31 March 2009 Report: Cattistock - Littlewindsor
KING GEORGES: and Alice Pearn finish alone in the Novice Riders race
Southwestern, who fell two out when clear of his rivals in Punchestown's Champions' Hunters Chase in April 2008, heads back to the Irish venue after impressing the huge crowd at Littlewindsor on Sunday.
Initially held up by Neil Harris, the 10yo surged past his eight Men's Open race rivals with a circuit to go, and had effortlessly extended his advantage to 20 lengths by the winning post.
Neil Harris completed a double when Think On This forged clear in the final straight in the 3-mile Maiden race. "We bought him at Ascot for £3,500 last spring", explained Enmore trainer Charlotte Budd, joint owner with Lanta Gillett. "I didn't give Neil any orders - I just said, "whatever you do, I'm happy" - and he's ridden our horse beautifully".
Lady Myfanwy (Jodie Hughes) took the Ladies Open, but the race was marred when Rimpton Boy, who had finished three lengths behind in second, collapsed and died as he returned to the unsaddling enclosure. Rimpton Boy won 28 point-to-points and one Hunter Chase, including six wins at Littlewindsor where he began his career by winning the Seavington 2m 4f Maiden as a five-year-old on 11th March 2000.
Richard Woollacott trained two winners, partnering The Busy Farmer himself to take the Restricted race. The pair made most of the early running and although Bathwick Shannon and Polly Gundry led down the final hill, Richard was back in control over the last five fences. Alice Pearn then took the reins on her father John Pearn's King Georges to win the Countryside Alliance Novice Riders race. Four horses faced the starter but King Georges was left solo for virtually all of the last two circuits after two rivals departed early and Thisthatandtother, who was setting a fast pace, appeared to try to refuse and ejected Jack Barber at the seventh fence.
Imperial Sun also finished alone to give Charlton Mackrell rider Keira Clark, 23, her first win, from just two rides, in the three-runner Hunt race. Trained by James White for Mandy and Ron Hodges, for whom Keira works, Imperial Sun jumped the last circuit and a half solo to gain a deserved success after several good placed efforts this season.
Polly Gundry maintained her six-winner lead in the National Ladies' table on Quite A Splash, who jumped into the lead at the penultimate in the 2m4f Maiden. Carrying the familiar yellow and black "Tinotops" colours of Castle Cary owners Ray and Evelyn Targett, the Ascot purchase - "he's my 80th birthday present", smiled Ray - is trained by Polly and Ed Walker at their Ottery St Mary stables.
