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ZAFFARAN'S SCENE: and Patrick Millington
photo: Jackie Oliver

The weather did its worst, but it was not enough to dampen the enthusiasm for the Grafton's new course at Whitfield, which was acclaimed by riders and spectators alike.

The number of runners, 89, was a clear indication of the thumbs-up from owners and trainers, and the only problem on the track itself was the bend at the end of the home straight, which was very sharp. The rain on top of the lush grass added to the hazard, and several horses slipped coming out of the bend. Plans are already being made to rectify the situation.

The large crowd had an all-round view of the course, and the main gripe was with the long and uneven entrance road for cars, which was not ideal for many vehicles apart from 4x4s.

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Exceptionnel went into the record books as the first winner at the new venue when he just got the better of Fermat in the opening Hunt race. "He's quite lively at home, but a kind person," said owner-trainer Annie Connell, who pointed out that Exceptionnel "stays for ever" and was better suited to times around the 6.50 mark rather than the 6.10 which it took him to complete.

His rider Tim Lane was one of those who found steering round the corners to be difficult. "It was like driving an HGV," he reported. "I thought at one time that I was going to end up in Brackley!"

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Irilut took his tally between the flags to 20 with a comfortable Mens Open success under Sam Waley-Cohen. "There's nothing like a pack of hounds to get him going," laughed Sam's father Robert, referring to the appearance in the paddock of the Grafton hounds. Irilut made his seasonal debut in December but was then sidelined for several weeks after putting his foot in a rabbit hole while out hunting on Boxing Day.

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Tom Ellis, who found himself £60 lighter in the pocket after neglecting to weigh in on Open third The Hookie Bookie, made no such mistake after taking the Maiden Division One on Newnham Rambo, trained by Jackie Hunt. Owner-breeder Gregor Kerr, an orthopaedic surgeon at Northampton General Hospital, and the man to whom all the Midlands riders turn when they need patching up, was originally not inclined to keep Rambo when he was born, due to his poor joints, and it has taken until this year to get the eight-year-old on the course.

Tom opted for Rambo over the runner-up, Toby Hunt's Pirate Depp, who he had ridden in all three races to date and on whom Tom Weston picked up the ride here. "I had to plead with Toby to let me get off his," grinned Tom, whose comment earned the immediate response from Toby, who is unrelated to the winning trainer, "No problem - we wanted to get him off our horses anyway!"

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"He always seems to ride better in the rain." Tom Ellis's father Tony gives his considered opinion!

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One of the jockeys who has benefited from Gregor's expertise is Johnny Bailey, who decided, when the rain started lashing down, that the toes which were not covered by the plaster on his broken leg needed some protection. To the rescue came Lizzie Harris, who produced a woolly sock for the purpose. "I hope you haven't got athlete's foot," Johnny told her, adding "but you probably will have by the time I've finished with it."

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Judy Wilson was unveiling a memorial to her late husband Lynn at Northampton County Cricket Ground, where he was President for many years, and so missed the Intermediate victory of Stuart Morris on her Walter's Laddie. Trainer Bill Warner had to sweat for a few moments while a stewards' enquiry into interference was announced, but there was no objection from runner-up Jeremy Mahot and the placings remained unaltered.

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Prior to Sunday, Clive and Eileen Bennett had paid their first visit to four different courses in 2009 and had returned home with a winner each time. They added another to the list when I Am Said I came from a long way back under Emma Alvis to land the Conditions race, for horses aged ten or over. Their next venture, said Eileen, will be a trip to Upcott Cross on Monday with Boolabawn.

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The Restricted went to Hannah Watson on Jolly Boys Outing, who had worn cheekpieces in previous outings, and on this occasion was equipped with an off-side pricker. "The cheekpieces worried him, and we tried to put two prickers on but it was too tight for him," said owner Rosemary Gasson, who admitted that the six-year-old was very difficult. "I've been told I ought to send him into training but that could blow his mind, so we're going to do all sorts with him this summer, like sponsored rides and going to shows."

Had Jolly Boys Outing misbehaved himself here, another run was in the offing. "We entered for Bonvilston," smiled Rosemary. "I said we'll go to Wales where nobody knows us!"

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Limerick Leader won the Ladies Open with the minimum of fuss in the hands of Gemma Hutchinson, and is due next to go to Dingley. "He has to have a good blow at home because of my weight on his back, not because of how fast we go," laughed Gemma's mother Susan, adding "I kiss him and he bites me!"

The race was marred by the heart attack suffered after the finish by fourth-placed Danaeve, who had given Tammy Webster her first success at Guilsborough last month.

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The second Maiden was split at declaration. There was plenty of banter in the unsaddling enclosure after the Part Two victory of The Stroker between John Manners and the six-year-old's breeder John O'Neill, who informed the owner that he'd got the horse for nothing. "You wouldn't have had a bid if I hadn't been there," retorted Manners, who paid only 1,000gns for The Stroker at Ascot last year.

"Up till now I'd been thinking it was a waste of time coming here," admitted rider David Bass, who had earlier had a couple of very uninspiring rides in the Manners colours. "He's quirky, and all he does is stay," was his verdict on The Stroker, "but he's been working well at home so it wasn't a total surprise."

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Part One went to Patrick Millington on his Zaffarans Scene, who had been placed over hurdles for Nigel Twiston-Davies and who cost his current owner just £1,500gns.

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