West Street Tickham Hunt Point to Point, Charing
Sunday 29th January 2012.
Race reports by Nicola & Martyn Dean

Race 1: The Dodson & Horrell PPORA Club Members Race for Novice Riders

Five runners were declared for the opening race of the day. Flowersoftherarest (Patrick Smith) was sent off the 1/2 favourite with Aces Or Better (G Bingham) at 4/1, Thenford Ryde (Frankie Hickman) at 6/1, That’s Rhythm (Nicholas Wakefield) at 7/1 and Glenbower Woods (O Beswick) the outsider at 10/1
Thenford Ryde led the field over the first ahead of Flowersoftherarest and Aces Or Better whilst That’s Rhythm made a mistake at the first just ahead of Glenbower Woods. Still trying to regain his irons That’s Rhythm made it over the second but had been relegated to fifth in the process. That’s Rhythm again made a mistake at the fourth (first open ditch) with the jockey again losing his irons so was pulled up before the fifth reducing the field to four runners who continued to be led by Thenford Ryde. As the four runners made their way up the hill for the first time Thenford Ryde led Aces Or Better by two lengths with Flowersoftherarest and Glenbower Woods a further two lengths back. However as they turned down the hill for the first time Thenford Ryde, Aces Or Better and Flowersoftherarest were all in a line together across the course with Glenbower Woods three lengths behind them. At fence ten Thenford Ryde had regained the lead two lengths ahead of Flowersoftherarest and Aces Or Better whilst Glenbower Woods dropped further back. Aces Or Better made a mistake at the eleventh and gravity nearly won as the jockey hung over the side of his mount but he managed to regain his place in the saddle but lost several lengths on the others in doing so. At the twelfth fence (second open ditch) Thenford Ryde continued to lead by two lengths from Flowersoftherarest who was untidy with Glenbower Woods moving into third ahead of Aces Or Better following his blunder at the previous fence. As the runners turned the top of the hill Flowersoftherarest was pushed to chase after Thenford Ryde and as they turned back down the hill Flowersoftherarest moved up beside Thenford Ryde. At fence sixteen Flowersoftherarest and Thenford Ryde were in the air together, but at fence seventeen Flowersoftherarest was more fluent and gained a lengths advantage over Thenford Ryde whilst Glenbower Woods and Aces Or Better battled for third further back. Thenford Ryde stumbled slightly on landing at the eighteenth allowing Flowersoftherarest to extend his lead even more and a fluent jump at the final fence secured the race. Thenford Ryde took second with Glenbower Woods winning the battle for third with Aces Or Better.

1st Flowersoftherarest Patrick Smith 1/2 (Favourite)
2nd Thenford Ryde Frankie Hickman 6/1
3rd Glenbower Woods O Beswick 10/1
4th Aces Or Better G Bingham 4/1

Distances 5 lengths and 25 lengths Time 6 mins 19 secs
Five ran, Four finished

Race 2: The SEH Club Members Race for Gentleman Riders sponsored by Sam Fuller & the SE Bookmakers

Ten runners were declared for the men's race. Commander Kev (Tom Cheesman) was sent off the 1/2 favourite with Polyfast (Nick Pearce) at 2/1, Nothing's Easy (Patrick Smith) at 5/1, Flying Change (Jason Merry) at 6/1, New Street Express (Paul Blagg) at 8/1, False Identity (Jody Sole) at 12/1 and Ask Oscar (C Pendry), Balableu (Peter Bull), Quiditch D'Ouxy (Mick Sheridan) and Ten Pressed Men (Anthony Ward-Thomas) all at 20/1.
After an initial false start, the ten runners set off at their second attempt with Ten Pressed Men and Nothing's Easy leading the field over the first whilst Ask Oscar and False Identity sat at the back of the field about five lengths off of the other eight runners. At the third fence Nothing's Easy led from New Street Express and Flying Change with Ten Pressed Men and Polyfast a length further back ahead of Balableu, Quiditch D'Ouxy, Commander Kev, False Identity and Ask Oscar. The ten runners all negotiated the first open ditch (fence four) well and all completed their first circuit with no changes in the order with Nothing's Easy leading New Street Express and Flying Change. Ask Oscar pulled up before the tenth fence and Ten Pressed Men started to get detached as Commander Kev started to make his way through the field to challenge the leaders. Nothing's Easy continued to lead at fence twelve (second open ditch) ahead of New Street Express, Commander Kev, Flying Change, Polyfast, False Identity, Balableu, Quiditch D'Ouxy and Ten Pressed Men who was ten lengths behind the other eight runners. Ten Pressed Men was pulled up at the fourteenth fence and as the eight remaining runners turned down the hill towards fence sixteen New Street Express moved into the lead ahead of Nothing's Easy, Polyfast and Commander Kev. Polyfast was the first to mount a challenge and joined New Street Express in the air at the seventeenth and by the eighteenth Commander Kev had joined the leading pair and the three took the fence together with Nothing's Easy in fourth ahead of Flying Change, False Identity and Quiditch D'Ouxy as Balableu pulled up. Running towards the final fence New Street Express was the first to give way as Polyfast and Commander Kev battled side by side but as the pair turned into the finishing straight towards the final fence Commander Kev opened up a two length advantage over Polyfast who was unable to close the gap on the run to the winning post. New Street Express finished third ahead of Flying Change, False Identity and Quiditch D'Ouxy as Nothing's Easy fell at the final fence.

1st Commander Kev Tom Cheesman 1/2 (Favourite)
2nd Polyfast Nick Pearce 2/1
3rd New Street Express Paul Blagg 8/1
4th Flying Change Jason Merry 6/1

Distances 6 lengths and 5 lengths Time 6mins 27 secs
Ten ran, Six finished

Race 3: The SEH Club Members Race for Lady Riders sponsored by a generous supporter.

Eight ladies contested the ladies open with Mount Sandel (Frankie Hickman) sent off the 1/2 favourite with Master Alf (Gemma Cobb) and Senor Shane (M Trainor) both 4/1, High Five (Claire Wills), Lord Snow (Emily Harbour), Tom's Toybox (Claire Douglas) and Terramarique (C Henderson) all at 10/1 and Alrafid (Tabitha Worsley) the outsider at 16/1.
Mount Sandel led the eight runners over the first ahead of Alrafid whilst Senor Shane was just the backmarker. Senor Shane made a slight mistake at the second fence as the eight ladies continued at a reasonable pace and at fence four (first open ditch) Alrafid had moved into the lead ahead of Mount Sandel, Tom's Toybox, Master Alf, High Five, Senor Shane, Lord Snow and Terramarique. As the eight runners made their way up the hill for the first time, Mount Sandel moved back into the lead and turning at the top of the hill had a four length advantage over the other seven runners.
With a circuit to go Mount Sandel continued to lead from Lord Snow, High Five and Tom's Toybox with Senor Shane two lengths further back ahead of Master Alf, Alrafid and Terramarique. Senor Shane hit the twelfth (second open ditch) and lost a lot of momentum and was pulled up before the thirteenth where Alrafid also pulled up as Mount Sandel started to extend his lead over Lord Snow, High Five and Tom's Toybox.
As the runners turned at the top of the hill for the final time Mount Sandel had a five length advantage over Tom's Toybox who was sent after the leader with High Five a couple of lengths further back with Lord Snow, Master Alf and Terramarique. Tom's Toybox started to close on the leader as they raced down the hill but made a mistake at the sixteenth where Mount Sandel was much more fluent. Tom's Toybox continued to try to close on the leader and had the gap down to a length at the penultimate fence but on the run to the final fence Mount Sandel was pushed on again and started to pull clear of Tom's Toybox who could offer no more. An assured jump at the last secured the race for Mount Sandel with Tom's Toybox finishing second ahead of Lord Snow who closed on High Five on the run to the last with Terramarique and Master Alf also completing.

1st Mount Sandel Frankie Hickman 1/2 (Favourite)
2nd Tom's Toybox Claire Douglas 10/1
3rd Lord Snow Emily Harbour 10/1
4th High Five Claire Wills 10/1

Distances 5 lengths and 6 lengths Time 6mins 23 secs
Eight ran, Six finished

Race 4: The Shepherd Neame Kent Grand National Mixed Open Race (3miles 6 furlongs)

Eleven runners made their way to the start for the area feature race. Mysaynoway (Jody Sole) and Swordsman (Phil York) were sent off joint favourites at 6/4 with Horner Woods (Hannah Grissell) at 6/1, Master T (Peter Bull) and Nessa (Tom Cheesman) at 10/1, Kilbeggan Blade (Alexandra Stirling) and Man From Moscow (Will Hickman) at 14/1 and Aughlea Bridge (Kelly Keefe), Cold Mountain (Paul Blagg), Topless (Claire Wills) and Wee Bertie (Chris Thomson) all at 22/1.
The eleven runners set off at a steady pace with Swordsman and Aughlea Bridge leading the field over the first of the twenty three fences. Aughlea Bridge jumped right-handed at the second and the third fences and lost a couple of lengths allowing Wee Bertie and Kilbeggan Blade to move up behind Swordsman. Cold Mountain followed the leading quartet a length further back along with Mysaynoway, Topless, Man From Moscow, Nessa, Horner Woods and Master T. The eleven runners completed their first circuit without incident although Nessa did start to drop back through the field. Swordsman and Wee Bertie continued to lead as the field turned at the top of the hill for the second time ahead of Cold Mountain, Aughlea Bridge, Kilbeggan Blade, Mysaynoway, Topless, Master T, Man From Moscow, Horner Woods and Nessa. Both Master T and Horner Woods nodded on landing at the thirteenth but all eleven took the fourteenth well with Swordsman still leading from Wee Bertie whilst Topless had moved up into third ahead of Mysaynoway, Cold Mountain, Man From Moscow and Horner Woods who had both made up places as the group started to bunch up with the exception of Nessa and Aughlea Bridge who were starting to drop back from the other nine runners. Master T made a slight mistake in eighth at the fifteenth fence and as the field approached the final open ditch (fence sixteen) Horner Woods was pushed to close in on the leaders. Nessa was pulled up at the seventeenth where Horner Woods had joined Swordsman at the front of the field. Wee Bertie was pulled up at the nineteenth. As the runners turned at the top of the hill for the final time Horner Woods and Swordsman had a two length advantage over Topless and Kilbeggan Blade with Man From Moscow and Master T close behind. Mysaynoway was pulled up before the twentieth fence where Horner Woods and Swordsman continued to race side by side. Swordsman made a mistake at the twenty first fence allowing Horner Woods to open up a lengths advantage whilst Topless and Kilbeggan Blade also started to make challenges on the leading pair with Man From Moscow and Master T also closing in. At the penultimate fence Kilbeggan Blade closed on Horner Woods with Topless and Master T also gaining ground on the leader. Turning into the finishing straight and the final fence Horner Woods, Kilbeggan Blade and Topless were side by side, but it was Kilbeggan Blade who got away from the final fence quickest and pulled clear of Horner Woods on the run to the line whilst Topless held onto third ahead of Master T. Man From Moscow also completed whilst the remaining runners all pulled up.

1st Kilbeggan Blade Alexandra Stirling 14/1
2nd Horner Woods Hannah Grissell 6/1
3rd Topless Claire Wills 22/1
4th Master T Peter Bull 10/1

Distances 2 lengths and 2 lengths Time 8mins 01 sec
Eleven ran, Five finished

Race 5: The Restricted Race sponsored by SE Owners and the PPA.

All twelve of the entered horses were declared for the Restricted race. Behind The Scenes (Phil York) was sent off the 6/4 favourite ahead of Oscar The Myth (Tom Cheesman) at 5/2. Adept Approach (Philip Hall) was a 4/1 chance with the bookies whilst Katepast (Lisa Stock), Scholar George (Nick Pearce) and Tinakellyflyer (Matt Braxton) were 8/1. Silent Rage (Rose Grissell) was priced at 10/1 whilst San Jose (M Sheridan) was 12/1 and Arvakur (Steve Spice), Clovers Shady Lady (K Jones), Johncan (Will Hickman) and Time Is Tickin (Jody Sole) were all priced 25/1.
After a false start the twelve runners set off at a reasonable pace with Behind The Scenes leading from San Jose, Tinakellyflyer, Oscar The Myth and Silent Rage with Arvakur and Adept Approach just behind the leading group ahead of Clovers Shady Lady, Scholar George and Time Is Tickin whilst Katepast and Johncan where eight lengths further back. Arvakur moved up to join the leaders at the first open ditch (fence four) which all twelve runners took well. The twelve runners completed their first circuit with all jumping well and as they set out on their second circuit Behind The Scenes led from San Jose and Adept Approach with Katepast in fourth ahead of Oscar The Myth, Time Is Tickin, Scholar George, Arvakur, Tinakellyflyer, Silent Rage, Johncan and Clovers Shady Lady. Clovers Shady Lady pulled up before the twelfth (second open ditch) where San Jose moved up beside Behind The Scenes and Johncan unseated. Katepast pulled up before the thirteenth where Adept Approach was urged to chase the leaders. Time Is Tickin and Arvakur were pulled up at the fifteenth and as the remaining runners turned at the top of the hill Behind The Scenes led from Adept Approach who had made up ground, Silent Rage and Oscar The Myth who had also be pushed to close on the leader. Tinakellyflyer continued in fifth ahead of Scholar George and San Jose. Silent Rage moved up to join Behind The Scenes at the sixteenth and was the first to make a challenge. Adept Approach joined the leading pair at the seventeenth and after the eighteenth was pushed on and started to pull away from Behind The Scenes and Silent Rage. Behind The Scenes chased after Adept Approach and the pair pulled clear of Silent Rage with Oscar The Myth, Scholar George and Tinakellyflyer also continuing. Turning into the finishing straight Adept Approach managed to keep his head in front of Behind The Scenes and a safe jump at the last secured the race for Adept Approach. Oscar The Myth was able to move into third before the winning post ahead of Scholar George, Silent Rage and Tinakellyflyer.

1st Adept Approach Philip Hall 4/1
2nd Behind The Scenes Phil York 6/4 (Favourite)
3rd Oscar The Myth Tom Cheesman 5/2
4th Scholar George Nick Pearce 8/1

Distances 2 lengths and 4 lengths Time 6mins 28 secs
Twelve ran, Six finished

Race 6: The Giles Hopper Open Maiden Race sponsored by the Hopper Family

Fourteen runners made their way to the start for the final race of the day. Jimmy The Hat (David Maxwell) was sent off the bookies 6/4 favourite with Bit Of A Clown (Jody Sole) at 3/1, Mr Maybe (Will Hickman) at 4/1, Chosen Few (Nick Pearce), No Pain No Gain (Philip Hall) at 5/1 and John'O'Dreams at 6/1. Le Comte (Phil York) and Eco's Gamebird (Claire Wills) were both 10/1, Sum Say So (Peter Bull) and Tango Master (K Jones) were 20/1 and Aspiring Actor (Steve Spice) Lienosus (Tom Cheesman), Marge Ana (Chris Dennington) and Red Match (Emily Harbour) were the outsiders at 25/1.
Red Match refused to start reducing the field to thirteen immediately. Lienosus made a mistake at the first leaving him near the back of the field with Mr Maybe whilst Le Comte led from John'O'Dreams, Aspiring Actor, Bit Of A Clown and Tango Master with Eco's Gamebird and Jimmy The Hat close behind ahead of No Pain No Gain, Chosen Few, Sum Say So and Marge Ana. The thirteen runners continued over the next three fences without incident but Marge Ana and Aspiring Actor both came down at the fifth fence. As the remaining runners turned at the top of the hill Le Comte led from Tango Master, Eco's Gamebird with John'O'Dreams in fourth three lengths further back ahead of Bit Of A Clown, Jimmy The Hat, No Pain No Gain, Sum Say So, Mr Maybe, Chosen Few and Lienosus. Lienosus was again slow over the ninth as No Pain No Gain started to move up to join the leaders. With a circuit to race John'O'Dreams pulled up and at fence twelve (second open ditch) Lienosus unseated. At fence fifteen Mr Maybe led from Le Comte, Eco's Gamebird, Tango Master and No Pain No Gain with Sum Say So, Bit Of A Clown, Jimmy The Hat and Chosen Few a couple of lengths further back. Turning at the top of the hill Mr Maybe led from Le Comte and Eco's Gamebird with No Pain No Gain chasing after the leading trio. No Pain No Gain moved up to join Mr Maybe at the front of the field at fence sixteen with Sum Say So chasing after the leading pair. Sum Say So hit the seventeenth allowing Mr Maybe and No Pain No Gain to extend their advantage after the eighteenth where No Pain No Gain was pushed on again and opened up a two length advantage over Mr Maybe. Mr Maybe was unable to close on No Pain No Gain who safely negotiated the final fence to lose his maiden status. Mr Maybe held onto second ahead of Sum Say So, Chosen Few, Eco's Gamebird and Le Comte whilst Bit Of A Clown pulled up.

1st No Pain No Gain Philip Hall 5/1
2nd Mr Maybe Will Hickman 4/1
3rd Sum Say So Peter Bull 20/1
4th Chosen Few Nick Pearce 5/1

Distances 2 lengths and 2 lengths Time 6mins 34 secs
Fourteen ran, Six finished