03 March 2009 Report: Taunton Vale Foxhounds - Kingston St Mary
TIGGA BARNES: jumping the last on the way to winning the Confined Hunts race
Sam Allwood made a wonderful recovery on impressive debutante Amber Love in an incident-packed young horse Maiden (Division 1) at Kingston St Mary.
"The saddle slipped and I nearly came off, but I eventually managed to yank the saddle back in place and recover my irons", explained Sam. Amber Love was soon back in contention and was left clear when Golden Benefit refused at the second last, depositing his jockey Ian Popham and hampering Marquee (Tigga Barnes).
"Vic [Squires] bought Amber Love at Ascot last year out of Carl Llewellyn's yard, and she races for him and his friends from the Greyhound Inn, Stogursey", said Andrew Pope, representing Stolford trainer Julie Pocock.
A big crowd saw Ian Popham and Tigga Barnes enjoy better fortunes later in the afternoon. Pimbury, who won over 2½ miles at Barbury in January before putting up a good performance behind Royal Auclair in a 2½ mile Sandown Hunter Chase, allayed any stamina doubts when sprinting clear for Ian in the Restricted race.
"He wandered about a bit at Barbury, but he's learning and switched off nicely today", said Forde Abbey handler Jane Western, who trains the 7yo for The Hi Ho Friends. Another outing at Buckfastleigh on Sunday could be on the cards.
Tigga's Confined race win on Martin Pitchwood left Brent Knoll trainer Sally Hutchings full of praise for lass Keria Clark. "Keria does all the schooling and the plan is for her to ride Martin Pitchwood in a race later in the season".
Barney Blue made a tremendous seasonal debut in the Men's Open. Will White kicked on up the final climb and was always holding Imperial Sun (Ian Popham), who finally lost all chance with a blunder at the second last. Barney Blue, a strong stayer who seems to act on all surfaces, is now unbeaten in his last four outings.
Mark Heuff rode his fourth career winner on Espresso Forte in the two-runner Hunt Members race. Dan Collins kept Saorsie in contention for much of the race, but Espresso Forte forged well clear up the straight.
Matt Griffiths took the outright lead in the Men's Novices table on Keep Him Keen in the older horse Maiden. "We bought him unraced at Ascot as a 5yo and he's needed time to mature", said owner Graham Kivell, who recalled Procedure winning "in the fog at Great Trethew" in his colours.
Elsewhere on the card, Danny Cook, in contention for this year's Amateur under Rules, was seen to good effect on Nigel and Sarah Faulks' Misstree Dancer in the second young horse Maiden and Polly Gundry opened a three-winner gap at the head of the Ladies' point-to-point list on Ballybrown, who eased 20 lengths clear of his rivals in the Ladies' Open.
The Quest Cars Charity Flat Race, which has already raised £2,500 for Help For Heroes, went to Marcus Chambers aboard Big Fun, who was in the van throughout and held off Diamond Monroe (Johnny Sumption), Magical Flight (Jessie North) and Bright Approach (Bridget Burbidge).
