Adventures by Tony Burns

 

Tablo reader up chevron

Chapter 1

As at the time there was no Google, everybody waited for spring-like conditions at the West Somerset Hunt & Minehead Harriers point-to-point meeting at Holnicote on Saturday. The highlights were first-ever trebles for rider Dominic Alers-Hankey, taking his season’s tally to nine – and for Mendip trainer Caroline Keevil, taking her score to 11 in what is already her best season.

Dominic took the opening Hunt Members race on Cool Wager, who led three out for a repeat of last year’s success. Cool Wager is owned by farmer Robert Pudd and his wife Hilary “Tigger” Pudd, who trains the horse at their Pyleigh home. Tigger bred both Cool Wager and his dam, Gamblingway, who won a point-to-point at Flete Park in 1987 ridden by current leading National Hunt trainer, Venetia Williams. Tigger also bred high class Northern Hunter Chaser Sikander A Azam.

Dominic immediately doubled up when the Caroline Keevil-trained Westbourne made all the running in Division 1 of the Confined Maiden. Westbourne races for Pontispool owners Lucy Fielding-Johnson and Richard Mitford-Slade, who bought the horse out of Alan King’s yard last spring after their Rocastle Lad had been killed at Cothelstone. Caroline also took Division 2 when Dawn Silk made a winning debut under Jamie Snowden. Dawn Silk carries the famous yellow and red “Double Silk” colours of Litton owner Reg Wilkins, who bought the horse unbroken from Aidan Murphy last February. Interestingly, this was Reg’s first point-to-point winner since Double Thriller won the prestigious Lady Dudley Cup at Chaddesley Corbett in 1997.

The Ladies’ Open went to Saint Romble and Katherine Hobbs, 18, who made much of the running and just held the late challenge of Sir D’Orton and Charlotte Tizzard. Saint Romble is owned by Katherine’s mother Sarah and trained by father Philip at Bilbrook near Minehead. This was Saint Romble’s third win of the season and he could be a candidate for the National Leading Horse Award for winning the most races in the 2005 season.

Dominic Alers-Hankey and Caroline Keevil completed their trebles in the Wessex Area Feature Race, the 11-runner Men’s Open, when Mike O’Connor’s Springford was a comfortable winner from Ben Dixon’s Dean Of Devon, with pacesetter Opal’lou in third. “The King” of the Keevil yard, Springford probably found the ground softer than ideal, and will now campaign in hunter chases when conditions – right-handed course, fast ground – are in his favour.

The Novice Riders Intermediate race went to Earl’s Toy, who got up close home to give 16-year-old Sherborne schoolboy George Fry a second career win. Earl’s Toy is one of four horses owned and trained at Halstock by George’s parents, Richard and Caroline. George’s brother Harry is recovering from a broken ankle sustained on the gallops and hopes to return to school at Sherborne next week.

The closing Restricted race was won by favourite, Toon Society, who forged 20 lengths clear under Neil Harris. Toon Society is trained by Jeremy Scott at his stables on the edge of Wimbleball Lake near Dulverton and was bought privately out of Jonjo O’Neill’s stables in 2003 for The Exmoor Partners, a 10-strong syndicate of friends headed by Exford fencing contractor, John Atkins.

Comment Log in or Join Tablo to comment on this chapter...
~

You might like Tony Burns's other books...