WEST NORFOLK, FAKENHAM, SUNDAY APRIL 10
GOOD (GOOD TO FIRM IN PLACES)
Report
Trainer Fleur Hawes, from Bressingham, took the plaudits at a sun-drenched West Norfolk Point-To-Point at Fakenham on Sunday with an Open race double.
First she saddled Star Double to make every yard of the running and hold off the late thrust of Rare Gold in the Mens Open. Then, 30 minutes later, she was able to watch Scotland Yard atone for his dismal effort when finishing last at Brafied two weeks earlier by recording a three length success in the Ladies’ equivalent.
Star Double was a spare ride for Sharrington’s Ben Rivett, who took his chance with aplomb, getting Star Double into a good rhythm in front but keeping enough up his sleeve to repel Rare Gold by a length.
Star Double is owned by Fraser Duffin, from Diss, who also has a share in Scotland Yard. A 16th winner of a superb season for Gina Andrews, Scotland Yard took up the running early on the final circuit and never allowed the chasing favourite, Assassino, to get on terms.
“The ground beat him at Brafield last time,” Andrews asserted. “It was much too soft for him, he couldn’t get his feet out of it, it was sticky and horrible.”
Jo Turner, who trains Assassino at Ampton, near Bury St Edmunds, was on the mark earlier when Bavard Court, ridden by Louise Allan, survived some alarming jumping errors to lift the Restricted Race by five lengths.
Allan, from Newmarket, who was equalling her beat ever seasonal tally of eight, said: “Bavard Court is small and cheeky and is only a five-year-old. Some days he doesn’t want to know but he still has plenty of time to mature.”
Trainer Nigel Bloom, from Wymondham, was responsible for the third-placed beaten favourite in the Men’s Open, Caveman, who as expected found Fakenham’s tight turns not to his liking.
However, Bloom, together with Caveman’s owner, Countess Cathcart, and her jockey son, George Greenock, had enjoyed better luck previously when Rockfield showed a hitherto hidden determination to land the Members Race.
Rockfield, who was described by Bloom as ‘usually the politest horse in racing - he lets others go first’, made much of the running but his hopes looked forlorn when Toe To Hand swept into a five-length lead.
But Toe To Hand’s stamina ran out in the closing stages allowing Rockfield to get back up and score by three-quarters of a length to give Greenock a particularly sweet victory given that he has just recovered from a painful attack of kidney stones.
George Cooper, from Raydon near Hadleigh, was once a high class jockey and has been training pointers for some years. He has now discovered another string to his bow as a breeder - the Maiden winner, Midnight Ruler, was the third progeny of Cooper’s mare, Springlark, to win in East Anglia in the last two seasons.
Partnered by Rupert Stearn, from Wymondham, Midnight Ruler got her head in front for the first time following a pair of second places with a four length defeat of Bloom’s Omme Antique.
Finally, jockey Dale Peters, from Sawtry, near Peterborough, teamed up with his father, Michael, to land the PPORA Club Members race with Carapuce.
First she saddled Star Double to make every yard of the running and hold off the late thrust of Rare Gold in the Mens Open. Then, 30 minutes later, she was able to watch Scotland Yard atone for his dismal effort when finishing last at Brafied two weeks earlier by recording a three length success in the Ladies’ equivalent.
Star Double was a spare ride for Sharrington’s Ben Rivett, who took his chance with aplomb, getting Star Double into a good rhythm in front but keeping enough up his sleeve to repel Rare Gold by a length.
Star Double is owned by Fraser Duffin, from Diss, who also has a share in Scotland Yard. A 16th winner of a superb season for Gina Andrews, Scotland Yard took up the running early on the final circuit and never allowed the chasing favourite, Assassino, to get on terms.
“The ground beat him at Brafield last time,” Andrews asserted. “It was much too soft for him, he couldn’t get his feet out of it, it was sticky and horrible.”
Jo Turner, who trains Assassino at Ampton, near Bury St Edmunds, was on the mark earlier when Bavard Court, ridden by Louise Allan, survived some alarming jumping errors to lift the Restricted Race by five lengths.
Allan, from Newmarket, who was equalling her beat ever seasonal tally of eight, said: “Bavard Court is small and cheeky and is only a five-year-old. Some days he doesn’t want to know but he still has plenty of time to mature.”
Trainer Nigel Bloom, from Wymondham, was responsible for the third-placed beaten favourite in the Men’s Open, Caveman, who as expected found Fakenham’s tight turns not to his liking.
However, Bloom, together with Caveman’s owner, Countess Cathcart, and her jockey son, George Greenock, had enjoyed better luck previously when Rockfield showed a hitherto hidden determination to land the Members Race.
Rockfield, who was described by Bloom as ‘usually the politest horse in racing - he lets others go first’, made much of the running but his hopes looked forlorn when Toe To Hand swept into a five-length lead.
But Toe To Hand’s stamina ran out in the closing stages allowing Rockfield to get back up and score by three-quarters of a length to give Greenock a particularly sweet victory given that he has just recovered from a painful attack of kidney stones.
George Cooper, from Raydon near Hadleigh, was once a high class jockey and has been training pointers for some years. He has now discovered another string to his bow as a breeder - the Maiden winner, Midnight Ruler, was the third progeny of Cooper’s mare, Springlark, to win in East Anglia in the last two seasons.
Partnered by Rupert Stearn, from Wymondham, Midnight Ruler got her head in front for the first time following a pair of second places with a four length defeat of Bloom’s Omme Antique.
Finally, jockey Dale Peters, from Sawtry, near Peterborough, teamed up with his father, Michael, to land the PPORA Club Members race with Carapuce.
Results
Hunt Members
1. Rockfield (George Greenock) 8/1
2. Toe To Hand (Gina Andrews) 6/1
3. Desert Secrets (Carey Williamson) 6/1
Time: 6m 26s Margins: ¾, 8 7 ran (Mill Five Acre 7/4 fav, 6th)
PPORA Club Members
1. Carapuce (Dale Peters) 4/1
2. Broken Beau (Ed Turner) 7/2
3. Thatmakestwoofus (Bridget Andrews) 10/11 Fav
Time: 6m 15s Margins: 1, 4 6 ran
Restricted Race
1. Bavard Court (Louise Allan) 9/2
2. Batalov (Gina Andrews) 3/1 Fav
3. The Legal Limit (Dale Peters) 8/1
Time: 6m 14s Margins: 4, 20 8 ran (Ivans Back 7/4 Fav, 4th)
Mens Open
1. Star Double (Ben Rivett) 7/1
2. Rare Gold (Dale Peters) 3/1
3. Caveman (George Greenock) Evens Fav
Time: 6m 17s Margins: 1, 2 7 ran
Ladies Open
1. Scotland Yard (Gina Andrews) 3/1
2. Assassino (Louise Allan) 1/2 Fav
3. Mountain Emperor (Bridget Andrews) 5/1
Time: 6m 16s Margins: 5, 15 4 ran
Maiden
1. Midnight Ruler (Rupert Stearn) 5/2 Fav
2. Omme Antique (Gina Andrews) 7/2
3. Lord Francois (Robert Macdowell) 5/1
Time: 6m 20s Margins: 4, distance 9 ran
1. Rockfield (George Greenock) 8/1
2. Toe To Hand (Gina Andrews) 6/1
3. Desert Secrets (Carey Williamson) 6/1
Time: 6m 26s Margins: ¾, 8 7 ran (Mill Five Acre 7/4 fav, 6th)
PPORA Club Members
1. Carapuce (Dale Peters) 4/1
2. Broken Beau (Ed Turner) 7/2
3. Thatmakestwoofus (Bridget Andrews) 10/11 Fav
Time: 6m 15s Margins: 1, 4 6 ran
Restricted Race
1. Bavard Court (Louise Allan) 9/2
2. Batalov (Gina Andrews) 3/1 Fav
3. The Legal Limit (Dale Peters) 8/1
Time: 6m 14s Margins: 4, 20 8 ran (Ivans Back 7/4 Fav, 4th)
Mens Open
1. Star Double (Ben Rivett) 7/1
2. Rare Gold (Dale Peters) 3/1
3. Caveman (George Greenock) Evens Fav
Time: 6m 17s Margins: 1, 2 7 ran
Ladies Open
1. Scotland Yard (Gina Andrews) 3/1
2. Assassino (Louise Allan) 1/2 Fav
3. Mountain Emperor (Bridget Andrews) 5/1
Time: 6m 16s Margins: 5, 15 4 ran
Maiden
1. Midnight Ruler (Rupert Stearn) 5/2 Fav
2. Omme Antique (Gina Andrews) 7/2
3. Lord Francois (Robert Macdowell) 5/1
Time: 6m 20s Margins: 4, distance 9 ran
Pony Racing
138cm and under Pony Race
1. Sebastian (Honor Whyte)
2. So Lord (Georgina Friswell)
3. Charlie (Edward Twinn)
Margins: hd, hd 3 ran
148cm and under Pony Race
1. Doppio Moviemento (Charlotte Wyatt)
2. Fitzwarren (India Taylor)
3. Soulbury Island God (Edward Twinn)
Margins: 20, 6 7 ran
1. Sebastian (Honor Whyte)
2. So Lord (Georgina Friswell)
3. Charlie (Edward Twinn)
Margins: hd, hd 3 ran
148cm and under Pony Race
1. Doppio Moviemento (Charlotte Wyatt)
2. Fitzwarren (India Taylor)
3. Soulbury Island God (Edward Twinn)
Margins: 20, 6 7 ran
