21 April 2009 Report: Worcestershire - Chaddesley Corbett
by Pete Mansell
ICOMBE: first ride for Bethan Eckley
photo: Alex Harris
A capacity crowd were treated to some top class racing during the Worcestershire Point-to-Point at Chaddesley Corbett on Saturday afternoon with the day's feature event, The Lady Dudley Cup, going to the favourite Distant Thunder who travelled up from the South and West Wiltshire country.
The race developed into a battle between Gaelsbob and Distant Thunder during the final half mile, with the former holding a narrow lead until departing at the third from home, so racegoers air of anticipation became somewhat of an anticlimax as the favourite was left in an unassailable lead.
The afternoon had started off well for the Himbleton stable of William and Angela Rucker who took the Members race with Petit Lord. She got a good run up on the inside on the final bend and while Tom Weston was hard at work on Carthargo, Mrs Rucker was sitting motionless and went on to score and easy success.
This was Angela's eighth win of the season and surpassed her previous best total and she acknowledged afterwards "it is always nice to win a race at your home meeting". She went on to ride her 9th winner on Hambaphambili at Andoversford on Sunday.
Later in the afternoon Mrs Rucker and Honest Endeavour finished runners-up in the Ladies Open behind Parsifal who carries the colours of Worcester owner Graham Fisher. The gloss was taken off this victory as the winner appeared to suffer a career threatening injury during the course of this race.
Parsifal turned for home with a 20-length advantage over Honest Endevour and Casalani, but they had no chance of winning until Parsifal made a catastrophic blunder at the second from home. Claire Allen picked her mount up off the ground and although their lead had been significantly reduced the winner was soon back on an even keel and eventually prevailed by five lengths.
There was a surprise result in the Confined, which resulted in a pillar to post victory for Adrian Wintle's mount All Things Equal.
The 10-year-old son of Supreme Leader was sent to the front from the start and their lead increased significantly.
The winner had been off the course for 18 months "so we did not know how fit he was" explained Russell Owens who co-owns the horse with Julie Devey. Both are based in the Croome and West Warwickshrie country near Ragley Hall.
Richard Burton and Claire Allen showed why they are both so much in demand with narrow wins.
Burton teamed up with the Alison Dare trained Rocklandslad in the Restricted and they got the better of History Master in a driving finish, while Allen did likewise on Percy Mole in Division I of the Maiden.
