03 March 2008 Grove & Rufford - Welbeck
Flying Spur: Confined victor
A good sized crowd enjoyed some exciting racing when the Grove & Rufford Hunt held their annual Point-to-Point meeting at Welbeck, near Worksop on Sunday.
Avocet Hardware were the sponsors of the opening race, the Confined, in which five horses went to post. This was won by the seven year old South Notts gelding, Flying Spur, who finished a distance clear of hot favourite Vic's Last Chance. Marston Moses took the third place.
The Dodson & Horrell PPORA Club Members Race for novice riders, Division 1, was won by, the Toby Greenall ridden, Dark Thunder. However, this Lord Daresbury owned winner, looked to be second best when Celioso unseated Sally Ireland at the last fence. Exit Swinger and High Rank took the minor placings.
Rebecca Mason took Division 2 of this race on the well fancied favourite West Coaster, who won with a little in hand from Trooper Collins with Philtre taking third.
Only three horses went to post for the Mens Open, but the race produced the closest finish of the day when, the Nigel Tutty ridden, Reflex Blue battled all the way up the run in to just get the better of, the Gerald Bailey trained, My Best Buddy ridden by Dickie Barrett. The winner is now eligible for the £10,000 3m½f Volkswagen Touareg Championship H.C. Final to be run at Towcester in May.
Seven went to post for the, Suzuki sponsored, Ladies Open and the race produced the fastest race time of the day. Won by the Freya Hartley ridden Mooramana, who was racing for the first time since August 2006, the well supported Bedtime Boys and Scotmail Too took the minor places.
The Open Maiden race for eight year olds and over attracted a field of six, and saw another comfortable win Iron Warrior, owned and trained by the Tutty family. Pip Tutty took the gelding clear two fences from home and always looked in command. Villamara and Souk Al Jabba, the favourite, took the minor placings.
Only two went to post in division 1 of the 2m5f Maiden race and Dickie Barrett riding, the Gerald Bailey seven year old, Pass The Parsel led every yard of the way to beat Nick Kent on Kit's Last Penny by a distance.
The final race of the day was division 2 of the 2m5f Maiden race. Five horses went to post and the Nick Kent trained and ridden five year old, Farmer Frank, was a warm favourite following a promising debut last year. Taken to the front from the start, the South Notts horse never looked like getting caught and won by eight lengths. Mardonic Declare, from the Atherstone, finished second.
Following the days racing, Applewhite Gifts and Howard Farms kindly sponsored the two Pony races. The five furlong race was won by 13 year old Emma Garner on Just Jack and the seven furlong race went to 15 year old Gemma Tutty on The Bossy Hobbit.
The next Midland Area Point to Point will take place at Garthorpe, near Melton Mowbray when the Cottesmore hold their meeting.
