REPORT OF THE CAMBRIDGESHIRE HUNT WITH ENFIELD CHACE POINT-TO-POINT MEETING HELD AT HORSEHEATH RACECOURSE ON SATURDAY 29th FEBRUARY 2020
By MIKE ASHBY
Several loud cheers rang out in the winners’ enclosure, followed by group and family celebrations at the subsequent presentations, at a blustery Horseheath on Saturday.
The Ice and Slice Racing Club made their presence known, once again, with Fumet D’ Oudairies fourth success of the season in the opening Intermediate race. Jack Andrews had the 5yo up with the leading group throughout and as with all his races Fumet D’Oudairies kept on strongly at the finish. An improving young horse will now be rested before a possible target being the Subaru Hunter ‘Chase final at Stratford in May. Getting Closer also ran true to his last Horseheath outing and chased the winner home, going down by a length and a half.
Fumet D’Oudairies and Jack Andrews set to record their 4th win of the season in the Intermediate race
Family celebrations were in order after the Novice Riders race which saw nineteen year old Charlotte Butler ride her first winner on her second-ever ride on Groundunderrepair. The favourite Summer Sounds and Way Back Then made the early running during the first circuit and at one point Groundunderepair and Charlotte had dropped off the pace but the pairing made steady progress from three out and took full charge of the race and won by a distance.
Delighted grandparents and owners, ex-pilot Capt. Graham Peck and his wife from Woodbridge, Suffolk area, were there to see this ex-National Hunt horse, formerly with Warren Greatrex and now trained by their daughter Emily.
Graham’s daughters Emily and Harriet both rode in points when the family was based in Sussex, so understandably Graham and his wife are now going through the same nervous but potentially, exciting experiences watching granddaughter Charlotte race-riding.
Groundunderrepair and Charlotte Butler clear winners of the Novice Rider’s race
Some exciting prospects faced the starter in a field of 14 for the concluding Open Maiden and the final outcome produced probably the biggest cheer of the day, from friends and family of Messrs. Bloom and Moore and Wales when Mammoth narrowly held on, under Gina Andrews, to win by a short-head.
Nigel and Tim and William rode against each other from the 80’s onwards and have now joined ownership forces with this 6yo mare.The very select trio looked at ease with their winning trophy and as Nibby’s mum, Jenny put it “ it’s the BMW team “. I’ll let you work that one out ! The race itself was closely fought with only 8 lengths between first and last on the first circuit but when the pace was raised, many fell by the wayside and in the end only 4 completed the course. Mammoth and Gina were definitely lengths ahead jumping the last but Go Go Geronimo, who had finished strongly in his race here, last time, made in-roads into Gina’s lead and it was very close at the finish. The judge deliberated some while before announcing Mammoth as the winner and Tom Chatfeild-Roberts aboard the eventual second said “ neither himself or Gina could be certain who had won”. It was that close.
Mammoth and Gina Andrews winners of the Open Maiden race
Minella Wizard, who had beaten Mammoth earlier in the season, had franked the form in the previous race, the Restricted, when showing an admirable acceleration to win by eight lengths, from a strong field of contenders. Jack Andrews was completing a double in his pursuit of the national male rider’s championship. Bawnmore led early on adopting similar tactics to his win here, a month ago,. Fab Vinnie, Goldenbrave and Minella Wizard challenged as the quartet powered down the hill for the final time. It was up the Horsheath finishing straight that Minella Wizard produced what trainer Stuart Morris described as “what a turn of foot“ to secure victory over the gallant Bawnmore with Goldenbrave and Alex Edwards, Jack’s championship rival, in 3rd place another three lengths back.
Bawnmore leads the packed field in the Restricted race.
The Mens Open went to the favourite Wick Green and trainer/jockey Peter Mason who made late progress and capitalised on a bad mistake by Marten, at the last fence. Peter appeared unconcerned, immediately after the race, of the outcome being any different despite Marten’s blunder. Having won by a head at Larkhill, only leading in the last 50yards, in the partnership’s previous race, Peter clearly rides his 7yo, who he describes as “ totally honest “, with great confidence and conviction. This was Peter’s first visit to Horseheath for a number of years and a winning one to boot.
The Ladies Open saw just three take their chance but the final outcome was only decided near the winning post when the front-running Back Bar and Izzie Marshall rallied to re-pass Latenightpass for a three-quarters of a length victory. Izzie couldn’t have been more delighted with Back Bar’s performance “a lovely horse, easy to train and suited to today’s course and conditions. He dug deep to-day when needed”. This maintained Izzie’s 100% winning record from three rides on the Cranfield family’s Back Bar and her fourth win in the colours associated with the family. The eventual winner led from the start and increased the tempo going out on the final circuit with odds-on Latenightpass and Gina tucked in behind. Different tactics were employed with Chosen Rose who normally prefers to be ahead of her rivals but it appears the mare disliked being held up and possibly ‘sulked’ leaving Alice Stevens no option than to halt proceedings. This left the remaining two who were just about level jumping two out and although Laenightpass jumped ahead at the last and Gina immediately moved across, to the favoured inside line, Back Bar rallied to gain the victory.
Back Bar and Izzie Marshall retain their 100% winning record together, in the Ladies Open
Another really good afternoon’s racing which has been the “norm” for the East Anglian region all season……long may it continue.
RESULTS
The official going was soft. Four jumps were omitted in each race due to ground conditions.
Intermediate
1st Fumet D Oudairies Jack Andrews 4/5f
2nd Getting Closer Charlie Marshall 3/1
3rd Occupied Sam Lee 8/1
Time 6-38 Dists: 1 ½ L 4 L 10 ran
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PPORA Novice Riders
1st Groundunderrepair Charlotte Butler 8/1
2nd Way Back Then Paige Topley 2/1
3rd Summer Sounds Luke Scott 4/5f
Time 6-52 Dists: Dist 5 L 5 ran also Trojan Star 4th Gingili PU
Mens Open
1st Wick Green Peter Mason 4/5f
2nd Marten Evan David 4/1
3rd Newsworthy Dale Peters 8/1
Time 6-47 Dists: 1 ½ L 1 ½ L 11 ran
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Ladies Open
1s Back Bar Izzie Marshall 7/4
2nd Latenightpass Gina Andrews 8/13f
Time 6-33 Dists: ¾ L 3 ran 2 finished
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Restricted
1st Minella Wizard Jack Andrews 5/2
2nd Bawnmore Gina Andrews 9/4
3rd Goldenbrave Alex Edwards 6/4f
Time 6-42 Dists: 8 L 3 L 10 ran
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Open Maiden
1st Mammoth Gina Andrews 6/4f
2nd Go Go Geronimo Tom Chatfield Roberts 7/2
3rd San Agustin Tommie O Brien 4/1
Time 6-49 Dists: S Hd 8 L 14 ran
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