31 March 2009 Report: Avon Vale - Larkhil
HUMBLE ORIGINS: provides Nick Hillier with his first-ever winner
Rustic John, partnered by Lucy Barry, 17, put up a superb front-running performance in the Mixed Open at Larkhill. Sent straight into the lead by Lucy, Rustic John quickly had his four rivals toiling and finished 20 lengths clear of 4/5F Golden Jack (Ryan Bliss).
Owned and trained at Highworth by John and Audrey Manners, for whom Lucy works, Rustic John is now unbeaten in his last three races.
Robbie Henderson took the PPORA Novice Riders race in the day's fastest time when making all the running on Gunship. "We bought him at Ascot last year", explained Kington Magna [Dorset] owner, Mark Hoskins. "He won a Chepstow Handicap Chase in February 2007 for Philip Hobbs and isn't really supposed to like this ground. Cathy [Hamilton] does virtually all the work with him, but I've been riding him during the week and he must have thought Robbie was a featherweight. We'll go Hunter Chasing now and aim at the Wessex Area Champion Hunters' Chase at Wincanton on 7th May".
Tim Underwood's Long Courrier was the easy winner of the Connolly's Red Mills Intermediate. Pulled up in three previous 2009 outings under his owner, Long Courrier was in no danger after Jody Sole pressed the button at the third last.
There were several first-time winners at the meeting. Bradford-on-Avon owner-rider Nick Hillier, 47, got off the mark - "at about my 12th attempt" - when Humbel Origins made all in the Hunt race. Pembrokeshire owner-trainers Robert and Lindsay Humfrey recorded their first pointing winners when Wheedle battled home in the Young Horse Maiden. A second career win for Robert and Lindsay's son George, 20, a Cirencester Royal Agricultural College student, Wheedle gained the upper hand after long time leader Phiroza (Jimmy Derham) blundered at the last.
Romsey owner Jinny Marsh, who opened her account with Double Pops (Will White) in the Restricted, plans to take the reins herself later in the season. She said: "I rode Double Pops in the 2007 South Dorset Charity race and I'll ride her again in this year's Ablington Challenge Charity Flat race here on 31st May". Jinny has competed in the Ablington Challenge before - she raised over £2,000 for the Wiltshire Air Ambulance when partnering Nice Approach in the 2006 renewal.
Trainer Suzy Crossman, based at Stowell Park, Pewsey, enjoyed her first winner with Hedchester in the closing Older Horse Maiden. Ryan Bliss made virtually all the running on the 8yo and already had the race in safekeeping when closest pursuer Taipan Lad - subsequently remounted for second - unshipped Michael Green at the last.
