Hursley Hambledon review
The first Larkhill meeting did not disappoint! The going after the recent rain was just about perfect, the weather cheered up after a very grey start and the sun came out, the runners were plentiful across the six races and a good crowd thoroughly enjoyed the racing. Fran Nimmo and her stable jockey Zac Baker enjoyed a double, Grace A Vous Enki continued his fine record at the Wiltshire course and a plan hatched in March bore fruit in the opening race.
This was a very competitive two-and-a-half-mile Maiden race where eleven horses faced the starter. James King made a very bold show to make all the running aboard Christopher Walker’s grey gelding Sweating Bullets but had just about been headed at the last fence by Sinchi Roca ridden by Tommie O’Brien when falling. This left the previously unraced four-year-old Getaway gelding to come clear under a jubilant and vociferous pilot to win by six lengths. Owned by Susan Macauley from Downpatrick Northern Ireland the gelding had been bred by her late husband Dennis who died last year. Dennis was the breeder of the brilliant Brave Inca to whom this gelding is related. Trained by her son-in-law Eamonn O’Donnabhain who is head lad to Tom Lacey in Herefordshire he admitted that ‘ it was quite an emotional victory for the family ‘ and that he and Tommie had targeted this race back in March. Having previously won this race two years ago with Matchadam when he first trained a winner in England Eamonn did indicate that the gelding may now be heading to the sales. His name apparently honours a leading figure in Inca history.
The ten entries for the Ladies race were all declared and after Millbank Flyer ridden by Isobel Lever had taken over the running approaching the final mile the chasing pursuers closed approaching the third last . Favourite I K Brunel ridden by Izzie Hill took it up after the second last but Lily Bradstock and Myth Buster stayed on strongly on the run in to score by just over two lengths. Showing the benefit of his seasonal outing at Dunsmore Sara Bradstock said that ‘ he did not really enjoy the tight turns at that track but the wide open spaces at Larkhill were much more to his liking’ He still shows the effect of his back operation he had whilst in Ireland but Sara added that ‘ he just wants to please and is a real stayer’
Grace a Vous Enki continued his love affair with Larkhill when comfortably winning the Mens Open race with his usual pilot James King having an armchair ride albeit jumping out to the left at most of his fences. Watched by his proud owner Joan Hitchings this was his sixth consecutive victory at Larkhill and his trainer’s husband Matt Sheppard indicated that’ he will be coming back for more at future meetings’. It will need a very good horse to lower his colours.
Kilfilum Woods backed up his win at Knightwick when easily winning the Restricted race. Acquired out of Paul Webber’s stable by Fran Poste for a syndicate of four owners, he was an eight-year-old Maiden but had been showing good form at home before he ran for the stable. Adapting different tactics this time by leading Zac reported that ‘he jumped better in front’ and showed’ how versatile he can be’
The Conditions race went to Duc De Bourbon ridden by Charlie Sprake and trained and owned by Sam Loxton. Previously in the ownership of Paul Nicholls and ridden in first outing last season by his daughter Olive the gelding does have a good partnership with Charlie and this was their second victory together. He stayed on well to defeat favourite Paper Mill ridden by Charlie Case and the pointing newcomer Ask A Honey Bee ridden by Will Biddick. Sam has no immediate plans for the gelding but may consider running him in Hunter Chases later in the season.
The final race, the Open Maiden, had a rather dramatic conclusion. Free the Lion ridden by Fionn Summers and Celtic Harmony ridden by Rian Corcoran were battling for the lead approaching the third last when Free the Lion fell and brought down his rival. At the next fence Ilitch the mount of Charlie Case who had been in contention fell leaving Taymount ridden by Zac Baker to stay on to hold off the effort of Always Force It ridden by Darren Andrews. Owned by Charlie and Fran Poste, she described him as ‘immature and still with much to learn’. A full brother to the useful Charles Ritz he is for sale and as Zac summed up has ‘lots of potential’
Our next meeting is the New Forest on Sun 15 Dec. The first race is at 12 noon and will be preceded by two charity races.