28 April 2009 Report: Axe Vale - Stafford Cross
by Lucy Johnson
EUROSPOOFER: and Ian Chanin won the 2nd Division of the Maiden
photo: Tim Holt
Fast ground and front running tactics saw Lisheen Storm come home in front in the Mixed Open, holding on by a length-and-a-half under a vintage ride from Richard Woollacott at the Axe Vale Point-to-Point on Sunday to the delight of both his owner/trainer Lee Glanville and the large crowd.
"I used to be secretary of the Point-to-Point here, so it's lovely to be able to win in front of so many friends," explained Lee.
The decision to make the running was made in the paddock before the race when Woollacott suggested he would allow the horse to bowl along in front. "He really enjoyed it and jumped brilliantly. It's been a long time coming for this horse and he really deserved that," said the jockey.
Quicker ground was also the key to success for Xila Fontenailles, ridden by Darren Edwards, in the Confined race; she stayed on to record a two-and-a-half length win, having taken the lead after the final fence. A race at Bratton Down could be on the agenda with trainer Chloe Newman's nephew Josh back on board. "He broke his leg schooling at Alan King's and he's having the plaster off next week so he will be riding him again," said Chloe.
Major Matt had pulled up on his last three starts but the gift horse from leading National Hunt owner Brian Kilpatrick put past problems behind him when running out the decisive winner of the Restricted under a fine ride from farrier Becky Barnett.
Andy Jackson, who trains the horse for a syndicate of friends near Witheridge, said: "He's a very nice horse but he needs a flat track and fast ground and he's had a problem in the past with bleeding. Becky rode him beautifully and she deserved to win with him as she has been helping us for three years now."
The first Division of the Maiden went to the Charlotte Tizzard trained and ridden Wynbrook, who won by a convincing 15 lengths. The six-year-old is out of the good mare Lily The Lark and named after one of owner Alan Tizzard's farms.
Robert Chanin can now boast a magnificent 40 per cent strike rate this season following Eurospoofer's win in the second Division of the Maiden. The six-year-old led from two out and held on to win by a neck under another fine ride by Chanin's son Ian.
"We bought this horse a month ago from Yorkshire to replace Royal Gemstone for Andrew and Sue Knox as we thought we could improve him, and we are very pleased," said Chanin.
Krac D'argos had done much of the work in the Intermediate race but was caught on the run-in by Martin Pitchwood, who went on to score by three lengths under TIgger Barnes, and Thisthatandtother made easy work of the Novice Riders race, winning convincingly in the hands of Jack Barber.
Labarynth, a half-sister to Saturday's Betfred Gold Cup winner Hennessy, earned herself a break for the summer after landing the opening Members race, her third success of the season, with her trainer Polly Gundry on board.
