19 January 2009 Report: West Street Tickham - Detling
HIGHLAND CHIEF: provides Phillip Hall with his first winner at Detling
The South East's Point-to-Point season got off to a cracking start on Sunday 18th January with seven races at Detling.
Riders Pete Bull and Philip York shared the honours with a double apiece, Philip Hall rode his first-ever winner at the course, Cynthia Haydon caused an upset on her father's horse, and Joshua Moore, from a family of top jockeys, rode his first winner in the novice riders' race.
On a bright, dry but cold day, the going was officially good, although race times got slower as the day progressed. Shock of the day came in the Ladies' Open, where Big Moment was a hot favourite - as short as 1-4 with some bookies. Cynthia Haydon and Roaringwater, owned by her father Michael, dominated on the final circuit to land a local victory by two lengths.
Pete Bull, who won the first race of the South East season last year, rode Ann Blaker's Sidney Charles to an impressive six lengths win in Division 1 of the maiden. He went on to complete a double on his own Master Alf in the Restricted and now leads the South-East men's championship.
To the surprise of many, 2007 SE champion Philip Hall had never ridden a winner at Detling - until Highland Chief stormed to a 15 length victory in the second race. Philip, who also trains the very useful winner, set the fastest time of the day when beating Magnus Veritas.
Philip York took division two of the maiden with the promising 6-year-old Nessa, going on to complete his double on Dante's Storm in the Mens' Open. Unbeaten in seven Point-to-Points since his debut in May two years ago, Dante's Storm has clocked up seven wins, three of them at Detling.
