04 May 2010 Report: Hursley Hambledon - Hackwood Park
by Robin Gray
Hackwood Park, Basingstoke, brought the Hampshire Point-to-Point season to a conclusion on Monday 3rd May.
The success of the meeting was credited to Clerk of the Course Bill Welling and his team who had organised the application of 120,000 gallons of water on what was hard ground a week ago.
34 runners contested the six races on safe good to firm going and there were some exciting finishes.
The veteran Cape Stormer won for the 19th time for Owner/Rider Marcus Gorman in the Pain Smith Solicitors Mens Open, beating Gunner Be Quick by three lengths.
"They have done a really good job on the ground here," said Gorman, one of the most experienced Riders. "It rode better than it walked and I will certainly be bringing horses back here next year."
The biggest field of the day was for the Rutland Partners Maiden. This was won by Devils Arcade, who got the better of nine rivals, beating Santartique by half a length thanks to the strong finish ridden by Irish amateur Jeremiah McGrath. Devils Arcade is owned by Bill Smith, who rode so many winners for the Queen Mother and is now Joint Master of the organising Hunt, the Hursley Hambledon.
Cirencester agricultural student Claire Douglas confirmed her place as Hackwood's most successful Rider of the season when winning on Kjetil in the Christie's Hunt race. The winner and second, Presenting Express, are both trained by Jenny Gordon, who took the prize for the top Trainer at Hackwood Park and Tweseldown combined.
