15 May 2009 Report: Weston & Banwell Harriers - Cothelstone
by Brian & Gill Armstrong
OVERLUT: and Rhys Hughes, a successful Welsh raid in the Mens Open
photo: Tim Holt
Rhys Hughes rode his ninth consecutive winner on Overlut in the Men's Open, taking his seasonal tally to 20 - just one below his best-ever score.
Overlut made most of the running and was already well clear when Championship-chasing Dave Mansell pulled up nearest pursuer Maranach at the third last. "That's Overlut's fifth win of the season and Robert trains the first [Bob Bites Back] and the second [Overlut] in the National Young Horse table", said John Moore, representing winning handler Robert Scrine. "They'll both go to Stratford now - Bob Bites Back for the [pointtopoint.co.uk] John Corbet and Overlut for the 2¼ mile race on the Friday evening [22nd May]".
Welsh stables took two other races on the card. Lady Myfanwy - "my little poppet", said trainer Myfanwy Miles - made it seven wins (six points, one Hunter Chase) for the season, leading after the penultimate in the Ladies Open. "It's such a luxury to partner her - I've been asking for the ride for a year", revealed Alex Smith-Maxwell, joint assistant trainer at Henry Daly's licensed yard.
Berkeley Court, partnered by James Stephens and trained by his grandfather, Owen Stephens, landed the Restricted. "We bought him at Ascot in August for £3,000 and he races in my late father Harvey Heaven's colours", said Chepstow owner Melanie Heaven.
Berkeley Court's former owner-trainer Chris Popham was in the winner's enclosure after Matt Griffiths reached the 16-winner mark - four clear of Toby Greenall in the Novices list - on Thunder Child in the Novice Riders' race. "We've had Thunder Child for six years, but this is his first season pointing and he loves it", said Chris, representing his wife, Sue.
Jockey Ryan Bliss was smiling after Nick Hillier's Humbel Origins had taken the Confined race. "I bought this horse for £1,600 at Doncaster to win the Avon Vale Hunt race, which Nick did, and this is the first time I've sat on him", said Ryan. Sent off the 20/1 outsider of six, Humbel Origins led up the final hill and held on after the Ben White-trained Goblet Of Fire (ridden by Michael Miller) put in a determined challenge and jumped the last upsides.
The Maiden race was divided at declaration. Richard Hawkins rode his second career winner on Magical Flight. The horse gave a fine front running display for Bridgwater trainer Christine Gray and owner-breeder Hilary Handel. In Division 2, owner Brenda Bowditch - who runs the Colmer Stud near Beaminster - got off the mark when Nick Williams forced the Chloe Roddick-trained Lockerley Man in front after jumping the last upsides runner-up Mayfair Tambourine (ridden by Will White).
