KIMBLEWICK AT KINGSTON BLOUNT 7TH MAY 2011
Whilst most of the country enjoyed the showers of rain we have been waiting for so long for Kingston Blount stayed dry enabling the crowd to enjoy some competitive racing where generally runners were good.
Five of the six winners were favourites; the first of these was Batalov (Gina Andrews) in the Restricted race. Following several consistent runs in this grade he justified odds of 6/4 and beat Minella Moss ( Richard Spencer) by 3 lengths. Gina then flew to Higham where she rode two winners further extending her lead at the top of the national championship.
Only two finished in the 2m5f Maiden race, Lismore Lady (Richard Spencer) was having only her third start and won in very impressive style. Trained by Fred Hutsby this 5yr old mare now heads to Doncaster sales in May. Second was Bunas Noches (Anna Stone) who is also trained by Fred. Training the first 2 home is a first for Fred.
Emily Harbour rode the first leg of a double in the Ladies Open. Balladeer who is trained by Alan Hill jumped well throughout and always looked comfortable and won by 10 lengths from Dun Drinan (Jessie Lodge) and third was The Hookie Bookie (Sarah Phizaclea). Balladeer who clearly loves this track will head back here on 29th May.
Start Royal as sent off 1/6 fav and made light work of his only opponent in the Mens Open gaining him more points in the young horse awards competition. Jaamid (James Horton) finished 15 lengths second.
The fastest time of the day was in the Intermediate where Caught in Time (Phil York) continued his climb up the ladder. Unfortunately spectators were denied what looked like being an exciting finish when Duke of Kentford (Nick Pearce) slipped up on the bend before the second last. They had been neck and neck down the back with Caught in Time jumping slightly better and jockey Phil York had felt he was always going the best. Trainer Karen Lawther explained ‘Phil had ridden in the first two races at Pepper Harrow finishing first and second, driven here like a lunatic and his license was handed in just before declarations closed! Thank god he made it as he gets on so well with this horse.’ Finishing second was Thatmakestwoofus (James Tudor) and Pongo’s Nephew (Sharon Firmin) third.
Mr Cee Jay Finally lost his Maiden tag in impressive style; always in command he went on to win by 30 lengths providing Emily Harbour with the second leg of her double. Trainer/ Owner Sue Harbour explained ‘He only cost us £450 as he had a leg problem, we gave him 12 months off and he has never looked back’. Connections will be hoping now he has got his head in front he can continue to do so.
The closing race, the Members was an eventful one. Only two ran Bon Accord (James Tudor) and Ocean du Moulin (Gaby Hill). They went a very fast pace and looked to be both going well when four out Ocean du Moulin made a terrible mistake and Gaby did very well to stay on however she lost an iron that she jumped the third last without. Unfortunately Gravity took over and was sadly unseated on the second last bend which left Bon Accord to finish alone. Trainer Alan Hill felt that both were going extremely well and thought it would have been a close finish.
A great day where Alan Hill as always had done a super job with the ground and must be thanked for the extensive watering him and his team do.
THE KIMBLEWICK HUNT POINT TO POINT AT KINGSTON BLOUNT 7TH MAY 2011
The third of four meetings at this very popular track takes place this coming Saturday. Kingston Blount is situated just off junction 6 M40 on the B4009 towards Chinor, Postcode OX39 4SG.
Six races are scheduled, the first at 2pm.
The opener, The Restricted race has attracted 20 entries and promises to be a competitive race. It could be worth following the ‘Girls’. Fred Hutsbys Golden Tangle won a Maiden last time at Hackwood Park and she could go well here under Hannah Watson. Another mare with claims is Lady Barack; she was an impressive winner at Guilsborough and is trained by Jimmy Tarry. Both of these will make use of the 7lb allowance mares receive. Doctor Kingsley who disappointed at Ashorne Monday could be a major player should he bounce back along with The Plunketts Himalayan Express who deserves to win following several consistent runs in this grade.
The Ladies Open is likely to be fast and furious should the high quality entries line up. Virginia Preuil who is in the form of his life having won 2 Ladies Opens recently will be partnered by Josephine Banks, High five who has some consistent form in Ladies this season could go well here. Alan Hill has 3 entered, Mid Div and Creep lines up at Cheltenham Wednesday Evening so it would be unlikely to see her here Saturday but his other entries Mysaynoway or Balladeer could take all the beating. Emily Harbour who partnered the latter to victory at Kimble recently will be hoping for success to retain her lead at the top of the South Midland Area Ladies Championship however Rachel King who is her nearest pursuer will partner The Hookie Bookie should he line up and would be no surprise to see him to mount a bold bid. Track winner Lady Myfanwy is also entered but she heads to Cheltenham for the AGA Ladies Championship race.
Connections of Kingston Specialist More Trouble will be hoping he can put his Siddington fall behind him and return to his favourite winner’s enclosure in the Mens Open event. Others to note include Start Royal who also holds an entry in the Members race, Eljays Boy who was second at Lockinge last week and would be worth an each way bet here. Findlay’s Find is a 5yr old with a big future and having won his Restricted here in March has since won three races including two Mens Opens. Sadly we are unlikely to see him here as he lines up in Wednesdays Intermediate final at Cheltenham.
Phillip York who is bidding to win the Mens Championship overall has the chance of three mounts in the Intermediate, all with a winnable chance! Ringa Bay who was second at Kimble could go one better here, Caught In Time was an impressive winner at the same track and it will be interesting to see how he figures in the higher grade. Trained by York himself is Dawn Display who is a track winner and has won since, he appears to be in top form. Gina Andrews who is clear in the Ladies Championship is likely to partner the consistent Toe To Hand.
Gaby Hill will be bidding to complete a Hatrick aboard her Ocean Du Moulin, the pair who won at the last meeting here and then at Kimble will be lining up in the closing Members Race. However Alan Hill, Gaby’s Father has five of the nine entries so it may not be an easy task. Viel Gluck was the easy winner of the Restricted at the last meeting and Start Royal has a very impressive record. Trying to steal the trophy away from the Hill camp will be Tim Underwood’s Most Definitely and Dun Drinan who was second behind Balladeer at Kimble recently.
The two maidens on the card will give an opportunity to see young horses for the future, the first is a 2 mile 5 furlong and the second a 3 mile event.
Admission charges are £25, £20 and £15.
Alan Hill has been watering since the last meeting and will continue to do so to maintain Good ground with Good to Firm places. Running rails have been moved to provide fresh ground.
Come and enjoy a day which promises to provide excellent racing, there will be hot/cold food and drink and lots of Trade stands.
Excellent racing ground was created here by Alan Hill and his team where Alan was rewarded by training four winners.
First came in the Confined where four went to post, Ocean Du Moulin was sent off the 8/11 favourite and won by a head having been given a patient ride by Alan’s daughter Gaby. Ocean Du Moulin hadn’t ran since Kenton on 28th November, Alan reported ‘ He had a slight injury which he incurred in the lorry whilst accompanying stable mate Mid Div and Creep, meanwhile Gaby had been away in South Africa with her cricket coach boyfriend for a month and it has taken until now to get the partnership ready again’. It is likely he will be aimed for Kimble and the rest of the meetings at Kingston Blount. Prince of Persia (Claire Wills) was the only other finisher and showed a huge improvement of form so it would be no surprise to see him winning a similar event soon.
Andrew West who is a hunting man in the V.W.H country enjoyed success with his debutant Harbour Court in the 2m5f Maiden. Also trained by Alan but this time partnered by James Tudor this 5yrold jumped and travelled well and won well by 8 lengths from Son of Karinga (James Banks).
Phillip York rode Dawn Display to victory in the Members Conditions for Veteran riders where all of the 6 starters completed. A pillar to post performance on a horse that hasn’t always been the easiest ‘The visor makes him much more user friendly’ Phil reported ‘He is a hard ride and frightened of everything’ this horse also provided Phil with his 200th winner last June at Whitfield. He was sent off the 4/6 favourite.
Six went to post and Tom Cheesman and Nessa who was sent off favourite continued to be a successful partnership in the Novice rider’s event. Tom who is one of Phillip Hobbs amateurs has ridden three winners all of which aboard this mare. Owned and trained by Phil York she jumped well and went on to win by one and half lengths from long time leader Duchamp.
Where fields had been good on an entry/ runner ratio the only disappointment was the Southern Grand National Mixed Open race over 4 miles where only two lined up. Mysaynoway had no problem in retaining her title for a second year running. James Tudor sent her ahead after the 6th fence and she was never headed and won by a wide margin from Presenting Express. This gave Alan Hill his 3rd winner of the day.
Five lined up in the 3m Open Maiden, Mister Pan (Phil York) made all the running and was caught by Worcestershire qualified 5yr old Anshan’s Rocket. There was a steward’s inquiry following an incident on the run in but the result stood. Disappointing was Old Emily Rose (Ryan Hatch) who was sent off favourite, She was beaten when refusing at the second last.
The final race on the card was the Restricted where five went to post. Viel Gluck was sent ahead by James Tudor and won as he liked from Caught in Time (Phil York) 2nd. By the manner in which the winner won he ought to have no problem in upgrading.
A good day racing at a time where the dry weather continues to make life very difficult for meetings to provide safe ground and the efforts of Alan Hill must be appreciated.
The
Vale of Aylesbury with Garth & South Bucks at Kingston Blount
Saturday
8th May 2010
By
Laura Ellis
Official
Ground: Good
Those who braved
the unseasonal cold were rewarded with a competitive days racing at Kingston
Blount’s third meeting of the season.
A small but
competitive field of 5 went to post for the Restricted to open racing. The
improving Teeton Coral (Lizzie Harris) followed up on her win at Thorpe to come
home a head in front of the odds-on favourite Bynack Mhor (James Tudor).
Arguably helped by the departure of Gleeson (Pete Mann) at the penultimate bend
the winner went a length up before the last fence and stayed on well. “She’s a
nice mare and we’ll put her away for the season now.” Said owner/trainer Joan
Tice.
The 2.5 mile
maiden went to Madam Molly (Adam Wedge) who appeared to enjoy getting her own
way in running. Always in the first two the winner caught long time leader
Solana 4 fences from home and stayed on strongly to come home ¾ length in front
of the fast finishing Findlay’s Find (Gwyn Marsh). “She can be a bit of a
madam, hence the name, but we had a great jockey in Adam,” Explained winning
trainer Laura Hurley, who was enjoying her 3rd win in 2 weeks and is
looking to sell the winner.
Another mare took
the 3 mile maiden when the aptly named Crooked Smile made amends after her
unlucky run at Clifton on Dunsmore last time out. Always handy the winner
tracked long time leaders Jolt (Henry Kinchen) and A Slice of Silver (David
Turner) and was produced at the 3rd last under a well-timed ride
from Tom Ellis. “She’s a good little jumper,” said winner owner/trainer Jimmy
Tarry “We’ve had her in for a couple of seasons but didn’t run her last year
because she hadn’t quite got there, but we’ll see how she comes out of that
before deciding what to do next.”
In the Ladies Open
Lady Myfanwy made the long journey from Wales worthwhile when coming home ¾
length in front of Badger (Caroline Taylor) in the fastest time of the day (6
minutes 14). Confidently ridden the winner went 2nd 3 fences from
home and saw off the ever-present challenge of Badger, Avesomeofthat and
Dumadic in a Hunter Chase calibre Open. “She’s just a little professional,”
explained winning trainer Myfanwy Miles, “She might run again next weekend, and
we’d love to head to the Ladies Hunter Chase at Stratford later in the month
after that.”
The Mens
equivalent went to Lord Alfred in another tight finish with Northall Lad (Joe
Docker) just a neck back in 2nd and Took My Eye (David Kemp) another
2 lengths back in 3rd. Left in the lead at the 11th fence
the winner rallied under a strong drive from Adrian Wintle to come home in 6
minutes 25. “It was perfect for him today, he needs ground the fast side of
good and loves Kingston- we’ll hopefully return for the next meeting in 3
weeks,” Said the winning owners in The Wye Friends Partnership.
The most
impressive win of the day came from Peadar in the Intermediate. Ridden
confidently by Nick Pearce the 4/6 Favourite took up the lead at the 14th
and was never in any danger of been caught. Alan Hill’s The Boat (James Tudor)
was the closest challenger when falling 3 fences from home but the winner had
plenty left and finished an easy 8 lengths in front of The Nuns Legacy (Hannah
Watson). “We couldn’t decide between Kingston today or Folkestone on Wednesday
for him, but he’s very lightly raced and we thought we would give him a bit
more experience,” explained winning trainer Nick Pearce, “He’s got bags of
ability at home and we’re excited to see him next season.”
Another easy
winner came when James Tudor made amends in the Hunt Members aboard the 1/6
Favourite Bon Accord. Content to follow Mr Nabarro for a circuit and a half the
winner took a slight lead at the 13th and came home an easy 10
lengths in front of Long Courier (Tim Underwood).
A great day’s
racing with some exciting prospects – for me one for the notebook would be
Peadar who is bound to follow up on his 3 victories this season. Additionally
the 4 year old Findlay’s Find who finished like a train in the 2.5 mile maiden
and the yard already think a lot of him, I’m sure we will see him winning
before the end of the season.
The
Vale of Aylesbury with Garth & South Berks Hunt at Kingston Blount
Saturday,
17th April 2010
By
Laura Ellis
Official
Ground: Good to Firm
A huge crowd
turned out in the sunshine to see a great days racing on well-watered ground. The
feature race of the day was The Southern Grand National over 4m 2f.
The first leg of
the Alan Hill/John Mathis double opened racing in the Confined when Mad Jack
Duncan came home an easy 8 lengths in front of Velvet Dove (Pete Mann).
Confidently ridden and kicking clear 5 fences from home, favourite backers were
never in any doubt. “He had lost his confidence a little with Alan King, but
this smaller scene is suiting him and he will probably go Summer racing next.”
Advised Alan Hill of the winner.
Hill and Mathias
followed up in the 4m 2f Mixed Open with Mysaynoway on her first appearance on
the course since December. Ridden patiently, the winner passed long time
leaders Presenting Express (Fenton Ramsahoye) and Euro Bleu (Phil York) 5
fences from home and came home on the bridle by an easy 8 lengths. Based with
Alan’s mother, Sheila, the winning mare has overcome ongoing niggles at home,
“She has suffered with one poisonous foot after another and I was about to give
up but she’s done that really well. John has made that look easy, but she’s
quite a tricky ride.” Explained Lawney Hill.
The second double
of the day came from Johnny Bailey. The first leg in the 2m 5f maiden when
deputising for Peter Mason aboard the promising 4 year old Turtlethomas, Mostly
mid division, the winner made good headway to track the leaders 4 out to come
home a convincing winner in front of Showman (Pete Mann). “Peter Mason has done
all the work with him,” Advised winning owner Norman Thomas, “That’s his 4th
run this season so we’ll probably put him away for the year now, or he might
head to the sales.”
The largest field
of the day went to post in The Restricted where If You Must provided Johnny
with the second leg of his double. Suited by the quick ground the winner
settled well to make strong headway after the 13th fence and see off
the challenge of Sir Ronan (John Mathias) by 1 and a half-lengths. Owned and
trained by John Pritchard and labelled as “my best hunter”, the home bred does
all his work on grass strips on the farm as well as Hunting and the occasional
Racing Rally at Pony Club with Ben Way, John’s step son, who also rode his
first ever winner on the horse last year. “He goes best on the quick ground and
we’ll probably head to our Members at Ashorne in a couple of weeks.” Advised
the winning Owner/Trainer.
Reward for
perseverance came in the Open Maiden race when Boddington Lad came home in
front to provide Phil Nichols with his first ever winner. Knocking on the door
for a while and particularly unlucky on his previous run at Whitfield when
getting caught on the line by the remounted Uknowitmakessense, there was no
danger this time on the quicker ground and the winner came home a convincing 10
lengths in front of Mister Cee Jay (Jack Watson) and Jolt (Henry Kinchen). “The
soft ground just finished him at Whitfield, he’s much better suited to the
quicker ground today. It’s great for the family too because he’s home bred, out
of our winning mare Goldtrapper.” Advised the winning jockey, 19, who rides out
part time at Alex Hales as well as studying at Morton Morrell College.
After a lengthy
delay to allow for the return of the ambulance following the fall of Jessie
Lodge who suffered a broken wrist, The Novice Riders Race went to Chicuelo who
made it 2 from 2 this season, this time partnered by Ella Mahon who shares the
horse with her twin sister, Lara. Mostly mid division the winner put in some
fantastic jumps to pass long time leaders Baodai (Nico de Boinville) and
Claridge to come home in 6 minutes 18.
On topic in The
Club Members Conditions was Ashstorm (Graham Tawell) who came home in the
tightest finish of the day to see off the ever-present challenge of Ambrossini
(Phil York) by a short head with The King of the Angels a further 2 lengths back
in third. The winner travelled well throughout and stayed on strongly from 4
fences from home to jump into the lead at the last, “He’s been in great form at
home and ran off with Jimmy (Tarry) yesterday so we knew he was in good form.
We originally thought we would run him in the 4 miler, but with the ground a
bit quicker we thought we would stick to this race.” Advised the winning
jockey.
A great days
racing with generous sized field, which pay obvious credit to those who
prepared the course particularly in regards to the consistent watering which
equated to the equivalent of 1 inch of rain. For me, one for the notebook would
be Turtlethomas who came home an impressive winner under a good ride from
Johnny Bailey.
Kingston Blount Racecourse was founded in 1971 and now stages four point to point meetings each season. In order to ensure that the programme of four meetings can be maintained we are launching the Kingston Blount Racing Club.
The Oxford University Hunt Club Point
to Point has a long history, but with no supporters club its future is
difficult. If you would like to become
involved in securing the future of this historic meeting why not consider becoming
a founder member of the Kingston Blount Racing Club, which has been formed to
run the meeting from 2011.
The cost of membership will be £20 per
person and benefits will include a discounted car park label and voucher for a
free racecard. One race on the card
will be restricted to horses in the ownership of Club Members*. You will also receive a free copy of Kingston
Blount’s new annual newsletter telling you all the inside information on the
course and prospects for the season.
As the Club develops and grows so will
the range of benefits available to its members.
To become a founder member of the
Kingston Blount Racing Club or if you would like further information, please
complete the tear-off slip and return it today!
You will receive your membership card and further details by return.
To: Stewart Nash
14 Elland Road, Walton on Thames,
Surrey KT12 3JT
From:
Name(s) ……………………………………………………………………………………
Address: ……………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………..
………………………………………………….Post
code
I
/ we would like to become a founder member(s) of the KINGSTON BLOUNT RACING
CLUB. A cheque for £ ………(£20 per
person), made payable to “The Kingston Blount Racing Club” is enclosed.
I
am considering joining please send me further details (please tick)…….
*
In 2011 the entry fee to the Club Members Race will include associate
membership of the Club.