REPORT OF THE DUNSTON HARRIERS MEETING AT AMPTON RACECOURSE ON SUNDAY 14th JANUARY
By Mike Ashby
“One of the best Ampton meetings, if not the best ” was the comment being uttered freely around the racecourse, after Sunday’s superb action at the Dunston Harriers meeting.
There were 60 declarations from the original 70 individual horses entered, on the card, necessitating two divisions of the Maiden race to be contested.
The first division saw owner/trainer Nick Wright’s, Doncaster May Sales purchase, Arkle Rua, partnered by Alex Chadwick, take command of the race, three fences out, and seize a 5 length advantage over their rivals. Only Creapapy and Gina Andrews made any inroads into this lead but Tom Ellis’ runner could be worth following, as the season progresses. Chadwick said of his winning partner, when asked post -race if he shows this form in his training preparation.. “No! He is the worst work horse, ever, at home.” Nick Wright did qualify this by intimating, in the last 3 weeks, a vast improvement had been shown to boost his chances of success here.
ARKLE RUA and ALEX CHADWICK
The other division went to the favourite, Jingle Du Gouet, sent up by Dorset-based trainer Chris Barber’s stable. Although not jumping impeccably, Will Biddick was able to keep the 5yo in touch in a closely packed field, led dashingly throughout by The Red Fella. Biddick produced a masterly challenge on the run-in, which sealed the victory by a length.
JINGLE DU GOUET AND WILL BIDDICK (centre)
The two Open contests were also particularly closely fought affairs with the Ladies’ prize going to Captain Biggles and Gina Andrews, who managed to get the better of Ampton specialists, Tullys Touch and Precious Bounty, at the last obstacle and through to the winning line. Gina was pleasantly surprised by Captain Biggles’ well-being, for his seasonal debut, and equally his ability to quicken when asked for an effort. The grey will probably be campaigned along similar lines to last season and will give his group of owners some more memorable days of racing.
PRECIOUS BOUNTY, CAPTAIN BIGGLES & TULLYS TOUCH
Castle Trump was also fit and ready to run his race, from the front, in the Mens Open with owner/jockey Charlie Buckle also confirming his fitness, with a determined ride. In another tight and exciting finish, the pairing held off the sustained challenge of Go Go Geronimo and Tom Chatfeld-Roberts. Castle Trump was registering his 7th point success.
GO GO GERONIMO and CASTLE TRUMP
Two very young jockeys, Edward Vaughan and Cian Murphy, enjoyed victories in the opening and concluding races respectively, and these are two names to remember, not only for now but also for future seasons.
Edward Vaughan with his father, NH trainer Tim and grooms had left their stables in Cowbridge, in the Vale of Glamorgan at 4am, in the morning and were one of the first to arrive at the course, bringing with them SIX horses. They commenced the afternoon with the perfect start in the opening Veteran Conditions race. Poli Roi was always in the leading two of the eleven starters with the favourite , Koyote, waited with by Gina Andrews. The 3rd last fence saw the race definitively develop when Koyote fell and sixteen-year-old Vaughan, took Poli Roi to the front and breeze-on up the Ampton finishing straight to record his 4th career win, in his first season of pointing.
POLI ROI and EDWARD VAUGHAN
Cian Murphy, who turns seventeen this month, certainly didn’t have as far to travel to Ampton, being based in the Newmarket area. This young man’s record of success currently stands at 4 wins from 11 rides with his number of opportunities likely to be increased, radically, in the near future. Amongst the trainers he rides out for are Nick Wright and Andrew Pennock and he was instrumental in completing a double, on the day, for Wright when Red Maple took the honours in the closing Novice Riders’ race. Murphy made full use of the favourite’s abilities when they put the race to bed at what was proving to be a crucial obstacle, the third from home. The pairing had 3 ½ lengths to spare over their market rival, Jonjoela.
RED MAPLE and CIAN MURPHY
Trainer Wright confirmed that his son Archie, who retired from race-riding after winning on Red Maple at Dingley, last May, is currently spending time in the USA, based in Kentucky and increasing his equine knowledge at a stud centre.
Bedfordshire-based trainer, Michael Kehoe. has his team in fine fettle. With his jockey Charlie Case, they added to their success at the opening meeting, in the area, at Horseheath with another decisive winner in Paper Mill who took the Restricted event. Their 5 length winning margin was the biggest of the day where all 12 entries faced the starter.
What a day. The weather, the course preparation, the going, an expertly conducted meeting, an extensive attendance together with an enormous amount of declared runners providing top-drawer racing. The East Anglian season has certainly started in a superb manner with the two meetings staged, so far, providing total enjoyment.
ALL PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF GRAHAM BISHOP PHOTOGRAPHY
www.gdbphotography.co.uk
