13 April 2010 Report: Cheshire Forest - Tabley
by Arthur Shone
CLUTHE BOY: game winner of the Intermediate
photo: Sweet Photography
Point-to-Point enthusiasts basked in glorious sunshine at the Cheshire Forest meeting at Tabley.
It was good card, full of the usual thrills and spills; the Mens Open was won by the Richard Hewitt-trained Le Seychellois under Joe Proctor, beating Fresh Love under Miles Seston by 15 lengths. However, there was drama at the start when Will Kinsey aboard the well-backed jolly Von Origny pulled the horse up before the first fence believing it was a false start; after a subsequent objection from Von Origny's connections the result was allowed to stand.
The Ladies Open provided Immy Robinson with her first winner of the season aboard Whistling Straits, who beat the only other finisher Prelude D'Estruval under Kelda Wood. The winner is trained by the Rider's mother Caroline Robinson at Sherriffhales and is co-owned by her mother, Pat Beasley and George Hibbert. Robinson said afterwards that the plan was not to be in front so long as he likes company; she also added that like a lot of older horses he tends to look after himself.
Nantwich Trainer Gary Hanmer regards Tabley as his manor; he rarely leaves the Cheshire course without a winner. He completed a treble with Noble Persian in the Members race, who came home unchallenged by 20 lengths from Broken Reed. The Persian Bold gelding is owned by the Tabley Clerk of the Course Rob Hankey. Hanmer said afterwards that the winner would run next at the Cheshire meeting at Alpraham this Sunday.
The second leg came aboard Fairymount in the 2m4f Maiden, also in the colours of Rob Hankey. This was a remarkable race as Dave Mansell on Amatara set off to make all and were three lengths clear approaching the last fence, but ended up third as Miles Seston on Fairymount flew the last, landing running as did Stuart Ross on He's A Hawker; an amazing race that the winner won by five lengths from He's A Hawker with Amatara three lengths back in third. The winner was the Trainer's dark horse selection before the start of the season; he was impressive today.
Hanmer and Seston completed the hat trick in the Restricted with Ballyeightra Cross, who stayed on strongly on the run in to beat Echo India with Will Kinsey in the plate by a length and a half. Blinding Lights was a further four lengths back in third. The winner is owned locally by Stephen Evason from Ashley; He bought the horse at the Doncaster Sales last August to replace his other horse Bangkok Bob, who was sadly killed at Chaddesley Corbett.
This was the Rider's first ever treble; he divides his time between riding out for Richard Fahey and Gary Hanmer.
The Intermediate race went to the Sue Sharratt-ridden Cluthe Boy who made virtually all the running until headed by Keenans's Reserve, but fought back tenaciously on the run in to win a thriller by a couple of lengths. Sharratt also trains the winner at Eccleshall for the Apache Partnership, which is made up of the Trainer, Chris Mellard, Di Cope and Lynne Hartley.
Springfield Dante, with the stylish Rider Simon Walker in the plate, needed the line in the Open Maiden as the fast-finishing Rockabilly, from the Phillip Rowley yard under Liam Payter, was finishing like a rocket on the run in but failed to catch Springfield Dante by a length. The first two pulled a distance clear of the third horse Maddy Lewis who is trained by Gordy Edwards. The winner is trained by Nick Kent at Brig for owner Margaret Pinney
