26 March 2008 Croome & West Warwickshire - Upton-upon-Severn
Bowdens Lane: made it a double for Julie Houldey
Clerk of the Course Martin Weston was rewarded for all the hard work that had been done prior to Tuesday's Croome & West Warwickshire meeting with a double after Dobbiesgardenworld had stormed to victory in the Members and Caught At Dawn's facile win in the Men's Open.
Both horses were ridden by his son Tom who was prepared to track the favourite Joyful Jack until moving Dobbiesgardenworld into a challenging position at the 15th.
Their narrow advantage at the final open ditch had been extended to 3-lengths as they approached the penultimate and the Himbleton trained gelding stayed on strongly to hold his rival's challenges on the flat.
Stable companion Caught At Dawn gave his rivals a jumping lesson in the Men's Open. Punters sent off Fresh Love as favourite but his backers knew their fate when the 9-year-old blundered Adrian Wintle out of the saddle at the 4th.
With the riderless Fresh Love distracting the leaders, the field closed up between the 9th and 10th fences but Caught At Dawn steadily increased the tempo from the 13th.
He had the race in safe keeping at the second from home but gave his supporters a bit of a shock by taking off a stride too soon at the last. He was never in any danger of falling and gained an easy success.
Dymock trainer Martin Wilesmith, his wife Doreen, their daughter Emma and son Mark enjoyed an element of luck following Mountain Singers victory at Paxford the previous afternoon, but that could not be said of Mrs White's victory in the second half of the Mares Maiden.
Marcella Bayliss is still waiting for her first winner of the season but Twiga Woods looked as though she would get the Naunton trainer off the mark when she led at the penultimate, but Mark Wilesmith produced Mrs White with a perfectly timed run to land the spoils on the run in.
Julie Houldey has made an excellent start from her new stables at North Nibley and she also landed a double courtesy of Cottage Rivers win in the Restricted and Bowden Lanes success in the Connolly's Red Mills sponsored Intermediate.
Front running performances were the order of the day at this meeting and these enterprising tactics paid off for the Fergal O'Brien trained Gentle Rivage in the Confined. Owners Geoffrey and Donna Keyes were on hand to witness the 14-year-olds success and the horse was a willing partner for jockey Mark Wall.
Speaking afterwards O'Brien said, "It was impossible to retire the horse because he has so much enthusiasm and just loves his work".
Brimham Boy provided a first training success for Wythall (Birmingham) based Alison Hyde in the 16-strong Maiden. The 6-year-old was prominent throughout this contest and refused to accept defeat when challenged over the final three fences.
