17 February 2009 Report: Harkaway Club - Chaddesley Corbett
THE ACCORDION MAN: and Richard Burton take the second last before going on to win the Club Members Conditions race
After two earlier postponements the Harkaway Club's persistence finally paid off when their meeting went ahead as planned on Sunday morning.
While the Ladies Open was disappointing the race for the Mens Open itself was worth the entry fee with Cappa Bleu facing opposition from Burntoakboy and We're Confused.
Burntoakboy, trained by Dr Richard Newland at Claines near Worcester, started to feel the pace as the runners jumped the open ditch on the far side of the course and he was eventually pulled up by Tom Weston on the home turn. Richard Burton started to turn the screw as they turned back to face the judge - Dave Mansell spotted the danger and sent We're Confused in vain pursuit. Cappa Bleu steadily increased his advantage over the final three fences and was 12-lengths clear at the line with his jockey still sitting motionless.
The 7-year-old is now qualified for the Cheltenham Foxhunters and when questioned about his chances in the big race Shropshire trainer Sheila Crow confirmed that she thought, "he's good enough to take his place in the line up". Pushed further she admitted "he is one of the best horses I have trained" and bearing in mind her long and successful association with the sport that is some accolade. This augurs well for his chances in the big race, which could result in Himbleton-based William and Angela Rucker picking up the largest trophy on offer at the Festival.
30 minutes earlier the Ruckers had seen their colours carried to victory by Honest Endeavour in a disappointing Ladies Open in which just two of the original 28 entries stood their ground. Jane Williams set the pace on Somewin but he started to flounder as they jumped the third from home and Miss Williams quickly accepted defeat when their chance was gone. Connections train Honest Endeavour themselves at Himbleton. This was Mrs Rucker's third win of the season and with plenty of ammunition she could easily make her presence felt in the Area Championships.
The bookmakers thought the Ruckers had a good chance of taking the 5, 6 & 7 year old Maiden with Quintero, but the favourite was in trouble a long way from home and victory eventually went to Just Talking who was making his debut for the Talking Friends syndicate, headed by Tirley Farmer Phillip Houldey, and provided the second leg of a double for his South Gloucestershire based daughter Julie who had taken the Intermediate with Top Benefit earlier in the afternoon.
The programme had started with an easy victory for the Sheila Crow-trained The Accordion Man in the Conditions race. This was the winner that eluded the Ruckers who had won two races with the 8-year-old earlier in his career. He proved a disappointment under Rules when campaigned from Evan Williams' stable, and was subsequently purchased in a private sale by current Shrewsbury based owners David Rogers and John Brookes.
The Restricted provided the closest finish of the day. Drom and Turn Card went to the front as they met the rising ground on the home turn and Turn Card looked as though he would prevail when he jumped the penultimate with a 3-length advantage. Nick Oliver had other ideas and galvanised the winner who clawed back the deficit on the flat and passed the post a head to the good of his rival to provide Hanley Swan based Andy Hobbs and Longdon jockey Nick Oliver with a winning start to the season.
