West Street Tickham Hunt Point-to-Point

Saturday 14th March 2009.
Race by Race reports by Nicola, Stephanie & Martyn Dean

The McCabe Ford Williams Restricted Race

Godstone maiden winner High Toby (Phil York) was the 6/4 favourite in the thirteen runner restricted race with Godstone Mares maiden winner Say Grace (Nick Pearce) next in the market at 3/1 closely followed by Ballynonty (Rupert Stearn) at 4/1. Ballybough Billy (Heather Kemp), Kingsun (Ed Grissell) and Nessa (Tom Cheesman) were all available at 7/1 whilst the rest of the field were all priced at 25/1.
Ballybough Billy was very reluctant to start racing and the other 12 runners had cleared the first fence before Heather Kemp had really got him under way and racing. The other 12 runners were tightly grouped together over the first four fences with the lead changing frequently. High Toby had moved to the front at fence six leading Ballynonty and Eurotinker (Gordon Gallagher) with the others grouped behind these with the exception of Ballybough Billy who was pulled up before the seventh fence and Double Measure (Alyce Fisher) who was starting to get detached for the other eleven runners and was pulled up at the eighth fence where Thenford Snipe (Chris Thomson) made a mistake. High Toby continued to lead over the ninth fence but made a mistake at the tenth which allowed Eurotinker to take the lead. Thenford Snipe was pulled up at the twelfth fence and Eurotinker hit the thirteenth unseating Gordon Gallagher handing the lead back to High Toby. Kingsun (Ed Grissell) and Nessa were starting to make up ground on the leader along with Say Grace. Billie Bay (Jody Sole) made a mistake at the last open ditch (fence fifteen) where First Partner (Peter Bull) was pulled up. At fence sixteen High Toby continued to lead with Nessa and Say Grace and Ballynonty all giving chase. The Longest Day (Philip Andrew) pulled up at fence seventeen where High Toby just led from Nessa. Nessa had taken up the lead by fence eighteen and started to pull away on the approach to the last fence. Nessa landed first over the last followed by High Toby who tried to make up ground on the run in, but Nessa held on by 2 lengths giving Tom Cheesman his first win. Say Grace and Ballynonty battled it out for third with Say Grace managing to hold on.

1st Nessa Tom Cheesman 7/1
2nd High Toby Phil York 6/4 (Favourite)
3rd Say Grace Nick Pearce 3/1
4th Ballynonty Rupert Stearn 4/1

Distances 2 lengths and 3 lengths Time 6 mins 21 secs

The Raymond Briggs Esq. Open Maiden Race
Division 1

With 28 horses declared for the maiden race the race was split into two divisions of fourteen runners. The first division saw Good Gordon (Tom Cheesman) as the 5/2 favourite with Caged Tiger (Heather Kemp) next at 4/1 and Lovely Day (Phil York) at 5/1. Kanga Gold (A Panman) was priced at 6/1 with Hitsfromtheblitz (Peter Bull) and Treasury Chief (Philip Andrew) both at 7/1. The remaining runners were priced at 10/1 and bigger.
Treasury Chief decided that today was not a racing day and planted himself at the start reducing the field to thirteen immediately. Master Shuil (Ben Bentley) was the early leader whilst Conna Court was starting to struggle from fence three. Walter Gee (R Tutton) was slow and deliberate over fence five which in turn hampered Georgie’s Grey resulting in Jody Sole loosing a battle with gravity to stay in the saddle. Walter Gee made a mistake at the sixth fence where Kanga Gold was also lucky to survive a blunder. Conna Court was pulled up at the seventh whilst Master Shuil continued to lead from Midleton Madness (Gordon Gallagher). Lovely Day made a mistake at the tenth where Midleton Madness took up the lead. Kanga Gold hit the twelfth whilst Caged Tiger and Man From Moscow (Philip Hall) both started to move through the field towards the front. Midleton Madness continued to lead Lovely Day down the final back straight with Caged Tiger and Man From Moscow chasing. Good Gordon also started to make up ground. With two fences to jump the race was open wide with Lovely Day, Midleton Madness and Man From Moscow together and Caged Tiger and Good Gordon just behind the leading trio. Lovely Day, Midleton Madness and Man From Moscow jumped together over the last but Lovely Day hit the top of the fence and unseated Phil York. Midleton Madness and Man From Moscow battled it out on the run in with Man From Moscow just able to get his head in front before the line. Caged Tiger and Good Gordon battled for third some way behind the leading duo and eventually dead heated

1st Man From Moscow Philip Hall 20/1
2nd Midleton Madness Gordon Gallagher 10/1
3rd = Caged Tiger Heather Kemp 4/1
3rd = Good Gordon Tom Cheesman 5/2 (Favourite)

Distances ½ length and 10 lengths Time: 6 mins 31 secs

The Raymond Briggs Esq. Open Maiden Race
Division 2

The second division saw Mister Trigger (James Owen) sent off the 2/1 favourite of the fourteen runners with All For A Reason (Emily Harbour) at 3/1, Boulliac (Ben Manning) 5/1, Flora Ana (Tom Cannon) 7/1 and Harbour Buoy (Philip Hall) and Young Emma both at 8/1. The remaining runners were priced at 10/1 and bigger.
The fourteen runners set off at a slower pace than the first division with All For A Reason the early leader and all fourteen runners jumping well over the first five fences. Marine Gunner (Fiona Hemphill) took up the lead at fence six. Harbour Buoy fell at fence seven bringing down Luteur Des Pictons (Gordon Gallagher). All For A Reason ploughed through fence nine unseating Emily Harbour whilst Jack Knappy (Alyce Fisher) was starting to get tailed off from the other remaining runners. Mister Trigger made a mistake a fence thirteen where Flora Ana was pulled up. At fence fourteen Boulliac made a mistake and Carmel Lyne (Ben Bentley) unseated. Phantoms Lair (Phil York) was the next casualty falling at fence fifteen where Young Emma was also pulled up. Marine Gunner continued to lead over fence sixteen where Jack Knappy was pulled up. Boulliac had joined Marine Gunner at the front at fence seventeen. Fence eighteen was bypassed due to the damage it sustained the circuit before with Marine Gunner and Boulliac stride for stride. Boulliac had gained the advantage on the approach to the last fence and jumped the last well despite the jockey having both feet out of the stirrups. Marine Gunner held onto second from Mister Trigger who finished well.

1st Boulliac Ben Manning 5/1
2nd Marine Gunner Fiona Hemphill 20/1
3rd Mister Trigger James Owen 2/1 (Favourite)
4th Peak Ruler Hannah Watson 4/1

only 5 finished

Distances 2 lengths and 3 lengths Time 6 mins 36 secs