15 April 2009 Scene & Heard: North Staffordshire - Sandon
Richard Burton, who rode his first winner 15 years ago on Fence Judge at Eaton Hall, clocked up his 400th career success when taking the 2m4f Maiden on Quintero, whose trainer Fergal O'Brien had opted to go to Bitterley and had left his wife Jelly to saddle William and Angela Rucker's five-year-old. The Ruckers were also at the Ludlow track, where Angela won the Ladies' Open on Honest Endeavour.
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It was a first visit to Sandon for Jelly, as it was for Clive Bennett, whose I Am Said I took the Novice Riders' race in the hands of Emma Alvis. "We've been to four new courses this year and had a winner at every one," smiled Clive, adding "It's all down to Emma - she does most of the work."
"I'm not sure we'd have beaten him though," said Emma, referring to Little Big Horse, who had inexplicably cocked his jaw and run out at the penultimate when one length clear.
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The day belonged to Stuart Ross, who completed a treble on horses from his own stable. The middle leg was provided by Tommy Two Toes, who was not originally destined to join Stuart's yard but has now won four times for him, as well as finishing third in last year's Connolly's Red Mills Intermediate final.
"His owner, John Donald, bought three horses from Eric McNamara, but when the wagon arrived at Mick Mullineaux's, at four in the morning, there were four on board," explained Stuart. "Mick only had three empty boxes so I took the one that was considered to be more of a hunter-type to mine, and John left him with me. He's got one very thick tendon but he's never been lame, and I'd say I've got the best one!"
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Tommy Two Toes's colours were earlier carried successfully in the 3m Maiden by Another Late Night, an expensive purchase out of Ireland who had shown no form when campaigned from Richard Phillips's yard. "I could have gone to the Vale of Lune today, but I wanted to run a Restricted horse here, so it's worked out all right," said Stuart.
That horse, Nosey Gunner, duly obliged in what her trainer-rider described as "an easy a Restricted as you're ever going to get."
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"I was getting lots of rides last year, and everyone gave me lifts all over the place because I'd lost my driving licence. Now I've got my licence back I don't need lifts, but I'm not getting any rides!" Stuart Ross may have earned the sympathy vote prior to his treble, but probably not afterwards!
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The Ladies' Open went to Reflected Glory, whose rider Immy Robinson considered it well worth giving up a late night at a party the previous evening. "Mum had told me he was going to Eyton on Monday, then she rang to say he was coming here, so I went to bed at 10.30," said Immy. Mum, Caroline, missed the success, as she was saddling Shales Ay Jay to finish second at Bitterley.
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Sue Sharratt had spent the days leading up to the meeting painting the woodwork on the fences and in the paddock, and she gained her reward for her artistic efforts when Cluthe Boy took the honours in the Hunt race, Sue's fourth consecutive victory in the contest.
Her luck ran out, though, in the 2m4f Maiden when her mount Breeze Way was knocked over by a loose horse. An X-ray on Sue's shoulder revealed nothing worse than bruising, and she was due back in action at Eyton on Monday.
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Carly Goodall, who works at Aintree racecourse and has recently been appointed PA to Clerk of the Course Andrew Tulloch, was airlifted to hospital with facial injuries incurred in a Maiden race fall.
