28 April 2009 Report: Berkeley - Woodford
by Pete Mansell
FIFTY YEARSON: provided 16-year-old Nick Slatter with his first success
photo: Tim Holt
Visitors to Saturday's Berkeley Point-to-Point were provided with top class racing at this historic venue in the shadows of Berkeley Castle.
This meeting attracts runners from a wide area but three local stables held their own and won the Members with Craigmor, while Fifty Yearson took the Intermediate and Balinova the Ladies.
Mister Putt had provided owner Roger Maggs with success in the Members Race for the last two years, and Maggs won it again on Saturday although this time it was the turn of Mister Putt's stablemate Craigmor.
As the runners reappeared at the far end of the course Our Joycey held the advantage but Craigmor and Mister Putt were both poised to challenge, with the winner taking up the running at the third from home.
The winner is owned by Maggs and his 15-year-old daughter Emily, who stated afterwards "we've been with Polly Gundry since she started training and are absolutely delighted with this win".
The day's biggest cheer was reserved for 16-year-old Nick Slatter who recorded his first success on Fifty Yearson in the Intermediate.
The acquisition of blinkers galvanised the winner who refused to accept defeat as he was challenged by the favourite Hemington and Raleagh House in the home straight.
The horse's owner, and the rider's grandfather, Geoff Slatter has a horse transport business while 16-year-old Nick is currently studying at the Cotswold School in Bourton-on-the-Water.
Winning trainer Fergal O'Brien from Naunton admitted afterwards "I knew he would win sometime, but I didn't believe it would be today!"
Having had to settle for third place with Raleagh House, Dymock Clive Bennett went two places better after Balinova took the Ladies Open under Claire Allen.
"A first and a third - not a bad days work" commented Bennett after the race. "We were going to Brampton Bryan but we walked Woodford last night and thought it was brilliant going. The horse has had leg problems in the past and we would not have raced him if conditions weren't right". "I am glad you did" quipped Claire Allen, who hails from Berkeley, afterwards "he's a brilliant ride".
The rest of the meeting belonged to Dorset trainer Richard Barber, who landed a hatrick with Vico (Restricted), Meanus Dandy (Mens Open) and Shaver Baines (Division II of the Maiden).
In complete contrast to the previous meeting at Brampton Bryan there were concerns over the state of the going at the picturesque venue.
Just three horses turned out for the Mens Open which went to Julie Houldey's North Nibley trained and Dave Mansell ridden Mister Kaybee who had walked over the Croome fixture on Easter Tuesday.
