Brocklesby Point-to-Point 2013
by Baron Halpenny, LincsMag Editor and Emma Forman.
Date: 11 March 2013
Racegoers braved the wet and muddy conditions to see former top National Hunt star Punchestowns score in the Singleton Birch Men’s Open race.
The incessant rain caused the going to quickly change from “good to soft, soft in places” to “soft” making conditions testing for both horses and riders.
Returning to the racecourse after a two year absence, Punchestowns put up a brilliant display of jumping in the hands of Johnny Bailey and showed that his old enthusiasm for racing remains.
Midnight King and Pete Mann were well placed to challenge when falling and in the end it was local rider, Tom Strawson and Reach For The Top who gave Punchestowns the most to do.
“That was like nothing I’ve ever done before. I felt under pressure before the race but the only pressure from Mrs Wilson (the owner) was to bring her horse back safe”. Smiled the relieved Johnny Bailey in the winner’s enclosure.
After the race it was Alistair Forman from sponsors Singleton Birch Ltd who presented the trophy to a delighted Judy Wilson, and Tom Strawson collected the Fighting Star Cup for Reach For The Top being the first Brocklesby horse past the post.
AGA Ladies Open
There was a match for the AGA Ladies Open race where Palypso De Creek had just one rival, Playing The Field. Palypso De Creek who won readily in the hands of Claire Hart had been an intended runner in a Hunter Chase at Leicester the day before, but this event was certainly an easier assignment for the ten year old.
After the race Jill said; “We thought the ground wouldn’t be soft enough for us at Leicester, but then it rained so we missed out. We came here instead to race for £200 instead of the £10000 prize fund at Leicester!”
Mike Dawson said that Palypso De Creek may run again next weekend at either Whitfield or Dalton Park in order to make the most of the prevailing cut in the ground.
Going Good For Some
All Great N Theory followed up his Maiden success at the South Wold meeting and Restricted win at Barbury Castle with a third success in the Clark Weightman Midlands Area Club Member’s race. Winning owner and rider David Renney is delighted with his Doncaster Sales purchase. “We didn’t think he would be this good! Julie Marles has done a fantastic job with him.” He said.
Old Vic, the sire of All Great N Theory was also responsible for Lady Vicstar, winner of the St Hugh’s Hospital Jockey Club PPORA Club Member’s Mares Maiden race.
Lady Vicstar is owned jointly by Susie Tarry, who had been doing a rain dance and Andrew Sansome who had been constantly monitoring the rainfall in the Brocklesby area in the week leading up to the meeting.
As it happened the ground conditions were in their favour and Richard Spencer had the mare well placed on the inside for much of the race where her jumping ability stood her in good stead. “I’ve only ridden her once, Susie rides her every day. I bought her cheaply at the Tattersall’s Sales in Ireland.” Reported a delighted Andrew Sansome. The second horse Florence Kate ran very well but continued trainer Tim Tarratt and rider Jack Day’s run of seconds that must surely end soon.
Another sire whose progeny cope well with soft ground is Alflora who was responsible for both the horses that gave Jacqui and Cherry Coward a double. Firstly, Bob Woodhouse’s Alforone landed the Nunn’s Mitsubishi Restricted race which finally got underway following two false starts.
Just three of the eight runners completed the race and the Jumping For Fun Partnership enjoyed a good run from The Tinkerater who ran well to finish second under Guy Brewer on his seasonal debut.
After the race winning trainer Cherry Coward said; “Alforone is an Alflora and has taken time to come to himself but the penny has dropped now. It is great to support Jenny Burt and the Brocklesby meeting.”
One To Keep A Note Of
In the Paul Wiseman Electrical Contractors Ltd Open Maiden race, it was Botany Cove who relished the soft ground beating Victoria Branson’s Ghost Charger by just half a length. Ghost Charger is slowly improving for trainer, Jane Kent and is one to keep a note of in the coming weeks.
Sam Klug rode her own Awsome Arry to land the DDM Agriculture Brocklesby Member’s race. Purchased by Sam as a yearling, Awsome Arry had finished third at Garthorpe last Sunday. The second horse Pollyanna Steele and Tom Strawson were only beaten by a short head.
Geoff Hunter the owner of Pollyanna Steele collected the Lilian Pickering achievement award in recognition of his fifty years of helping to run Point- to- Point meetings.
At the end of the meeting Johnny Bailey was presented with the Lilian Pickering Memorial Perpetual Challenge Trophy for being the leading rider at the two Point- to- Points at Brocklesby Park this year.
