05 May 2011 Report: Atherstone - Clifton-on-Dunsmore
by Laura Ellis
Another huge crowd turned out to see the only meeting this season at Clifton-on-Dunsmore. Racing opened at 1pm with the Hunt Members where three went to post.
Odds-on favourite My Best Buddy made it a pillar to post victory, providing Lucy Docker with her first winner. The fifteen-year-old gelding will reportedly retire after reaching his 15th win over 11 different tracks. The Phizacklea sisters battled it out for the places; Hannah finished a distance back in second on her own Tomillielou with Sarah a head behind in third aboard Romany Tale.
Valance took the Confined when benefitting from the first fence departure of favourite Pass The Class (Sam Hutchinson) to see off the challenge of Oscar Owen (Ben Brackebury) by five lengths and Gleeson (James Turcan) a further six lengths back in third.
Ease And Grace put in a clear round under Liam Payter in the Mares Maiden to finish a convincing 15 lengths ahead of Hooky's Quest (Serena Tyler) and a further six lengths in front of Oscars Alice (Nick Oliver). The winner, who has sometimes struggled with her jumping, chased the leaders four fences from home before quickly pulling clear.
The Open Maiden went to Half A Litre (Johnny Bailey) who added to his consistent form so far this season to finish ahead of Done A Runner (Tom Ellis) and Of The Moment (Tom Mc Clory). Always prominent, the winner took the lead at the 13th and was strongly ridden to come home in front.
The fastest time of the day came in the Mens Open when Sheknowsyouknow made if four wins from six efforts this season in a pillar to post victory. Ridden to gain a 10 length lead the winner was joined two fences from home but ran on to claim a three length victory ahead of Pass The Parsel (Johnny Bailey) and a further two lengths ahead of Major Euro (Will Telfer) in six minutes and four seconds.
It was quality not quantity when just six went to post in the Ladies equivalent. Limerick Leader (Gemma Hutchinson) added to his two wins this season when defying the challenge of favourite King Du Berlais (Louise Allan) by a length and a half, with Cluthe Boy a further six lengths back in third.
Gina Andrews took the Restricted to continue her bid in the Ladies Championship aboard Humphrey Bee, who improved on his neck second last time out. Despite a bad mistake five fences from home he ran on well to come home a convincing 12 lengths ahead of the consistent Ten Gunther (Dale Peters) and Atraxia a distance back in third.
