SUFFOLK, AMPTON, SUNDAY MARCH 12

 

A thrilling dead-heat in the final race meant that David Kemp registered his first ever four-timer at the Suffolk Point-To-Point at Ampton on Sunday.

 

Kemp, from Kilverstone, near Thetford, both trained and rode all four winners, taking his tally for the year to nine.

 

The spree began when Bard of Drumcoo responded to an aggressive front-running ride in the Confined Race, staying on three-quarters of a length too strongly for the doughty veteran, Royal Action.

 

Bard of Drumcoo was forced to miss last season because of a minor tendon injury and has steadily been brought back to fitness this term. AWe were delighted with his third place at Horseheath last month and decided to get his to make the running today, as he loves to bowl along in front,@ revealed Malcolm Kemp, David=s father.

 

The next two legs of the quartet were rarely in doubt as first Deckie sauntered home a distance clear of his Men=s Open rivals, then Young Lord was similarly dominant in the Restricted Race.

 

Deckie has become rather wilful at home since becoming East Anglia=s Champion Open Race Horse in 2005. Owner Fleur Hawes, from Bressingham, near Diss, reported: AHe has been refusing to go on the gallops, but as soon as you take him somewhere that he doesn=t usually canter he=s off like a shot.@

 

Her husband, Walter, jokingly added: AThey have been taking him to the beach, hunting him and taking him swimming...I reckon they=ll be taking him to the cinema next!@

 

Young Lord is the most injury-prone horse in the Kemp yard, as David=s mother, Celia, revealed: AHe was lame a week ago. But we treated him with the works - you name it, he had it - and he had come right by Tuesday.@

 

So the first three victories were in the bag, meaning that David had the third treble of his career. But the fourth triumph was a real nail-biter, so much so that the judge could not split Kemp=s mount, Something=s Up, and Lightningconductor in the Maiden Race.

 

Something=s Up kicked for home early on the final circuit, only to be hampered by a loose horse. Lightningconductor drew level approaching the last fence and the pair fought out a battle royal up the run-in.

 

 

The result was a great fillip for Something=s Up=s owner, Brian Cross, from Gressenhall, near Dereham, who is recovering from brain cancer. It also completed a good day for Lightningconductor=s jockey, Matt Mackley, who had earlier received the Jockey Of The Month Award for February.

 

The Ladies= Open produced another stunning finish which saw Village Copper, ridden by Thelnetham=s Amy Stennett, touch off Bush Hill Bandit by a head.

 

This was a first win of the season for Glemsford trainer Ruth Hayter, and a first since the same race in 2003 for Village Copper, who is 14 years of age. AIt has come down to the oldest horse in the yard to win me a race,@ joked an overjoyed Hayter. AHe=s my hunter and my hack and nursemaids all the babies.@

 

A highly competitive Hunt Race witnessed a pillar-to-post win for the moody but talented Cosmic Sky, who twice thought about stopping at the fence next to the horsebox park before going on to score for Great Hockham owner-breeder Major Richard Wilson, East Wretham trainer Robert Abrey and Wymondham jockey Rupert Stearn.

 

 

RESULTS

GOING: GOOD TO SOFT

Race One (Members' Race): 1 R Abrey, Major and Mrs R Wilson's Cosmic Sky (Suffolk) (R Stearn), 2 T Bryce's Lord Valnic (Suffolk) (M Mackley), 3 J M Turner's Kicasso (Suffolk) (J Owen). Also: Madmidge (4), Gatchou Mans (5), Fair Exchange (6). Five lengths, three lengths. 6.37. W £5.60. SP 8-1 (Lord Valnic 6-4 fav).

Race Two (Confined Race): 1 Mr and Mrs J Ridge's Bard Of Drumco (Suffolk) (D Kemp), 2 A Chinery's Royal Action (East Essex) (P Chinery), 3 W J Tolhurst and Punta's Pals' Punta Cana (Essex and Suffolk) (A Merriam). Also: Avalon Buck (4), Rocja (5), Damp Course (6), Sir William Wallace (7), Hailstone (pu), Infidel (pu), Jungle Juice (pu), Runningwiththemoon (pu). Three lengths, five lengths. 6.41. W £4. SP 5-2 fav (Punta Cana evens fav).

Race Three (Ladies Open Race): 1 A Howland-Jackson's Village Copper (Suffolk) (Miss A Stennett), 2 Ms A-M Hays' Bush Hill Bandit (Thurlow) (Ms A Embiricos), 3 J M Turner's Leatherback (Suffolk) (Miss Z Turner). Also: Fami (4), Ojays Alibi (pu), Society Scandel (pu). Head, five lengths. 6.37. W £10. SP 16-1 (Fami 5-4 fav).

Race Four (Men's Open Race): 1 Mrs F Hawes' Deckie (Suffolk) (D Kemp), 2 J M Turner's Black Frost (Suffolk) (J Owen), 3 Mr and Mrs M Ward's Quality First (Granta) (M Mackley). Also: Philson Warrior (4), Tap The Father (5), McAttack (pu). Distance, three lengths. 6.36. W £2. SP evens fav.

Race Five (Restricted Race): 1 Mrs C Kemp's Young Lord (Suffolk) (D Kemp), 2 J M Turner's John The Mole (Suffolk) (J Owen), 3 J Glenister and Miss E Holby's On The Day (Granta) (M Mackley). Also: Lyric Maestro (4), Captive (f), Catch A Tartar (pu), Skirmishing (pu), Waterliner (bd). Distance, 20 lengths. 6.44. W £1.40. SP 1-2 fav.

Race Six (Open Maiden Race): 1 dead heat - C Sporborg and H Hill's Lightning Conductor (Puckeridge) (M Mackley) and Mr and Mrs B Cross' Something's Up (Suffolk) (D Kemp), 3 D Claydon and Mrs P Twinn's Mai Cure (R Morgan-Evans). Also: Absolutely Barking (4), Lanicene (5), Combe Castle (6), Alfie Moon (su), Classy Clarence (pu), Corkscrew King (pu), Coverdale (pu), Homeleigh Meadow (pu), Moss Campian (pu), Spinosa (pu), Tartar Rose (ur), We Got Him (pu). Dead heat, five lengths. 6.49. W £2.60. SP Lightning Conductor 5-2, Something's Up 7-2, Absolutely Barking 2-1 fav.

Pony Race One (East Anglian Pony Race - 13.2hh and under): 1 Mrs J Andrews' Artic Annie (Cambs with Enfield Chace) (Miss Bridget Andrews), 2 Mrs S Allsopp's Ardenhall Jazz (Fitzwilliam) (Miss Allsop, 3 Mrs J Rattray's Oscar (Fernie) (Miss Georgina Davies). Also: Poppy (4), Dusty, Everkerry Good Fortune, Joany, Merrylegs. Two lengths, 20 lengths.

Pony Race Two (East Anglian Pony Race - 14.2hh and under): 1 Mrs J Andrews' Pepsi (Cambs with Enfield Chace) (Miss Georgina Andrews), 2 Mrs H Dalton's Adrian Pride (Albrighton) (Miss Annabel Dalton), 3 M Slender's Sparkling Destany (Fitzwilliam) (Miss Shannon Slender). Also: Nacona Shafali (4), Bonnie Safira, Hero, Liddmarsh La Luna, Talponciau High Society. Head, three lengths.

ENDS