06 April 2011 Report: Berwickshire - Friars Haugh
by Peter Burgon
PISTOLET TIME (centre): the second leg of a double for Gillon Crow
photo: Grace Beresford
Gillon Crow took the riding honours in last Saturday's Berwickshire Point-to-Point at Friars Haugh, Kelso with the first double of his career on Knocknaboul King and Pistolet Time.
The former took it up four out in the Border Precision Ltd Members Race but only held on by a rapidly diminishing head from the odds-on favourite, Baligha. His owner/trainer, Doreen Calder recalled that she won the corresponding race on thirteen occasions, with the first one on Naoise back in 1975. Crow said of the thirteen-year-old winner: "They went no pace but he jumped well and was just idling in front at the finish."
Pistolet Time followed up a recent course victory in the Brogan Fuels Restricted Race, to make it three winners from three runners in the last fortnight for Crow's mother, Caroline. Dontpassgo tried hard to get on terms after three out but Crow's mount always held the upper hand and forged clear again approaching the last to score by five lengths. This lightly raced nine-year-old gelding might take his chance in a Maiden Hunters' Chase later in the season.
Crow secured his third winner of the weekend on Tastes Like More at the Holcombe fixture on Sunday, and has already more than doubled his previous best seasonal tally of three.
Leading National Hunt jockey, Peter Buchanan partnered the last two winners on the card at Newcastle Races on Friday, and completed a memorable twenty four hours when Through The Mist provided him with a first training success in the Decoupage and Dining Open Maiden Race. Always travelling well, the seven-year-old quickly put daylight between herself and Watch The Wind after three out and had a comfortable two lengths to spare at the line.
The winner was bought privately as a foal in Ireland by Buchanan's father, Alan, and rider, Danny Ockenden said of her: "She may be tiny but has a big heart and knows her job now, despite only being broken in last summer."
Kinross trainer, Lucinda Russell saddled a treble at Newcastle Races on Friday and was on hand to see her latest pointing star, Badger Foot, complete a four-timer in the John Watson Seeds Men's Open Race. Confidently ridden by Jamie Lyttle, the sx-year-old hit the front on the home turn after three out and stayed on strongly to beat Indian Print by seven lengths. This was a first winner for Lyttle, 19, on only his third ride. He takes time off from his studies at the Scottish Agricutural College near Edinburgh to ride out each weekend at Russell's yard.
Guiseley-based owner/trainer/rider Sam Drake has her horses in cracking form and lifted her seasonal tally to nine, including Keeverfield's hunter chase win, on Optimistic Harry in the Bonhams Ladies Open Race. Reappearing after a five week break, her mount quickened away from Doc Row approaching two out and cruised home five lengths clear, with recent dual winner, Tiger Billy a further five lengths away in third. This twelve year old ex-hurdler cost just £1100 at Doncaster Sales in May 2008 and has made a great comeback after fracturing a pastern on his only run the following year. He seems better than ever this term, winning all three Pointing starts as well as finishing a close second to Quotica de Poyans in a Kelso Hunters' Chase in February.
Lewesdon Tom didn't have to get out of first gear to beat his solitary rival, Canndar by a length in the meadowhead.co.uk Intermediate Race, after being eased right down on the run-in. Guy Brewer had been booked for the ride but cried off on Saturday morning with a stomach bug, resulting in an unexpected late call up for Sedgefield-based amateur, John Dawson from trainer, Cherry Coward.
Dawson said: "I only just made it here in time after getting the call a couple of hours before the race and hope I didn't get any speeding tickets on the way." Bedale farmer and joint owner of the home-bred winner, Terry Beadle couldn't make the trip north as he was, in Cherry's words: "Cooking a pig at a wedding."
This has been a record-breaking season in the Northern Area for novice riders getting off the mark and sixteen-year-old Callum Bewley became the ninth addition to the list after landing the Bill Hardie Memorial NPPA Club Members Race for Novice Riders on Windy Hills. Bewley has worked for Greystoke trainer Nicky Richards since leaving school last Summer and was given the eleven-year-old in September by his boss. Produced with a perfectly timed challenge, Windy Hills headed King's Envoy approaching the last and kept on well to beat Laura's Light by three lengths. He has proved to be an ideal schoolmaster and Bewley said of him: "He is such a safe jumper, who stays all day but doesn't find a lot off the bridle."
