Jon and was moved to challenge on the outside. At fence seventeen Major Jon again jumped right-handed and crossed in front of Sheriff’s Friend, allowing Sheriff’s Friend to take up the inside line. The pair approached the penultimate fence together but on landing Sheriff’s Friend was pushed on and had opened up a four length advantage by the last fence which he safely negotiated to provide Hayley Moore with her first winner in only her second point to point race.
1st Sheriff’s Friend Hayley Moore 4/6 (Joint Favourite)
2nd Major Jon Cynthia Haydon 4/6 (Joint Favourite)
Time 6 mins 42 secs Distance 5 lengths. Two finished

Race 6: The East Kent Hunt Members, Subscribers and Farmers Race

A field of 5 of the 10 possible entries were declared for the final race of the day. Supreme Vintage (Tom Cheesman) was sent off the 6/4 bookies favourite with Charing maiden winner Prince Rodney (Will Hickman) at 5/2, Major Blue (Libby Lawson) at 3/1, Sadler’s Lamp (Chris Lawson) at 5/1 and I Had A Sister (Jody Sole) just the outsider at 6/1.

Supreme Vintage led over the first fence from I Had A Sister and Prince Rodney with Major Blue and Sadler’s Lamp four lengths further back having both been slow away from the start. Sadler’s Lamp made a mistake at fence three and was slow over fence six (first open ditch) where Supreme Vintage led from I Had A Sister and Prince Rodney. By this point the leading trio had a huge advantage over Major Blue who was several lengths clear of Sadler’s Lamp. At fence eight Major Blue started to make progress in closing the gap on the leading trio whilst Sadler’s Lamp put in a big and bold jump but was a fence behind and was eventually pulled up at fence ten when detached from the others. At fence eleven Supreme Vintage just had the advantage over I Had A Sister and Prince Rodney with Major Blue continuing twelve lengths further back. I Had A Sister hit the fourteenth fence when moving up to challenge for the lead and at the fifteenth (second open ditch) Supreme Vintage, Prince Rodney and I Had A Sister were in the air together and landed together. Prince Rodney put in the better jump at fence sixteen to land first and was urged on. At fence seventeen Prince Rodney started to open up an advantage over I Had A Sister and Supreme Vintage. A mistake at the penultimate fence by I Had A Sister allowed Supreme Vintage to move into second but he was unable to close on Prince Rodney who continued to pull away and after safely negotiating the last fence won his second race of the weekend. Supreme Vintage held onto second from I Had A Sister whilst Major Blue continued to finish fourth with Libby Lawson in her first race.
1st Prince Rodney Will Hickman 5/2
2nd Supreme Vintage Tom Cheesman 6/4 (Favourite)
3rd I Had A Sister Jody Sole 6/1
4th Major Blue Libby Lawson 3/1
Time 6 mins 48 secs Distances 10 lengths and 2 lengths. Four finished