03 August 2010 Ex-Pointers Round-Up: 03/08/10
by Christina McElhinney
FLORIDAHALL: runs in the Bumper for Tim Vaughan
photo: Alun Sedgmore
More Point-to-Point graduates have been performing well under Rules recently, whilst the Amateur sport is set to be well represented at Ffos Las on Tuesday.
Massini Man, winner of the Oakley PPORA Club Members (Novice Riders) in March, hadn't covered himself in glory in his subsequent Points or Rules starts but he left that form behind on Tuesday, 27th July at Worcester, where he came within three quarters of a length of springing at 50/1 surprise on 2m7f Beginners' Chase winner Call Me Mulligan for Owner Steven Astaire and current Trainer Brendan Powell.
Two days later Mad Jack Duncan, already a winner this season for Lawney Hill after an eyecatching season between the flags, turned out again for a Novices' Chase at Stratford, although he too found one too good in Buailteoir. Intense Suspense, last seen in the Pointing ranks when winning the Torrington Farmers Intermediate in 2009, was further down the field in the same contest, whilst Lords Bridge, now with Tim Vaughan after previously being in the care of Richard Woollacott, was sent off odds-on favourite only to unseat Dean Coleman at the second.
Safe Catch failed to win in 10 Maiden attempts during the season and was sent off at 100/1 when seventh in a Maiden Hurdle; it was his subsequent 66/1 third in a 2m7f Novices' Steeplechase which caused his odds to contract significantly for his next start, in Monday's 2m3f Novices' Hurdle at Newton Abbot. Ridden by Jack Doyle for current Trainer Martin Hill, the Safety Catch gelding led in the early stages before being headed, then rallied on later to regain the advantage ahead of the last and staying on for a three length win.
In the subsequent Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Chase, Lord Lescribaa continued to perform with credit on his return to the professional level in running second to Colin Tizzard's Just About, while last season's dual winner Le Forezien finished third.
Ffos Las host an evening meeting on Tuesday and Fealing Real, twice a winner under Rules for Rebecca Curtis since his spell Pointing, bids to compensate for his second at Bangor last Friday as he lines up for the Aspinall Foundation Handicap Chase.
In the following Weatherbys Bank Novices' Chase Silver Story, a Hunt race winner last term and already successful once this summer for Tim Vaughan, represents the Pointing form along with Diddle ‘Em, twice placed in Restricteds last season.
The Weatherbys Bloodstock Insurance Novices' Chase sees the reappearance of Marblehead, a winner over hurdles last time under the professional tutorship of Nigel Twiston-Davies following another good season for his assistant Fergal O'Brien.
Lords Bridge was sent off favourite again last time, in a Conditional Jockeys' Hurdle at Bangor, only for another serious jumping error to put paid to his chances. He ultimately finished seventh there, with his next engagement being the 8.20 Aspinall Foundation Handicap Hurdle, for which Richard Killoran takes the ride.
The Aspinall Foundation National Hunt Flat Race sees Floridahall, a Restricted winner for Robert Porter before joining Tim Vaughan, take on another Rebecca Curtis representative in the ex-Irish Romeo Desbois, along with Jump Up, sixth in a Maiden and second under Rules for Don Cantillon before being placed two starts for Keith Goldsworthy after being sold at Cheltenham.
