17 March 2009 Report: Quantock Stagehounds - Cothelstone
MCSOLO: and Ian Chanin winner of the Confined Division 1
A huge crowd saw Spaxton trainer Marie McGuinness turn out five winners at her local meeting on Sunday. The 12 races were contested by 130 horses - one horse was balloted out of the last race, run at 6.00pm - and officials were widely praised for their organisation of the day.
Marie led off with Max's Choice, who sauntered home in the second of four 2½ mile Maidens under Robert Lee. "That's the benefit of the tongue strap - he ran incredibly well", said owner David Churches, watching from the middle of the course.
Stable jockey Ryan Bliss took the reins on 4yo Insured, who jumped into the lead at the last in the fourth 2½ mile contest. "He rather ran into the first fence at Great Trethew and lost his jockey, so Ryan took him round the outside to get a good view of the fences today", explained Marie.
Marie reached the 50-winner career mark with Croix De Guerre in the Ladies' Open. Always prominent under Katherine Hobbs, the grey led throughout the final circuit and held off Lady Myfanwy (Jodie Hughes), who had won their two previous clashes this season.
Ryan Bliss completed a treble on Marie's final two winners, Murdol (Restricted Div 2) and Violet Elizabeth (Open Maiden Div 2). Murdol, owned by Marie's landlord, Ray Barrow, caught Captain Machell (Merv Woodward) at the last. Violet Elizabeth, owned and bred by familiar show jumping commentator Stephen Hadley, led at the last and held I'm Innocent (Giles Hawkins) by 1½ lengths.
Owner Sue Trump notched up a double with Red Mimi (third 2½ mile Maiden) and McSolo (Confined). Trained at Honiton by Leslie Jefford - "that's our second winner of the weekend and third from our new yard", beamed Leslie's wife, Lisa - Red Mimi got up on the flat to give Alice Mills her first win of the season. McSolo (Ian Chanin) put up a tremendous front-running peformance and had little difficulty holding off his 14 rivals.
Kiama, who disappointed at Taunton, came right to form in the Men's Open. The mare settled beautifully for Cheltenham Festival winning jockey Will Biddick and stormed clear when Will asked the question in the far corner. Charlotte Tizzard, who was close to Cheltenham glory on Christie's Foxhunter runner-up Turthen, was in the winner's enclosure after Fully Loaded justified favouritism in the hunt race.
Lucy Gardner reached the four-winner mark on Massini Man, who overcame slow jumps at the last two fences to take the first Restricted. Legends Lass delighted his 12 owners with a brilliant round of jumping under trainer Peter Mason in the quickest of the 2½ mile Maidens and the Snook family's Sherfield Don (Jimmy Derham) defied the 66/1 on offer in Open Maiden Division 1.
