Penshurst Race By Race 4th April 2009

Report by Nicola, Stephanie & Martyn Dean

Race 1: The Old Surrey, Burstow & West Kent Hunt Members, Subscribers & Farmers Race.

5 of the 7 possible runners were declared for the hunt race. Sheriff’s Friend (Hayley Moore) was sent off the 1/2 favourite with Satco’s Deception (Tom Cannon) next at Evens. The three remaining runners, Billie Bay (Jody Sole), Amaya Silva (Philip Hall) and Big Al (James Sarchet) were all sent off at 10/1.

Satco’s Deception led over the first fence followed by Big Al, Sheriff’s Friend, Amaya Silva and Billie Bay. Amaya Silva made a mistake at fence two and was moved through the field to dispute the lead at fence three. Sheriff’s Friend made a mistake at fence five and Hayley Moore was unseated, removing the favourite and reducing the field to four. Big Al moved into the lead after fence five followed by Satco’s Deception, Billie Bay and Amaya Silva. Amaya Silver got close into fence seven and started to lose ground on her three rivals. As the runners set out on their second circuit Big Al continued to lead and Billie Bay was starting to get closer to the action. Amaya Silva was pulled up at fence ten when detached leaving the other three to continue in a group together. Billie Bay made a mistake at fence fourteen losing some momentum and allowing Big Al and Satco’s Deception to steal a couple of lengths advantage. With two fences to jump Billie Bay was starting to get tailed off. Big Al continued to lead with Satco’s Deception just behind him. Big Al landed first over the last fence, Satco’s Deception started to gain ground on Big Al on the run in, but despite having led for much of the race Big Al had reserves of energy left and pulled away again on the approach to the line. Billie Bay continued to take third.

1st Big Al, James Sarchet 10/1
2nd Satco’s Deception, Tom Cannon Evens
3rd Billie Bay Jody Sole 10/1
Time 6 mins 50 secs Distances 1 ¼ lengths and a distance. Three finished.

Race 2: The Restricted Race.

A field of 7 went to post in the restricted race where Reymysterio (Georgina Andrews) was sent off the 5/2 favourite. Sironi (Marcus Gorman) was sent off at 3/1 and Detling maiden winner Boulliac (Ben Manning) was also popular at 7/2. Kingsun (Ed Grissell), Ten Horse Power (Kelly Smith) and Victor Victorious (Jessie Lodge) were all sent off at 7/1 whilst Some Story (Paul Blagg) was the outsider at 10/1.

Ten Horse Power was the early leader whilst Sironi was being held up by Marcus Gorman. The seven runners maintained an even pace throughout the first circuit and were all jumping well. They remained grouped together throughout the second circuit with Ten Horse Power leading from Reymysterio, Boulliac, Kingsun, Some Story, Sironi and Victor Victorious. Ten Horse Power made a mistake at the sixteenth fence allowing Reymysterio and Boulliac to move into the lead and to start to pull away from the other five runners. Sironi was urged to chase the leading pair and moved through the field. Approaching the penultimate fence, Reymysterio led from Boulliac and Sironi with Ten Horse Power and Kingsun also in contention. Sironi hit the penultimate fence and lost ground on his rivals. Reymysterio landed first over the last fence, but Boulliac landed full of running and caught Reymysterio on the run in and managed to just put his head in front before the winning post. Ten Horse Power ran on well from the penultimate fence to take third ahead of Kingsun who also finished well.

1st Boulliac, Ben Manning 7/2
2nd Reymysterio, Georgina Andrews 5/2 (Favourite)
3rd Ten Horse Power, Kelly Smith 7/1
4th Kingsun, Ed Grissell 7/1.
Time 6 mins 53 secs Distances ½ length and 1 length

Race 3: The South East Hunts Club Members Conditions Race.

11 runners went to post and the clear favourite for the race was Cape Stormer (Marcus Gorman) at 1/2. Parham winner Delgany Gale (Philip Hall) was next in the market at 5/2 with No Reward (Matthew Braxton) at 7/1 and Badgers Glory (Will Hickman) at 8/1. Duke Of Stradone (Andrew Braithwaite) and Ice And Soda (Peter Bull) were at 12/1 and the other five runners were all priced at 22/1.

The 11 runners set off in a group together with Sharlom (J Ackhurst) just the early leader with Cape Stormer and Dans Blarney (Giuseppe Gigantesco) just behind him. Delgany Gale was also close up and taking the inside line. Owenabue Valley (A Vadasz) made an error when at the back of the field at fence six (the open ditch) and was pulled up before fence seven, by which time Duke Of Stradone had moved through the field to lead from Sharlom and Cape Stormer. Ice And Soda made a mistake at fence seven. At fence ten Cape Stormer had moved up to take the lead and Marcus Gorman started to add some pace to the race. By fence thirteen, Badgers Glory, Ice And Soda and Choral Dream (J Batho) were starting to get detached as Cape Stormer led with Delgany Gale also moving through the field. Ice And Soda was slow over fence fifteen and was pulled up before fence sixteen. Cape Stormer continued to lead and had started to open up an advantage over his rivals No Reward (Matt Braxton), Delgany Gale, Dauphin Des Carres (Tom Cannon) and Dan’s Blarney who were in a group chasing behind him. Badgers Glory was pulled up at fence seventeen. Cape Stormer landed over the last fence clear of his rivals and was an easy winner of the race. No Reward also pulled clear on the run in to take second place ahead of his stable mate Delgany Gale who held onto third from Dans Blarney

1st Cape Stormer, Marcus Gorman 1/2 (Favourite)
2nd No Reward, Matt Braxton 7/1
3rd Delgany Gale, Philip Hall 5/2
4th Dans Blarney, Giuseppe Gigantesco 22/1
Time 6 mins 42 secs Distances 8 lengths and 9 lengths

Race 4: The Mens Open Race

6 runners were declared for the men’s open race which saw Parham winner Elenas River sent off the 6/4 favourite with Boy’s Hurrah (Phil York) also popular at 5/2 having opened at 8/1. Lord Atterbury (Stuart Robinson) was priced at 3/1 whilst Master T (Peter Bull) was 4/1, Glenbower Woods (Philip Hall) was 6/1 and Basic Fact (James Owen) was the outsider at 12/1.

Boy’s Hurrah was the leader over fence one followed by Lord Atterbury, Glenbower Woods, Basic Fact, Elenas River and Master T who was held at the back by Peter Bull. Boy’s Hurrah continued to lead throughout the first circuit setting a reasonable pace with 8 – 10 lengths separating first and last. The six runners all continued to jump well and had started to bunch up again at fence twelve where Boy’s Hurrah didn’t get very high and hit the fence hard. Master T made a mistake at fence fourteen when starting to make up places with Boy’s Hurrah continuing to lead. All six runners were together with four fences to jump. Master T and Basic Fact started to challenge Boy’s Hurrah at the sixteenth fence with Elenas River also moving through the field. Master T moved into the lead after the penultimate fence with Boy’s Hurrah and Basic Fact chasing after him. Master T jumped the last well and held off the challenge from Basic Fact on the run in.

1st Master T, Peter Bull 4/1
2nd Basic Fact, James Owen 12/1
3rd Boy’s Hurrah, Phil York 5/2
4th Elenas River, Kevin Dixon 6/4 (Favourite)
Time 6 mins 39 secs Distances 1½ lengths and 2½ lengths

Race 5: The Ladies Open Race

A field of 6 were also declared for the ladies open race. Carryonharry (Cynthia Haydon) was the bookies favourite at 4/5 with Tikram (Hannah Grissell) at 2/1. Detling winner Fantastic Champion (Jessie Lodge) was next in the market at 6/1 with Leatherback (Louise Allan) at 8/1 and both Brendar (Carly Stewart) and Bolero Éclair (Kelly Smith) at 12/1.

The ladies set off at a much faster pace with Carryonharry and Tikram leading over the first fence from Leatherback, Fantastic Champion, Bolero Éclair and Brendar who was settled at the rear. The six runners all jumped well throughout the first circuit until fence seven where Fantastic Champion was very slow and deliberate. As the six runners set out on their second circuit Carryonharry led, but all six runners were grouped together. At fence twelve Fantastic Champion made a mistake and lost places as Brendar and Bolero Éclair started to move up. Bolero Éclair hit the thirteenth (second open ditch) and unseated Kelly Smith leaving Tikram in front from Carryonharry, Leatherback, Brendar and Fantastic Champion. Tikram got in close to fence fourteen but put in a better jump at fence fifteen and started to pull away from his rivals. Carryonharry and Leatherback both gave chase but at the penultimate fence Tikram had a four length advantage. A good jump at the last from Tikram sealed the race whilst Carryonharry and Leatherback battled for second place with Leatherback taking second on the run in.

1st Tikram, Hannah Grissell 2/1
2nd Leatherback, Louise Allan 8/1
3rd Carryonharry, Cynthia Haydon 4/5 (Favourite)
4th Fantastic Champion, Jessie Lodge 6/1
Time 6 mins 37 secs Distance 3 lengths and 2 lengths

Race 6: The Open Maiden Race

A field of 9 were declared for the final race of the day. Dane Run (Tom Ellis) was sent off the 7/4 favourite with Kanga Gold (A Panman) at 3/1 and Phantoms Lair (Phil York) and Heynewboy (D Turner) both at 4/1. The other five runners were all priced at 12/1 and bigger.

There was drama before the start of the race as Mad Genius (Ben Manning) spooked on the way to the start and unseated. As Mad Genius made his way to the start riderless, paramedics were called to assess Ben. Mad Genius was caught at the start, but the horse was withdrawn by the jockey who had taken a couple of knocks when unseated.

The eight remaining runners set off at a slow pace with Kanga Gold taking the early lead from Unfair Dismissal (James Owen), Dane Run, Golding Hop (Chris Thomson), Phantoms Lair, Master Shuil (H Miller), Heynewboy and Young Emma (Peter Bull). The eight runners jumped well over the first three fences, but a mistake at the fourth saw Phantoms Lair fall. Dane Run moved up to take the lead at fence five and the seven left in the race all continued to jump well and were tightly grouped together as they continued. At fence ten, Golding Hop had moved up to join Dane Run at the front of the field with Heynewboy sitting just behind them. Kanga Gold had dropped back through the field and made a mistake at the twelfth when last and Young Emma was also struggling. Master Shuil hit the fourteenth and lost some momentum. Heynewboy moved into the lead at fence fifteen but Dane Run and Golding Hop both gave chase. Dane Run and Heynewboy were together again by the penultimate fence whilst Golding Hop was dropping back and Master Shuil was moving up through the remaining runners, but was several lengths off of the leading pair. At the last fence Heynewboy and Dane Run were together, Dane Run put in a much better jump whilst Heynewboy hit the fence. This allowed Dane Run to pull away on landing and to take the race from Heynewboy. Golding Hop was pulled up before the last allowing Master Shuil to take third with Kanga Gold continuing for fourth.

1st Dane Run, Tom Ellis 7/4 (Favourite)
2nd Heynewboy ,D Turner 4/1
3rd Master Shuil, H Miller 12/1
4th Kanga Gold, Miss A Panman 3/1
Time 7 mins 4 secs Distances 3½ lengths and 7 lengths