07 April 2008 Cheshire Forest - Tabley
Kong King: revelled in conditions to land the Restricted
Yesterday's Cheshire Forest meeting at Tabley had to survive two inspections before it was passed fit after overnight snow. Despite the wintery snow showers throughout the day, there was a reasonable crowd in attendance. Those that braved the elements were treated to a really good day's racing.
The Restricted race was run in a snow storm, but one horse that did not mind the conditions was the Sheila Crow trained Kong King who was a very impressive winner of the race under Richard Burton.
The winner is owned by Richard French from Eccleshall who has had horses with the Crows for years. Sheila Crow thinks a lot of the winner and, speaking afterwards, she said: "He is a serious horse. I have always rated him after he won his Maiden at Sandon, and he is progressing all the time."
The Ladies Open was turned into a procession by Step And Run, who never came off the bit under Jane Williams to win very easily by 16 lengths from Immy Robinson on Rebel Army. The winner is trained by the rider's mother Diana at Enville. The Step Together gelding is a credit to his trainer as he keeps his form every season - this was his second win of the season after accounting for the useful Pirate Flagship at Eyton last time out.
Reflected Glory, trained by Caroline Robinson and ridden by the former Champion Point-to-Point rider Richard Burton, went off the well backed favourite in the Men's Open, but the combination had to settle for third spot behind the very easy winner Mister Bertolli, trained and ridden by Fred Hutsby.
The winner is owned by John Burton, who bought the Mister Lord gelding privately as a 4 year old. Burton puts the improvement down to the fitting of cheekpieces that have sharpened him up.
Another trainer and rider combination to visit the winners enclosure at the Cheshire course was Stuart Ross, who won the Intermediate race by 20 lengths aboard Tommy Two Shoes from Bobsourown, with On Top a further 15 lengths back in third. The shock 25-1 winner is owned by The Tommy Two Shoes Partnership. Stuart Ross became even more popular with the bookies after he rode and trained Double Spread, at 20-1, to win the Open Maiden. The gamble of the race, Grey Tarquin from the Gary Hanmer yard with Richard Burton in the plate, could only finish third.
Nantwich trainer Gary Hanmer was also in the placings in the Hiscox Open Maiden, when finishing runner up on Over The Clouds to the Nicholas Pettitt trained Double Encore with David Bass in the plate.
The opening Members race was won by Adams Wine, under Will Kinsey, who won a shade cosily by two and a half lengths from Imperial Dream, under David Sherlock. The winner is trained by Will's mother, Julie, at Chester who owns the horse in partnership with Dr Nick Halstead who lives locally at Tarporley.
