04 May 2010 Report: South Shropshire - Eyton-on-Severn
by Arthur Shone
The large crowd were treated to a cracking day's racing at Eyton-on-Severn at the South Shropshire meeting on May Bank Holiday Monday.
Clerk of the Course Johnny Cornes had watered the course for a total of 40 hours during the week prior to the meeting to ensure decent ground.
It is going to take a very good horse to beat Vicario in the Bangor Final in two weeks judging by the ease of his victory in the Mens Open. The son of Vettori, running in the well-known colours of the flamboyant Owner Derek Malam, won with his head in his his chest by 25 lengths from Belligerent under a very confident ride from Josh Hamer; the runner-up had beaten the winner previously at the Tanatside meeting.
Vicario is trained at Cholmondley by Sian McCain, who is building up a reputation as a good Trainer of Point-to-Pointers; she won this race last year as well with Maurice. Speaking after the race, she said, "When he was beaten here in March we had held him up; we decided this time that we would make more use of him in the race and I am delighted as we gave the rest of the field 7lbs as well. He came out of his win Alpraham very well, so the plan was to run here and get another race into him before the Bangor Final in two weeks time. I will also be running Ice Tea in the Bangor Final as well, he is also owned by Derek Malam."
The 2m4f Maiden saw Zaracha land a real touch from 7/1 to 10/11. The Zagreb gelding was ridden very confidently by Will Kinsey who took up the running four out and cruised home by four lengths from Sunny Legend with Red O'Donnel a length back in third.
The winner is trained at Aberley by Zoe Hammond who was recording her fifth success from seven runners for Market Drayton Owner Don Constable. The win did not come as a surprise to Constable, as speaking after the race he said, "He deserved to go off as favourite, as he had very good form in Ireland when trained by Liam Burke, the form of his last race in Ireland has worked out really well."
Will Kinsey went on to complete a double aboard Underwriter in the Confined, in what turned out to be the best finish of the day. A vintage ride from Kinsey, who was recording his 10th win on the season, saw the partnership hold a narrow lead at the last before being challenged on either side on the run-in by Broken Reed and the fast-finishing Fresh Fruit; in a driving finish they held to win a thriller by half a length from Broken Reed with Fresh Fruit a further head back in third.
The winner is trained at Tattenhall in Cheshire by Reg Crank and owned by Janet Greenway. The gelding was purchased by the Owner's son David Greenway at the Doncaster Sales two years ago and used to be trained under Rules by Ferdy Murphy.
Only two runners went to post for the opening Members race, which saw Golden Harvey finish alone under Adam Wadlow as the The Unamed Man unseated Kirsty Willis at the second last when beaten. The winner is owned and trained by the South Shropshire Hunt Secretary Jessica Scott.
Another horse to finish alone was the Sue Sharratt-trained and ridden Scotsmail Too in the Ladies Open; Murphy's Million crumpled on landing after jumping the last, throwing the rider on the ground. After what seemed like an eternity with the screens around the horse, he got up unscathed after being badly winded, which prompted plenty of applause from the crowd, thankfully Immy Robinson suffered no more that a few bruises.
Sheriffhales Trainer Caroline Robinson did not leave the Shropshire course empty handed after the impressive Restricted victory of Oscar D'Angaron, who pulled clear between the last two fences under Adam Wadlow, who was completing a double; the combination beat the useful Enter Paradise by eight lengths, with Glenarouske third.
The winner is an ex-Million In Mind horse which was bought at the Doncaster Sales by Pattingham Owner Roy Swinburne, who has been a great supporter of this sport for many years; he co-owns the winner with his partner Louise Powis. Robinson thinks a lot of the winner, speaking afterwards she said, "I have always thought he had plenty of ability, it has been a case of teaching him to run three miles, he pleased me today with his jumping, I will see how he comes out of this race and he may run next in a Hunter Chase at Aintree this Friday."
It was like old times seeing the former Shifnal Trainer Heather Dalton back in the winners enclosure again. Her colours as an Owner were carried to victory by Front Street who made every yard under Luke Morgan to win the Open Maiden easily from Gem Mill; Maddy Lewis stayed to be third. The winner, who is trained at Lambourn by Derek Laverty, will be going to the Doncaster Sales at the end of the month.
