REPORT – FOUR BURROW (MONDAY 6TH APRIL)

A plentiful crowd enjoyed some great racing on Easter Monday at
Trebudannon. Six races took place under the viewing of many a
picnic goer.

The first race on the card, the Truro Property Development Four
Burrow Hunt Members, saw two Wadebridge winners, Madame Le
Strange and Clonagoose lock horns in the Logan Rock Inn, and Peter
George Transport Hunt Members Race. Clonagoose had racked up
three wins this season, while his rival had won twice. The pair
jumped off together before Clonagoose took the lead at the sixth
fence and Madame Le’strange never threatened to gain the lead
again. Ed Vaughan punched the air as he crossed the line a cosy two
and half lengths clear. Clonagoose is owned by two true pointing
enthusiasts. Torbyn Hughes and John Gardner, who, after the race,
said; “He’s a nice young horse, he’s not overly big, but he’s got a
heart and wants to win. We will leave it up to Dean (Summersby)
what he wants to do, but I think he will run a couple more times this
season, but it depends on the ground.” Reflecting on his time in the
sport, which has seen his red and blue silks being carried for 58-years,
John continued; “We have had a lot of fun, but also had a lot of bad
days. We lost Electric Jet at the first meeting, and he was a lovely
young horse. I’m afraid we don’t like it, but it is part of racing. We
have met a lot of lovely people and made a lot of friends. Sonia and I
love our pointing.”

The second race on the card was the St Ewe Restricted race. Four
went to post, with Emmas Wish going off the 1-2 favourite. Her chief
rival was Lough Owel, who had finished second on both his starts
this season and was being partnered by Hattie Grose, who was
having her first ride. Emmas Wish had completed a fabulous five
timer for Darren Andrews at the previous meeting and the pair
scored once more. This time by twelve lengths, from the Ryan Chapman trained Share A Moment, who outran his 10-1 odds.
Reflecting on the race, Darren said; “Luckily the front two got racing
down the back and I just sat and suffered. I was a bit worried but as
soon as I turned in on the better ground, she took off and did it nicely
in the end.” Reflecting on his five timer and his recent success, which
saw him ride his 100th career win, Darren continued; “It meant a lot.
On the back of last year, I wanted to give up, I hated the game. To
come back now and to be on 13 wins for the season and two under
rules and be riding more, I’m riding a wave and enjoying it. I only
came back to get the 100 and for the people I ride for. To prove that
last season was too bad to be true and show I’ve still got it.”

Next up was the TLS Solicitors Ladies Open. This is one race that Josh
Newman couldn’t win as a jockey, however he was still in the
winner’s enclosure thanks to training Important Notice. The 8-year-
old had won at the track eight days earlier, and Hannah Morgan was
keen to adopt the same tactics as Darren Andrews had used to
success. Jubertilee headed Important Notice approaching the last
fence and looked to overturn the favourite. However, a good jump at
the last sealed the deal for Important Notice and secured Hannah
Morgan’s second success of the weekend. Speaking after the race,
Hannah said; “I just kept it simple and tried to repeat what Darren
did. I just got a better jump at the last, he came for me when I
needed him. I really appreciate having Josh and Kayley giving me
the chances this weekend. You need people behind you to help you.”

The Truro Tractors Maiden, saw an interesting debutant for Josh
Newman, in Cherry Lane. A full sister to Jet Smart. Josh also trained
Seveenteenothree and it appeared as if he had chosen to ride the
wrong one as Seveenteenothree led going to the last. However, it
was the Tim Vaughan trained Mini Yeats who went on to score by
three-quarters of a length, despite hanging left. Talking after the race, winning rider, Freddy Robson said; “He came second at Howick
a couple of weeks ago and that was his first run pointing. I was
pleased with him that day, but even more so today with getting his
head in front.”

The penultimate race of the afternoon was the John Parnall
Memorial Mens Open. Five went to post, with recent winner Call
Simon, prolific winner, Quintin’s Man and Hearts Corner; winner of
two races this season, making it an interesting race. Hearts Corner
dealt with the competition effortlessly, making all and winning by 15
lengths, despite jumping right on several occasions. After the race,
winning trainer and jockey, Josh Newman said; “Hearts Corner isn’t
really one to go out and do it the hard way but he had to as no one
was going to go on and he’s won it easily. He doesn’t make it feel like
that, he can make it hard work. After three out I glanced and saw Call
Simon and I’ve seen him before, if he’s still there, he can come with a
rattle, so I didn’t want to give him a chance so I kept the revs up.”

The Lodge and Thomas and Care and Company Maiden, provided the
moment of the day with Josh Newman somehow managing to win.
Get To The Point had led them along until Champagne Blue took over
with three to jump. Absolute Grey produced a challenge heading to
the last and was left in the lead when Champagne Blue hit the fence
and left Josh Newman in all sorts of trouble. At the buckle end of the
reins and all but out the back door, Josh somehow defied gravity for
several strides. With the partnership still intact, Josh now set about
clawing back the lead. Emulating the long-legged look of Andrew
Thornton, Josh, with his feet out of the irons, got his mount up to win by
half a length. The delighted crowd let out a great cheer as they
realised, backing the favourite had not been a waste. A pretty self-
deprecating Josh said; “There wasn’t really a stride to the last and I
didn’t really do anything, which is pretty bad riding! He dived through it and slipped my reins and nearly came out the back of
him. It just shows if that didn’t happen, he would have gone on and
won by a couple of lengths.”