31 December 2007 South Devon Hunts Club - Ideford Arch
Richard Woollacott: reigning Devon and Cornwall champion
It was a day of doubles at Ideford Arch on Sunday where a busy crowd enjoyed a marathon ten race card.
Reigning Devon and Cornwall champion Richard Woollacott got off the scoreboard with two winners, initiated by King Georges in the opening Members race. Trained by Woollacott's partner Emely Thompson, the ten-year-old took up the running four fences from home and stayed on well. He is owned by John Pearn whose daughter Alice is likely to ride him in Novice Rider races later in the season.
Woollacott doubled up on Come What Augustus who took the fastest of four maiden races over two and a half miles. The winner was bought as a replacement for Bill Westacott's Polligana and was in command from two out after main rival Pingaro de La Vire unseated David Maxwell.
Fred Hutsby scored with Campden Society, owner Peter Gardner's first ever Point-to-Point winner, in the first Maiden and the rider reported he had improved for his run at Cottenham three weeks ago. But Hutsby was denied a double after Hugo Hackenbush threw him into the wing at the final fence in the third Maiden after eventual winner Cool Defender, ridden by Jonathon Jarrett, looked to unnerve him when bumping into him approaching the fence.
Matt Hazel, who trains the six-year-old for his owner breeder Sheila Nash, said: "Cool Defender nearly died when he reared over and suffered head injuries as a five-year-old."
The last of the four Maiden's went to the Ian Popham-ridden Winning Connection who was the first half of a double for Marie McGuinness.
A good jump at the last secured the win for the four-year-old who shrugged off the challenge of Tandori on the run-in to score a three length win. Standing little more than 15hh high, the winner was bought by McGuinness out of Ascot Sales last year (2006). "He's so small I don't think anyone else wanted him. But he is such a star and he does everything at home. His owner Richard House has been so supportive of me after I sold him a horse I bred which didn't work out so I let him have this chap," said McGuinness.
Double Honour's abundant stamina came in to play in a classy looking Mixed Open, where a quality field of 14 runners went to post. The nine-year-old stayed on resolutely to win but McGuinness admitted the horse has her on edge. "You never really know with him and the secret is to keep him sweet," she said before adding: "He may go to Dunthrop for his next race and will be kept pointing." Jockey Diana Hobbs excelled on the grey, but the 18-year-old rider is likely to lose the ride to sister Katherine as she leaves for Canada early in January to take a two months ski instructors course.
Lady Myfanwy began her winning sequence at Ideford Arch last year where she won her Maiden and became the subsequent National Novice Champion, and she began the season in winning form again, this time taking the Novice Riders race with the talented 16-year-old Rhys Flint on board.
Little Ed took the prize in the Intermediate after rider Rhys Hughes survived an early race blunder. "He lost his confidence after that so I sat quietly for a bit before getting him into the race," reported Hughes. A Hunter Chase may be on the agenda for the Robert Scrine trained nine-year-old.
Two Open Maiden races concluded the card with the Ross Oliver owned and trained Wee Fly taking the first division after she stayed on well under Polly Gundry and Graham Brown's home bred Throwaround taking the second division under Lucy Gardner.
