REPORT – DUNSTON HARRIERS (SATURDAY 10TH JANUARY)

With the snow and frost experienced in the area during the early part of the week, it was always going to be touch-and-go if the meeting would go ahead. Remarkably and thankfully it was given the green light the afternoon before race day and on arrival there were many positive comments regarding the going at Ampton being “Good all round with Good to Soft down the bottom of the course”.

During the meeting a minute silence was observed in memory of Paul Rackham, respected and successful owner of point-to-pointers and former Master of the Suffolk Hunt and secretary of their point-to-point meeting for a number of years.

Although runners and crowd numbers might have been diminished as a result of the early week, weather uncertainties there were plenty of equine performances to take note of and satisfactory ‘days at the office’ for trainers Gina Andrews and Alan Hill. They both achieved winning doubles, mirrored by Andrews and James King who took the rides, respectively.

Gina’s afternoon started well with a fairly straightforward victory on Mumbo Jumbo in the opening Veteran Horse Conditions race. Always in command, from the front and dominating throughout this ex-Emma Lavelle NH recruit’s record for his trainer under rules did not produce one success in seventeen outings. His current owners, The Odds Socks Partnership, must however be delighted with his current form since he has been pointing, as this was his 5th win from 6 starts and beaten only a length in his one defeat.

Gina looked to be adding another winner to her season’s total, in the Ladies Open contest and with Loughan portraying his customary front-running tactics, the pairing was clear approaching the last. Inexplicably, Loughan capsized leaving Poppy Shaw and Shentri to come through and claim the prize. Loughan had never been on the floor in 9 races under rules and another 25 in points so it certainly was unexpected, for an unfortunate “F” to now be recorded on his form guide. Shentri and Poppy Shaw have had their moments in races having parted company on three occasions in the past but this was their day, much to the joy of the owners, the KM Racing Club. Tullys Touch, the only other contestant, was made odds-on favourite but the race wasn’t run to suit his ‘wait and pounce’ style with Loughan strongly dictating from the front, in his usual manner.

Andrews finished the afternoon in better circumstances, completing her training / riding double on Call Me Early in the Restricted race. Ask Elli made the early running before the eventual winner forged clear round the final bend to win by a handsome 12 lengths. This was another winner of the for the Signy and Marriage Families, who have enjoyed plenty of success since teaming up as owners. This race numerically had the biggest total of runners with 8 facing the starter and trainer Bradley Gibbs would have gone home pleased with the running of the mare Ask Elli whilst the 3rd placed horse, The Dancing Tree, was the only other finisher. The Dancing Tree was restrained by James King for most of the race, out at the back, but made good progress in the latter stages of the contest. Worth noting not just the winner but also both placed horses, as the season progresses. It was a race not without incident with first, Rounditoff suffering severe interference, at a bend, unseating Ellie Holder.

Then at the third last obstacle Karismatik fell, giving Harry O’Dwyer a broken collar bone and hampered Jasmin Des Bordes, in the process, who unseated Tom Frogley.

Alan Hill, responsible for training duties of The Dancing Tree, had earlier completed his double in the Mens Open race. Here, I K Brunel and James King were left solo after the second fence as a consequence of the surprise exit of their only other rival, Go Go Geronimo, who deposited Tom Chatfeild-Roberts after making a monumental blunder in clearing the obstacle. Just like Loughan in Ladies equivalent, this jumping error was totally uncharacteristic which blemishes a previously consistent record but without doubt they will both be back to run and jump more efficiently in future outings.

Hill’s other winner came in the Maiden race where his representative, Jorah, was made favourite after his final rules appearance when running commendably in novice h’cap ‘chase at Lingfield in November. The winner of that race went on to win again, next time out so the form was there to justify his odds-on price. Subsequently privately purchased from Dan Skelton’s stable, by owner Charlotte Covell, Jorah was given a gentle introduction for the initial part of the race, down the field, behind the front-running Indie Rocknroll who was giving Ellie Callwood a super spin with some spectacular fencing. They were still leading three fences out with Jorah gaining ground, under a patient ride by James King but the favourite was in the lead by 2 lengths at the second last, before putting 6 lengths between him and his nearest rival, at the finish. Jorah would have learnt a lot from a really good ride from King and one person who was watching the jumping technique of the winner with a close eye was Izzie Hill. Still on crutches, after sustaining a broken leg in a schooling accident on Jorah. A bit of forgiveness from Izzie, no doubt, after this fine and encouraging performance on his pointing debut.

Seven went to post for the concluding PPORA Novice Riders’ race and the outcome was a 3rd career win for Hugh Lillingston, all achieved on this winner All Loved Up. Originally from Co. Limerick, Hugh couldn’t have been more complimentary about his game, family-owned mare and this was the second training success for young Harry Brown who is based at Kingston Lisle, near Lambourn. Hugh said the ground was probably not really to her liking and although 9 fences in the race were omitted, due to the low sun, Hugh was adamant “ I wouldn’t have minded if we had needed to jump the normal amount of fences “. The favourite Hubrisko, looking for a quick hat-trick of wins this season, failed to get near the leaders and was tiring badly when crashing out at the second last. Fortunately, both Hubrisko and young Cerys Sheehy were able to walk away unscathed.

So it was a relief in the end that the meeting took place on the Saturday, as after a heavy overnight frost that night, any chance of racing the following day, would have been dashed.