Report – Berks & Bucks Draghounds (Sunday 24th May)

James King reigned supreme with a fabulous four-timer at the Berks & Bucks Draghounds Point-to-Point at Kingston Blount, near Chinnor, on Sunday.

The four-time champion men’s rider enjoyed a perfect afternoon at the sun-drenched Oxfordshire track with victory on all four of his rides.

Aston Rowant trainer Alan Hill has been a big ally as the Warwickshire-based rider has established an unassailable lead on his way to a fifth title and he supplied three of his winners in Normofthenorth, IK Brunel and Gorvitho.

King’s quartet was made up by No Hard Feelings, trained by Evie Toozer, for owner Luke Price, whose Ynysybwl stables, near Pontypridd, have also been a major source of winners for the Gaydon jockey.

Normofthenorth kick-started King’s day with a pillar-to-post success in the CBTR Conditions Race (Level 3) on his first run since finishing a short-head second in the same contest last year.

Producing an accurate round of jumping, the 12-year-old romped home by 15 lengths from Bluescape and Harry O’Dwyer for an 11th win between the flags as only two of the four runners completed.

King commented: “It’s an excellent training performance and all credit to the horse and the team. What a superstar he is.”

Hill, who also owns the gelding as part of the 3 Farmers Partnership with Martin Redman and Maurice Thomas, played down his role in the gelding’s comeback.

“Norm is the most enthusiastic horse that one could ever train,” he said. “He comes out every day and wants to show everyone how good he is.

“He ran in this last year and came home sore, so we gave him six months off. We got him back in and about a month ago picked this race out. We will see how he is and maybe give him a run under rules in the summer.”

With the ground officially described as Good, Good to Firm in places, 30 runners faced the starter and Hill and Redman enjoyed further reward for their efforts in preparing the course when IK Brunel landed the Mutlucan Mixed Open for the third year running.

King delivered a tactical masterclass on the 12-year-old, setting a steady pace before slowing it down as the free-going 4-7 favourite The Big Lense went on only to unseat at the eighth fence.

That left IK Brunel back in front and King kept up the gallop before holding off What a Glance and Charlie Case by a length and a half for a fifth win at the track. Bass Rock was 25 lengths back in third.

King said: “He is a super horse and has been an absolutely brilliant servant for everyone. He loves Kingston Blount and Alan has done an amazing job with him.”

Hill, who trains the gelding for the IK Brunel Partnership consisting of Redman and his wife, Lynn, Rodney and Gillie Mann and Maurice Thomas, added: “On paper we could not win the race, but one thing we could do was jump off, go a nice gallop for the first half circuit, get into a rhythm and then slow it and it worked.”

King shone again when No Hard Feelings completed a hat-trick in the 5G Communications Restricted.

Tellmesomethingood raced into a clear lead under Huw Edwards while King closed in on the Price-owned six-year-old after making stealthy progress from midfield only to be rocked by a mistake three out.

The Hill-trained front-runner found more more and it was only after joining battle at the last, that No Hard Feelings got the upper hand on the run-in to score by three lengths.

Myfanwy, the only other finisher from the eight starters, was subsequently disqualified following an objection by the clerk of the scales.

While Toozer attended to No Hard Feelings, Price commented: “James was as cool as a cucumber. He has come back and got a good jump where it mattered.

“Evie’s my partner and works for me. She has always been pestering me to train one, so I said you can have this one.

“He was with Michael Goff in Ireland and then Shark Hanlon, who recommended him. I think I will sell him, whether that is to stay in the yard or to someone to have a bit of fun under rules summer jumping.”

King wrapped up his four-timer while Hill completed his treble when the ex-Willie Mullins trained Gorvitho saw new owner Nick Quesnel bring down the curtain on his 35 years as Meeting Secretary with a winner in the Thorn Plant Hire Maiden.

The Berks & Bucks Draghounds chairman, who had earlier delivered his usual enthusiastic commentary as Maverick won the Draghound Race, sponsored by Diana Wethered, was thrilled to see King make all the running on the seven-year-old to score by 30 lengths from Dave’s Sister and Case, the only other finisher.

With the presentation bringing the biggest cheer of the day, Quesnel gave much of the credit to Hill’s assistant and son, Joe, who sourced the 8,000gns purchase from the Tattersalls April Online Sale

“I just paid the cheque,” he said. “Going out with a winner has made it a perfect day. My wife only knew I had bought this horse 10 minutes before the race!”

Hill Snr commented: “Nick rang up a few months ago to say today was going to be his last day and he would love to have a horse run here. Then Joe got more involved and found this horse and the plot was to win here today.”

King added of his fourth winner: “He is a big baby. He will improve a lot and is hopefully a horse with a bright future.”

Katie Featherstone sealed her leading ladies’ novice rider title, sponsored by Highflyer Bloodstock, when repeating her course win of two weeks earlier on Empire De Maulde.

Senior Citizen attempted to make all in the Oakingham Stud PPORA Club Members Conditions Race (Level 2) For Novice Riders and still held a six-length lead over Featherstone’s mount when taking a crashing fall at the fourth-last, with Alfie Shalliker suffering a broken collar-bone.

That left the Robert Varnham-trained 12-year-old clear to come home by 25 lengths from Ilmig and Dewi Haddock in the 2m 5f contest.

Commenting on the leader’s exit, Featherstone said of Empire De Maulde: “He still would have won. I was just closing and was quite lucky that the faller didn’t hamper me. He does quicken very well.”

And reflecting on her title triumph, she added: “It is really good to have an achievement like that especially as not many people from the south east win a championship.”

Varnham, who was sporting 12 stitches after being head-butted by a filly at his Bramley stables, near Guildford, revealed the Gunshot Paddocks Racing Club-owned gelding had been bound for Stratford’s hunter chase meeting before it was cancelled due to the increase in reported cases of equine influenza.

“He was going to go in the ladies, so now he has won £260 rather than £6,000,” he said. “It is very understandable and it is what it is.”

Bruce Vaughan posted his second winner as a rider and first as a trainer when Designer Destiny gained a deserved success in the Simply Salt Owner-Trainer Conditions Race (Level 3).

The Cardiff-based cousin of rider Ed Vaughan dictated the three-runner affair on the 12-year-old mare, before winding up the pace going to four out.

And his mount had enough in hand to hold off the rallying Castletown and Lucas Murphy by two-and-three-quarter lengths.

Vaughan, 16, who works for Christian Williams, said: “She has been consistent all year and just knocking at the door. I thought she had a win in her before the end of the season. It’s nice to have a race for people that own and train horses.”

SOUTH MIDLANDS & SANDHURST AREA AWARDS

Leading Horse: James ‘Chub’ Castle’s Bluescape. Trainer: Alan Hill. Trainer (5 horses or fewer): Harry Brown. Men’s Rider: Lucas Murphy. Lady Rider: Molly Armytage. Novice Rider: Lucas Murphy. Mare: James ‘Chub’ Castle’s Bluescape. John D Wood Award: Nick Quesnel. Special Award: Jenny Durie.

KINGSTON BLOUNT & KIMBLE CHAMPIONSHIPS

Leading Horse: The Dancing Tree. Rider: James King.