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CAMBRIDGESHIRE WITH ENFIELD CHACE, HORSEHEATH, SATURDAY FEBRUARY 5
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Report
An incident-packed Men's Open Race, featuring the odds-on favourite left at the start, a stewards enquiry and a runaway leader who never got caught, was the highlight of a brilliant Cambridgeshire with Enfield Chace Point-To-Point at Horseheath on Saturday.
The course was in immaculate condition and, with the ground described as 'perfect' by many of the jockeys, the racing proved to be both exciting and of a high standard.
Cantarinho was the red hot favourite for the Men's Open but, after a false start, he whipped around when the starter finally let them go and, to compound the situation, found top jockey Richard Burton determined to make it a searching test of stamina by setting a strong pace aboard An Capall Dubh.
So much so that Burton's mount was fully a fence clear with a circuit to run, by which time Cantarinho was safely ensconced in the chasing pack.
Cantarinho looked held when blundering through the last, prompting pilot David kemp to pull him up, and, at this stage, An Capall Dubh appeared to be tiring in front and seemed sure to be overhauled.
Yet when Swincombe threw down a challenge coming to the final fence, An Capall Dubh pulled out a bit extra and the Shropshire raider maintained a one length advantage all the way to the line.The stewards looked into the running of Cantarinho, but Kemp explained that his chances had been compromised and by the ragged start and thought that his mount might have been injured when he made his late mistake.
This explanation was accepted and, thankfully, Canarinho appeared none the worse for his exertions and remains an intended runner in next month's Cheltenham Foxhunters.
George Cooper, from Reydon, near Hadleigh, moved to the joint top of the East Anglian jockeys' title table when the highly-promising Monarch Ruler collected the Restricted Race to take his 2005 tally to two.
All the better for his reappearance at Ampton three weeks earlier, Monarch Ruler hit the front three fences from home and stayed on strongly to beat Teetonn Fizz by ten lengths, leaving his veteran rider, who also bred the son of Be My Chief, to exclaim: "I couldn't pull him up, he was so strong at the finish!"
Cooper's moment of glory at head of the championship was brief, as Alex Merriam landed a double at Godstone on Sunday to take his score to four.
Catch On's triumph in the Young Horse Maiden was the most popular of the day as it was the first time that Josie Sheppard, from near Royston, had visited the winner's enclosure since her husband, Gurney, died 18 months ago.
Catch On, whom the Sheppards bought as a foal back in 1998, drew ten lengths clear of Erris Express up the punishing final climb and jockey Paul Taiano was adamant that this Safety Catch gelding will be even better on softer ground.
Another young horse to follow is Denvale, who shrugged off his 11 rivals with contemptuous ease in the Dodson & Horrell PPORA Race. Now the winner of his last three starts, the seven-year-old will be sent Hunter Chasing by his Northamptonshire trainer, Caroline Bailey.
The Ladies' Open developed into a terrific duel between Highland Rose and Step And Run, with the latter coming out on top by a length to make it a winning first visit to the course for the West Midlands mother and daughter trainer-jockey combination of Diana and James Williams.
There was further success for the long distance travellers when Northall Lad, trained in Buckinghamshire by Richard Webb and ridden by Paul Cowley, saw off the front-running Gibraltar Bill by five lengths in the Older Horse Maiden.
Finally, there has been plenty of talk about the uncompetitive nature of Members Races and the negative impression they can leave.
However, few could fail to have been excited by the Members contest on Saturday as General Confusion, Master Club Royal and Ruperts Choice fought out a thrilling finish.
General Confusion, trained near Luton by Simon Andrews and ridden by Tim Lane, came out on top by two necks to follow up his success in the same race 12 months earlier.
The course was in immaculate condition and, with the ground described as 'perfect' by many of the jockeys, the racing proved to be both exciting and of a high standard.
Cantarinho was the red hot favourite for the Men's Open but, after a false start, he whipped around when the starter finally let them go and, to compound the situation, found top jockey Richard Burton determined to make it a searching test of stamina by setting a strong pace aboard An Capall Dubh.
So much so that Burton's mount was fully a fence clear with a circuit to run, by which time Cantarinho was safely ensconced in the chasing pack.
Cantarinho looked held when blundering through the last, prompting pilot David kemp to pull him up, and, at this stage, An Capall Dubh appeared to be tiring in front and seemed sure to be overhauled.
Yet when Swincombe threw down a challenge coming to the final fence, An Capall Dubh pulled out a bit extra and the Shropshire raider maintained a one length advantage all the way to the line.The stewards looked into the running of Cantarinho, but Kemp explained that his chances had been compromised and by the ragged start and thought that his mount might have been injured when he made his late mistake.
This explanation was accepted and, thankfully, Canarinho appeared none the worse for his exertions and remains an intended runner in next month's Cheltenham Foxhunters.
George Cooper, from Reydon, near Hadleigh, moved to the joint top of the East Anglian jockeys' title table when the highly-promising Monarch Ruler collected the Restricted Race to take his 2005 tally to two.
All the better for his reappearance at Ampton three weeks earlier, Monarch Ruler hit the front three fences from home and stayed on strongly to beat Teetonn Fizz by ten lengths, leaving his veteran rider, who also bred the son of Be My Chief, to exclaim: "I couldn't pull him up, he was so strong at the finish!"
Cooper's moment of glory at head of the championship was brief, as Alex Merriam landed a double at Godstone on Sunday to take his score to four.
Catch On's triumph in the Young Horse Maiden was the most popular of the day as it was the first time that Josie Sheppard, from near Royston, had visited the winner's enclosure since her husband, Gurney, died 18 months ago.
Catch On, whom the Sheppards bought as a foal back in 1998, drew ten lengths clear of Erris Express up the punishing final climb and jockey Paul Taiano was adamant that this Safety Catch gelding will be even better on softer ground.
Another young horse to follow is Denvale, who shrugged off his 11 rivals with contemptuous ease in the Dodson & Horrell PPORA Race. Now the winner of his last three starts, the seven-year-old will be sent Hunter Chasing by his Northamptonshire trainer, Caroline Bailey.
The Ladies' Open developed into a terrific duel between Highland Rose and Step And Run, with the latter coming out on top by a length to make it a winning first visit to the course for the West Midlands mother and daughter trainer-jockey combination of Diana and James Williams.
There was further success for the long distance travellers when Northall Lad, trained in Buckinghamshire by Richard Webb and ridden by Paul Cowley, saw off the front-running Gibraltar Bill by five lengths in the Older Horse Maiden.
Finally, there has been plenty of talk about the uncompetitive nature of Members Races and the negative impression they can leave.
However, few could fail to have been excited by the Members contest on Saturday as General Confusion, Master Club Royal and Ruperts Choice fought out a thrilling finish.
General Confusion, trained near Luton by Simon Andrews and ridden by Tim Lane, came out on top by two necks to follow up his success in the same race 12 months earlier.
Results
Race One (Horseheath Hunts Members Race):
1 Miss B Czepulkowski's General Confusion (Cambs with Enfield Chace) (T Lane),
2 M Bailey's Master Club Royal (Thurlow) (owner),
3 A Harvey's Ruperts Choice (Puckeridge) (A Braithwaite). Also: Redouble (4), Holywell Girl (5), Good Vintage (6).
Neck, neck. 6.41. W £2.90. DF £5.30. SP 9-2 (Holywell Girl 7-4 fav).
Race Two (Open Maiden Race, 5, 6 and 7-year-olds):
1 Mrs M G Sheppard's Catch On (Cambs with Enfield Chace) (P Taiano),
2 H Hobson's Erris Express (Puckeridge) (S Salmon),
3 J Ridge's Fiftiesonfire (Suffolk) (D Kemp). Also: Pernickity King (4), Hasty Boris (5), Fergal's Find (6), Highland Vasco (7), Another Sunday (pu), Cowanstown King (f), Egberts Army (pu), John The Mole (pu), Sparkling Jess (pu), Two P's (pu), Willow Ryde (ur).
Ten lengths, head. 6.38. W £4.20. DF £1.50 (winner with any other horse). SP 7-2 (Fiftiesonfire 5-2 fav).
Race Three (PPORA Members' Race):
1 Mr and Mrs A Hurn's Denvale (Pytchley) (R Cope),
2 J Beasley's Airoski (Albrighton) (R Burton), Mrs A Wales and D Wales' Ardkilly Warrior (West Norfolk) (N Bloom). Also: Runningwiththemoon (4), Eurobob (5), Buckland Bobby (6), Castle Road (pu), Gangster (pu), Holy Moses (ur), Tod's Brother (ur), Waterloo Leader (pu), Westfield John (pu).
Ten lengths, 20 lengths. 6.27. W ££.40. DF £6.10. SP 2-1 fav.
Race Four (Men's Open Race):
1 D Pugh's An Capall Dubh (North Shropshire) (R Burton),
2 Mrs H Alwen and Mrs K Digweed's Swincombe (East Sussex and Romney Marsh) (A Hickman),
3 R Neal's Tribal Run (Grafton) (S Morris). Also: Teeton Priceless (4), Dunmanus Bay (5), Cantarinho (pu), Cross River (ur), Lord Valnic (pu), Springwood White (pu).
One length, 20 lengths. 6.24. W £20.60. DF £3.10 (winner with any other horse). SP 8-1 (Cantarinho 4-7 fav).
Race Five (Ladies' Open Race):
1 Mr and Mrs P Williams' Step And Run (Albrighton Woodland) (Miss J Williams),
2 Mr and Mrs S Embiricos' Highland Rose (CUDH) (Ms A Embiricos),
3 J Blencowe and Miss N McKim's Owen's Pet (Farmers Bloodhounds) (Miss T McKim). Also: Damp Course (4), Bally Stone (5), Cool Venture (6), Left Bank (7), Macfin (8), Fair Exchange (pu), Lanters Leader (ur), Mister Audi (pu), Mustang Molly (pu), Returned Un Paid (pu), Wilton Bridge (ur).
One length, 15 lengths. 6.25. W £3.80. DF £4.70. SP 2-1 fav.
Race Six (Restricted Race):
1 G Cooper's Monarch Ruler (Essex Farmers and Union) (owner),
2 Mrs J M Tice's Teeton Fizz (Pytchley) (N Pearce),
3 Mrs J Arnold's Ballyhackmore (North Cotswold) (E Walker). Also: Judge Reilly (4), Balau (ur), Federal Case (f), Hi Tech Man (pu), Kupto (pu), Persian Silk (f).
Ten lengths, neck. 6.33. W £2.70. DF £3.90. SP 2-1 fav.
Race Seven (Open Maiden Race, eight-year-olds and over):
1 G and J Cook with Willoughby Racing Partnership's Northall Lad (Farmers Bloodhounds) (P Cowley),
2 J Bailey's Gibraltar Bill (Warwickshire) (T Ellis),
3 J Pennells' Badgers Glory (East Sussex and Romney Marsh) (P Hall). Also: Abbey Days (pu), Baron Halebop (pu), Epop (pu), Izzuthefox (pu), Lester Lingo (pu), Miss Rennenski (ur), Sealed Orders (pu).
Five lengths, a distance. 6.39. W £3.10. DF £6.40. SP 5-4 fav.
1 Miss B Czepulkowski's General Confusion (Cambs with Enfield Chace) (T Lane),
2 M Bailey's Master Club Royal (Thurlow) (owner),
3 A Harvey's Ruperts Choice (Puckeridge) (A Braithwaite). Also: Redouble (4), Holywell Girl (5), Good Vintage (6).
Neck, neck. 6.41. W £2.90. DF £5.30. SP 9-2 (Holywell Girl 7-4 fav).
Race Two (Open Maiden Race, 5, 6 and 7-year-olds):
1 Mrs M G Sheppard's Catch On (Cambs with Enfield Chace) (P Taiano),
2 H Hobson's Erris Express (Puckeridge) (S Salmon),
3 J Ridge's Fiftiesonfire (Suffolk) (D Kemp). Also: Pernickity King (4), Hasty Boris (5), Fergal's Find (6), Highland Vasco (7), Another Sunday (pu), Cowanstown King (f), Egberts Army (pu), John The Mole (pu), Sparkling Jess (pu), Two P's (pu), Willow Ryde (ur).
Ten lengths, head. 6.38. W £4.20. DF £1.50 (winner with any other horse). SP 7-2 (Fiftiesonfire 5-2 fav).
Race Three (PPORA Members' Race):
1 Mr and Mrs A Hurn's Denvale (Pytchley) (R Cope),
2 J Beasley's Airoski (Albrighton) (R Burton), Mrs A Wales and D Wales' Ardkilly Warrior (West Norfolk) (N Bloom). Also: Runningwiththemoon (4), Eurobob (5), Buckland Bobby (6), Castle Road (pu), Gangster (pu), Holy Moses (ur), Tod's Brother (ur), Waterloo Leader (pu), Westfield John (pu).
Ten lengths, 20 lengths. 6.27. W ££.40. DF £6.10. SP 2-1 fav.
Race Four (Men's Open Race):
1 D Pugh's An Capall Dubh (North Shropshire) (R Burton),
2 Mrs H Alwen and Mrs K Digweed's Swincombe (East Sussex and Romney Marsh) (A Hickman),
3 R Neal's Tribal Run (Grafton) (S Morris). Also: Teeton Priceless (4), Dunmanus Bay (5), Cantarinho (pu), Cross River (ur), Lord Valnic (pu), Springwood White (pu).
One length, 20 lengths. 6.24. W £20.60. DF £3.10 (winner with any other horse). SP 8-1 (Cantarinho 4-7 fav).
Race Five (Ladies' Open Race):
1 Mr and Mrs P Williams' Step And Run (Albrighton Woodland) (Miss J Williams),
2 Mr and Mrs S Embiricos' Highland Rose (CUDH) (Ms A Embiricos),
3 J Blencowe and Miss N McKim's Owen's Pet (Farmers Bloodhounds) (Miss T McKim). Also: Damp Course (4), Bally Stone (5), Cool Venture (6), Left Bank (7), Macfin (8), Fair Exchange (pu), Lanters Leader (ur), Mister Audi (pu), Mustang Molly (pu), Returned Un Paid (pu), Wilton Bridge (ur).
One length, 15 lengths. 6.25. W £3.80. DF £4.70. SP 2-1 fav.
Race Six (Restricted Race):
1 G Cooper's Monarch Ruler (Essex Farmers and Union) (owner),
2 Mrs J M Tice's Teeton Fizz (Pytchley) (N Pearce),
3 Mrs J Arnold's Ballyhackmore (North Cotswold) (E Walker). Also: Judge Reilly (4), Balau (ur), Federal Case (f), Hi Tech Man (pu), Kupto (pu), Persian Silk (f).
Ten lengths, neck. 6.33. W £2.70. DF £3.90. SP 2-1 fav.
Race Seven (Open Maiden Race, eight-year-olds and over):
1 G and J Cook with Willoughby Racing Partnership's Northall Lad (Farmers Bloodhounds) (P Cowley),
2 J Bailey's Gibraltar Bill (Warwickshire) (T Ellis),
3 J Pennells' Badgers Glory (East Sussex and Romney Marsh) (P Hall). Also: Abbey Days (pu), Baron Halebop (pu), Epop (pu), Izzuthefox (pu), Lester Lingo (pu), Miss Rennenski (ur), Sealed Orders (pu).
Five lengths, a distance. 6.39. W £3.10. DF £6.40. SP 5-4 fav.
