19 December 2011 Hart Dreaming of Cheltenham
by AGA Press Release
PALYPSO DE CREEK - impressed in the AGA Ladies Open
photo: Phil Britt
It has long been Claire Hart's ambition to have a ride at Cheltenham and in Palypso de Creek - who cruised to victory to take the AGA Ladies' Open Championship qualifier at Whitfield - she just might have the horse that can take her there.
A winner of four races in France before joining Charlie Longsdon, Palypso de Creek lost his confidence after a heavy fall at Haydock a year ago and Charlie suggested to owner Alan Halsall that Claire, who works at his yard, should have him for a year to see how she got on with him.
"He's been a challenge," admitted Claire. "It's his jumping that's been the problem - he wouldn't even go over a pole when I got him. But we just play with him and he loves being top dog."
Runner-up Spellchecker was a first ride of the season for the reigning national champion Gina Andrews, who was booked in midweek as a replacement for Freya Brewer, who had not yet taken out her licence.
Heather Kemp, third on Gidam Gidam, was feeling the effects of the very heavy fall she took at Barbury a fortnight earlier, and was in some discomfort afterwards.
Sadly, it was an inauspicious beginning for Lutie Akinci, whose debut ride on Imtihan saw her unseated at the first fence. Happily Lutie, who works for trainer Caroline Bailey, was unhurt, as were all the fallen horses and riders in the contest.
