26 April 2011 Report: North Cotswold - Paxford
by Peter Mansell
Despite extensive efforts by the organisers, there was a shortage of runners for Monday's North Cotswold meeting at Paxford.
Marcella Bayliss gained some compensation for Ruperts Vision's narrow defeat at Andoversford when the eight-year-old claimed the Members prize for the Naunton-based owner/trainer. Richard Spencer took the favourite to the front from the start before William McNeile and Danse Macabre moved up between the 12th and 14th fences. They failed to match the pace of the winner over the final four fences however, and were 12-lengths adrift at the post.
The next three races, the West Midland Area Club Conditions, the Ladies Open and the Mens Open, all turned out to be matches.
In the first, Mark Wilesmith was content to let Mark Wall make the running on Isle of Skye, but the long time leader had no answer when his solitary rival moved into a challenging position at the far end of the course. Buckingham Bill was two lengths clear jumping the 15th and the favourite was unable to respond to this injection of pace. The leader had opened up an eight length advantage at the penultimate and went on to record a 20 length success in the colours of Bill Booth.
"At last," commented the jockey after the race, as his wife's Upton-upon-Severn stable had recorded their first win of the season. He also reported "He's back to himself now, he travelled easily, although he didn't beat much."
Celestial Dragon won his second Ladies Open in 12 days for Sherborne trainer James Richardson and owner Bill Parker after a pillar to post victory against Silver Jaro. There was little between the pair approaching the 16th, but Celestial Dragon comprehensively outjumped the runner up who capitulated soon afterwards.
Mark Wall steered Sheknowsyouknow to an easy victory over Tuesday's Child in the Mens Open. Tom Bellamy's mount led over the first three fences but the pace was obviously not quick enough for the favourite who took up the running soon afterwards. The mare extended her lead over the final four fences and passed the post as her rival was jumping the last. Mike Hawker, the mare's Chippenham-based owner/trainer explained after the race "She normally wears cheekpieces, but she did not run her race at Taunton, so I wanted something to make her concentrate more".
Woodsgift started as the outsider of four in the Restricted but rewarded his supporters with a hard fought win over Mulranny. Richard Spencer had the winner in front from flagfall and he held on grimly as Mulranny tried to bridge the gap over the final three fences.
The eight-year-old runs in the colours of his Staffordshire-based owner/trainer Martin Wanless, who bought the winner privately in Ireland before qualifying him with the Worcestershire.
Fergal O'Brien and jockey Sam Drinkwater had to settle for the runner-up berth with Mulranny, but went one better when Posh Trip proved seven-lengths too good for Panicmadic in the Four, Five, Six and seven-year-old Open Maiden. Posh Trip and Panicmadic slugged it out over the last half-mile before the former asserted at the second from home which allowed Sam Drinkwater to secure the prize for Christine Banks' home-bred gelding.
The five runner eight-year-old and upward Maiden provided the closest finish of the day. Willing Weasal took early control of this race but his rivals began to whittle away his advantage on the final circuit. Bonny Jago made his effort at the penultimate and there was probably half a length between the pair at the final obstacle, but Willing Weasel hung on doggedly to provide rookie trainer Melissa Chesterman and 21-year-old Shane O'Keefe with their first winners.
