REPORT OF THE THURLOW MEETING AT HORSEHEATH ON WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 31st

By Mike Ashby

With fabulous weather forecast, for this Thurlow fixture, it was odds-on it would attract a large attendance and the organisers would have been delighted with the resultant, record proportion crowd. Amongst the festive season gatherings of friends and families were local racing trainers, professional racecourse commentators together with the leader of the Conservative Party, Kemi Badenoch.

So the scene was set for this first meeting of the East Anglian area to take place with the expectation of an entertaining afternoon’s racing and two trainers, Francesca Poste and Gina Andrews, took the major honours when recording a winning treble and successful double, respectively.

Francesca’s trained horses took the first three races with Glancing Hill initiating the treble in the opening Conditions Level 3 contest. As per normal tactics, jockey Zak Baker had Glancing Hill racing prominently and they were in total command of proceedings until passed by Champagne Glory and Charlie Case, on the final downhill stretch. Fitness then told up the Horseheath challenging uphill finish as Glancing Hill regained the lead between the final two fences and went on to win by 3 ½ lengths. Baker admitted they were “flat out” when overtaken but he was not worried as they stayed on and “winged the final three fences”, to gain the victory. He considered the ground “on the quick side of good and anything quicker would not have suited his partner “. Their only worrying moment during the race came approaching the last fence, first time round, where Glancing Hill, momentarily distracted by the crowd and sight of the paddock, started to wander to the wing of the fence and Baker had to ensure the 5yo concentrated and not try to run out. After this success and the one previously at Larkhill in November Glancing Hill is the current “ star of the stable” with plenty more to come during this season.

This success was quickly followed by Kirsch De Cotte from the Poste’s stable and ridden by Sam Lee. Thirteen went to post for this Open Maiden contest and this 5yo had previously run seven times without getting his head in front, where it matters, but had finished runner-up on two occasions. Lee acknowledged the horse had been slightly immature in previous races. However, “ he is a tough horse and a credit for the work being performed at the yard”. The winning jockey also added “I needed to give him an aggressive ride and his jumping was good, especially in the home straight” It was here the winning duo claimed the race having constantly pestered before overtaking the favourite and long-time leader Le Questionnaire to win by 3 ¾ lengths. Two horses who failed to finish might be the ones to follow for the future. Grey Area and Bradley Gibbs were not far behind the eventual winner and runner-up when coming down at the second last, bringing down Leopard D’Irlande and Gina Andrews who were making significant progress from the back of the field.

KIRSH DE COTTE and SAM LEE (nearside) and the grey Le Questionnaire

The next race for Novice Riders, sponsored by the PPORA, saw another winner for the Station Yard stable based near Stratford-upon-Avon, when the December, Chaddesley victor, Hubrisko was again partnered to success by Cerys Sheehy, doubling her career wins. The duo was in total control of the race, from the front, and immediately saw off the challenge of Carrolls Cottage as they came down the hill and they “ were long at the last” to settle the proceedings and be comfortably clear of the nearest rival at the winning post. Cerys , not long out of her teens, has worked for Francesca and Charlie Poste for over five years  and is living the dream of always wanting to be a jockey and will continue to progress under the guidance of her employers, to achieve further success.

After the winning presentation, Charlie Poste acknowledged that “ it is days like this you have to remember when perhaps various things, on other days, might not be going your way “. How very true and added congratulations go to the Poste’s on their addition to the family who was being transported close to the action, by Francesca, via a baby sling carrier.

HUBRISKO and CERYS SHEEHY 

Gina Andrews has made a determined start in search of her 12th national ladies’ championship title and would also be looking to head the trainer’s list at the end of the season having finished runner-up in 2024/25. Her unfortunate tumble in the Maiden race, when brought down at the second last fence, left her limping rather badly as she made her way to the parade ring prior to the Ladies Open, The pain would have eased after Fairly Famous had seen off the inevitable late challenge of the evergreen Tullys Touch, over the last two fences on what became a tactical match race after the only other runner had run out, early on in the contest. Ellie Holder partnered Tullys Touch and they have enjoyed five Open victories together but prior to their association Gina had achieved two successes on the John Ibbott-trained consistent gelding. So possibly some ‘inside knowledge’ played a part in Gina’s approach to the race and with Fairly Famous jumping impeccably they never surrendered the lead. Holder had Tullys Touch always close enough to pounce, but Andrews took the honours with the winning distance being 2 ¾ lengths. Fairly Famous is qualified for the Cheltenham Festival Foxhunters which is his probable target for the season for his East Anglian owners, the Signy and Marriage Families.

FAIRLY FAMOUS and GINA ANDREWS

Gina trained this winner and was also responsible for the first past the post in the concluding Restricted race, namely Entity Of Substanz. Gina had loosened up tremendously after dismounting from the grey gelding, an ex-inmate at Dan Skelton’s yard. The grey’s NH record hurdling was 0 wins from 7 outings which included one runner-up placing. Wearing her trainer’s hat, Gina was confident he would take to the bigger fences, as he came from a good family of jumpers and ‘chasing was always going to be his game. This victory followed up his Maiden success at Chaddesley in early December and his owners, which include former EA jockeys, William Wales and Nigel Bloom can look forward to some exciting racing days ahead.

ENTITY OF SUBSTANZ and GINA ANDREWS 

The Mens Open went to the front-running Givega who never relinquished the lead and gave reigning men’s national champion, James King., his seventh winner of the season, with a comfortable 4 length victory.

GIVEGA and JAMES KING

Mary Ashby took a crunching fall in the final Restricted race and the air ambulance was summonsed but eventually she was taken to hospital by road vehicle ambulance, The extent of Mary’s injuries  has not been confirmed by her medical team, at the time of this report, and we await positive news of her overall condition.

So we are underway in East Anglia after the unfortunate abandonment of the first scheduled meeting. This meeting has given the East Anglia area a welcome fillip with 47 runners on the day witnessed by a massive crowd who are welcome to join us at any other East Anglian venue during this season. All forthcoming fixtures can be found on www.pointingea.com.

ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF GRAHAM BISHOP PHOTOGRAPHY

www.gdbphotography.co.uk