09 February 2010 Report: South Pool Harriers - Buckfastleigh
by Lucy Johnson
The Mixed Open race was divided on the day at Buckfastleigh on Sunday where ten races in all were held at the popular fixture.
Cowboyboots took a step closer to lining up in Christie's Foxhunter Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in six weeks time with his owner Charlie Cox hoping to one day equal the record of his late father-in-law John Manners, who won the race with Cavalero 2000. "He also won two Fox Hunters' at Aintree," said Charlie who added that Cowboyboots will now go for either a Hunter Chase at Haydock or Fontwell, where he has won four times, before he heads to the Festival.
Cowboyboots' time was a second faster than first division winner Sericina who justified his favourite's position in the market with a ten length win under Chloe Roddick.
Fastest winner of the day was impressive Exeter Racecourse Intermediate victor Bishy Barnaby who was pushed to the front by Matt Griffiths with a circuit to go and went clear after two out to score a five length success. The dream for owner Carl Ferminger is to have a runner at the Cheltenham Hunter Chase meeting, and that's the plan for the nine-year-old, now he is eligible for the Connolly's Red Mills Final on May 5th.
The Confined Maiden race was split on the day with Richard Woollacott riding both winners. A plan devised six months ago by trainer Alan Walter came off with She's Alright landing a gamble in the first division for her owners David Lockwood and Mike Blackmore, who had bought her for just £1 last summer. "I told them she was a chestnut filly with white legs and they could have her for £1. They agreed, took on the training fees and have now had a winner. She got a touch of a leg when she ran here 23 months ago so we gave her all the time she needed and she's come back to win today. That was the plan!"
Woollacott trains second division winner Henri Prends Garde for John Burrows and John Gardner, having purchased him privately out of Laura Young's last October. "He's fallen a few times but we've worked hard with his jumping . He was bought for fun to run a lot and win a couple and he's won one now so we are halfway there," he said.
The first of three Open Maiden races was incident packed with Alpha Native and Kalamazoo jumping the last fence upsides only for the latter to dive into the crowd ten metres before the line when holding the advantage, leaving Sam Allwood in front and holding on for dear life after his saddle slipped. "This horse is still a big baby, and Sam did well to win after his saddle went right round," said winning owner Peter Clarke who has the horse with Keith Cummings.
The second Maiden when to racecourse debutante Irish Vixen, who cost trainer Richard Barber just £900 at Doncaster Sales two years ago. Ryan Mahon was in the saddle and the trainer said an experienced jockey on a maiden horse was the key to a fine display of jumping.
Lord Lescribaa needed a two hour hack around the lorry park by his trainer Polly Curling before lining up in the third maiden and then the seven-year-old, who is described as a "bit of a monkey" set about the task of winning in good style, taking up the running two fences from home and scoring readily under Diana Hobbs. "He's a nice horse, as long as the going is heavy or soft, he's just a bit tricky in every other way," said Curling.
Turtle Tim, a real favourite in Leslie Jefford's yard where he is ridden out by his wife Lisa and her friends, was a short price in the betting to win the first Restricted race with Neil Harris on board, and he did so by seven lengths. "Tim Dennis found him for us in Ireland and he came here in August. He a really lovely horse with the character of a little pony," said Jefford who trains him for Mike Pidsley.
The final race of the day went to the improving Print The Money who won nicely in the hands of Joe Tickle. Winning trainer Becky Kennen said: "It's so lovely for Joe to win on him again. I've know Joe for years and its really lovely that he is now riding for me."
