REPORT – FLETE PARK RACES (SATURDAY 18TH APRIL)

Flete Park hosted their first of two meetings this season at their Ivybridge course on Saturday 18^th April. The event is a real family affair with several members of the Treneer family involved in the preparation and running of the raceday. Michael Treneer is not only Clerk of the Course at Flete but also had a ride on the day in the NWFAA Maiden. Flete is a unique course, and it always plays host to an exciting program of events.  

8 runners went to post in the opening Restricted race, sponsored by Bartons Solicitors. The Tim Vaughan trained Mini Yeats raced prominently throughout the race and battled hard with Banzigkane and Make Idaho Great in the closing stages but it was Make Idaho Great that had the fractional lead over the final race, and held that lead on the inside rail to the line with Mini Yeats right on his heels. Make Idaho Great has had a successful start to his career, having won 3 races from 3 starts already this season for loyal owners John and Sonia Gardener who are now 2 points clear as IZUZU UK sponsored Leading Owners in the National Champtionship.  

The Totnes & Bridgetown Races Company Grassroots Series Conditions (Level 2) was very eventful, and both Janie Edworthy and Alice Frampton were looking for their first win between the flags. Madame Le’strange was jumping for fun out in front but Get off Your Phone and Ashley Dascombe were pushing the leader as they came downhill for the final time but unseated Dascombe when slipping on the bend. Wick Green joined the duel for the lead and battled to the last, but it was Madame Le’strange who jumped well and stayed on. Although Katherine Sprake rode Madame Le’strange first past the finishing post, she was later disqualified after stewards confirmed Sprake had passed the wrong side of a marker. This meant that Frampton was awarded her first win, on board Wick Green, whom she also shares ownership with the Shy John Partnership. This also gave trainer Darren McAliden his first win from 23 starts between the flags; his first runner was 10 years ago at Cothlstone in March 2016.  

The Gun Room Mixed Open ran over the extended trip of 4 miles with Regatta de Blanc the firm 4/6 favourite at the bookmakers. Since returning to the Point-to-Point field from under rules racing with Paul Nicholls, Regatta de Blanc has enjoyed 2 wins from 4 starts this season for trainer Will Biddick. Regatta de Blanc led from flagfall under Josh Newman. Newman was closely followed by Harry Neale on Hidden Heroics and Josh Hatton on Emancipator who was searching for his first winning ride. Hidden Heroics was on the heels of the leader in the closing stages, and it looked like Neale was set to have his 4^th win of his career. Hidden Heroics had a better jump at the last, but it wasn’t enough, and Regatta De Blanc held her lead to win by 3 lengths.  

Cherry Lane, full sister to multiple Point-to-Point and rules winner Jet Smart, went off favourite in the Luscombe Maye sponsored Maiden but unseated Newman at the 3^rd fence. Five Lanes was 2^nd when jumping the 5^th fence of the race but subsequently ran out, putting jockey Henry Moore through the inside wing. Alyson Dalton was leading under Jack Stenhouse when the loose horse carried them off course and into open country. Fionn Summers and Thief of The Night found themselves in the lead with over a circuit to go. Heading down the hill on the final lap, Amber Jackson-Fennell started to close in on the leader aboard Dreamaboutit and pipped Thief of The Night to the post, winning by ¾ length. Jackson-Fennell has struck up a partnership with trainer Ed Rees and have had 4 winners together this season so far.  

The penultimate race was the Full Circles Motors sponsored PPORA D&C Conditions which saw Jeu Gagnant’s 4/6f price well deserved when winning well under jockey Anna Johnston. Favourite backers had a heart stopping moment when Johnson had to show some stickability when Jeu Gagnant made a blunder at the open ditch on the final lap. The combination jumped into the lead at the next plain fence. Amber Jackson-Fennell and Ed Rees were seeking a quickfire double with Camino Rocio who was hunting down Johnston all the way home but couldn’t get in front of Jeu Gagnant who won by 1 ¾ lengths.  

Green Circle Feeds sponsored the final race of the day, which was the NWFAA Maiden, again another drama filled race with only 2 of the 10 horses finishing the race. The bad luck continued for Tim Dennis trained, Fluffy Dice, who had pulled up or fallen on her last 3 starts. The 5-year-old gelding fell again after the 9^th fence and brought down Woolacombebay and Aimee Jones. The next to depart the race was Charlotte Leary trained Khalife des Obeaux and Newman who when turning downhill out of the trees, had some steering miscommunication and went off course. Glenary lead the pack for most of the way until the last circuit under James Shaw but unseated him at the open ditch. Duffry Sea was racing in third, trying to give Anna Johnston a double on the day and battled with Ginderella in the final circut, leading after the penultimate fence but took a very wide turn to the final fence and gave up ground to Ginderella and Abolut Grey. Ginderella jumped the final fence in front, but it was Absolut Grey who managed to stay out of harm’s way under Jack Stenhouse and was produced at the perfect time on the run in to the line and won by a neck for trainer Emma Summersby.  

Another eventful end to a thoroughly enjoyable day out at Flete Park, the course host their next meeting on Saturday 2^nd May. This weekend, we head to Stafford Cross for the Axe Vale Point-to-Point on Sunday, 26th April, which has received over 50 entries.