01 March 2010 Scene & Heard: Thurlow - Horseheath
by Carolyn Tanner
UNOWATIMEEN: Cheltenham bound
photo: Phil Britt
The Sheila Crow-trained Unowatimeen earned his Cheltenham ticket when making all the running to win the Mens Open and provide rider Richard Burton with the first leg of his treble.
Owner Jon Middleton, who has six mares at his Sandicroft Stud near Nantwich, has seen his colours carried by some useful horses, including Exit Swinger and Majed. Until his recent Hunter Chase run at Bangor, Unowatimeen had been off the course for two years, having fractured two ribs and punctured a lung in a fall at Aintree.
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Richard's two later winners were for trainer Fergal O'Brien, who was in Ireland celebrating his parents' 50th wedding anniversary. William and Angela Rucker's Horsham Lad landed the Restricted and Fergal's wife Jelly was quick to hand much of the credit for the victory to Sam Drinkwater, who rides the six-year-old at home.
"He used to throw himself all over the place when we got him," reported Jelly, "but we turned him out every day with one companion and it seemed to calm him down."
"He went so long at the second that I didn't think he'd get there," admitted Richard. "I said he's got no scope, but he's proved me wrong."
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One of Horsham Lad's intended rivals was Echo India, trained by Richard's brother-in-law Will Kinsey, but a blow-out on his lorry prevented him from making it to the track. Will himself was picked up by fellow jock Jonathon Jarrett, but was out of luck with his only ride of the day, his mount in the Open, Tragic Realm, pulling up.
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The Burton-O'Brien combination was in the winner's enclosure again when Badger Sett, owned by Angela's mother Pat Tollit, took the Maiden Division Two. The six-times Ladies champion missed the victory though, having stayed closer to home to watch her Virginia Preuil run at the North Hereford. Partnered by Pat's granddaughter Phine Banks, Virginia Preuil finished fourth in the Ladies Open.
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Mid Div And Creep's love affair with Horseheath continued, her Ladies Open triumph under Kelly Smith being her sixth course success out of six appearances, although her participation was in doubt until the morning of the race. "She knocked her fetlock yesterday," said trainer Derek Harding-Jones, who admitted to "a night of concern - I only made love once instead of six times!!"
An avid Arsenal supporter, Derek was wearing his red and white scarf, which matched Mid Div And Creep's colours, but although his team was due to be in action that evening (they won at Stoke), Derek was told in no uncertain terms that he would be joining the victory celebrations at home!
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A quality field lined up for the Intermediate, won impressively by Hannah Watson on Rosemary Gasson's Jolly Boys Outing. "He's not nasty but he is slightly difficult," explained Rosemary, who had gone to the start to make sure her charge behaved himself. "He's like a coiled spring at home - when he moves, he moves quickly! And he doesn't do the mounting block. Hannah can jump on, but otherwise we have to follow him round carrying a stool until he's ready!"
"I think he was a tricky youngster and got a pasting," she added. "We never hit him or touch him because I don't think he'd take it."
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Romper Stomper, who had shown signs of a return to form at Cottenham three weeks previously, confirmed the promise of a couple of years back with an easy victory in the Club Members' race. "Jody's the key," smiled trainer Louise Allan, referring to rider Jody Sole. The equine dentist, who lives in Sussex, piloted Romper Stomper to his Maiden success in 2006 and has taken over the reins again.
Having done £1,000 worth of damage to Louise's lorry with his antics, Romper Stomper now has a travelling companion to keep him calm. "We went to the Links, ten minutes away, without one and shouldn't have done," said Louise, who is based at Longholes Stud, just outside Newmarket.
"It will be a nice discussion to have, to see where we go next," commented owner Milton Smith, described by Louise as "a very patient man."
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Jenny Pidgeon's "mummy's pet," aka Orient Legend, took the first Maiden division in the hands of a relieved Tom Ellis. Having opened his seasonal account on the opening day at Black Forest Lodge, Tom's record read eight falls from 24 rides.
"I ought to sell my one-third share, but I don't want to," said Jenny, who doesn't let anyone else ride the tall seven-year-old - "a big 17.2" according to co-owner Peter Riddle - at home.
The third member of the partnership, Paul Clayton, is obviously a believer in coincidence. Paul, who belongs to the syndicate which owns Bouggler, pointed out that this was Orient Legend's eighth outing and it took the useful hurdler the same number of runs to get off the mark on the flat.
Tom added another victory to his tally the following day when Pirate Depp took one of the Maidens at North Carlton.
