14 April 2008 Portman – Badbury Rings
Ryan Bliss: in 'double' form at the meeting
Ryan Bliss took the riding honours with a double on Golden Jack (Mixed Open) and Silver Monarch (Intermediate) at Badbury Rings on Saturday.
Golden Jack led on the far side and held off 4-5F Dennis The Legend, who never quite got on terms under Nick Scholfield. "I thought he was beaten at one stage and if jockeys could carry mobile phones, I would have rung Ryan and told him to pull up", joked Witchampton owner Michelle Taylor. "We normally front run, but I felt they were going too fast", added Ryan. "We were in trouble at one stage, but we got a good run on the inner to the cross fence and when we hit the front I knew it would take a good horse to catch us. This is Golden Jack's seventh win here and the credit goes to Michelle for getting him so fit on the day".
Silver Monarch put up a splendid performance for his 10-strong Nyland Partnership group of owners, leading throughout the final circuit and forging 10 lengths clear. "He's a superb jumper and has benefited from being more positively ridden", explained Ryan.
Rilly Goschen notched her second winner of the season on facile Hunt race winner Tyneham. "He went lame at the January 2007 PPORC meeting, and only came back into work this January", said Richenda Snook, who trains the eight-year-old for her parents, Kevin and Marina. Well-suited by a sound surface and possessing lots of speed - he won a 9 furlong All Weather Flat race in 2004 - Tyneham may be one for the notebooks.
Taksina and Cattistock rider Catherine Atkinson took the Novice Riders race, coming home 30 lengths clear after their three closest pursuers departed at the fourth last. "We bought her from Bob Buckler as a schoolmaster ", said Catherine, in her final year at Bristol University and hoping to work in the bloodstock industry. "Bob heard we were looking for a horse and rang up to say he had a suitable candidate".
Fully Loaded benefited from blinkers when powering home in the Restricted under Charlotte Tizzard, who trains the gelding at Milborne Port for her father, Alan. "He's worn blinkers before but this is the first time this season", said Alan. "He won his Maiden at Tweseldown in bottomless ground and we thought he needed it soft, but actually he prefers a sounder surface".
Alex Charles-Jones got on the scoresheet with Dorchester owner Kay Birchenhough's homebred, Giles Cross, in the Maiden. "All my horses are home-bred and I owned Crumpet Delite, who won the 1988 Saddle Of Gold Hurdle Final at Newbury", said Kay afterwards. "This one's named after a crossroads just outside Dorchester".
