25 January 2010 Scene & Heard: Royal Artillery - Larkhill
by Carolyn Tanner
LISADELL KING: capped an incredible day for Godfrey Maundrell
photo: Phil Britt
To commence your 40th season of race-riding, during which time you have booted home 145 Point-to-Point winners but have never ridden a treble, seems an unlikely statistic, but it is one to which Godfrey Maundrell could lay claim until Saturday.
The elder statesman of the weighing room recorded his first three-timer, taking the Hunt race on Maglinn River, the first division of the 2m4f Maiden on Spiders Nephew, and the Intermediate on Lisadell King.
The latter had looked an outstanding prospect when scoring a hat-trick on this course early in 2008, but had been off the track since then. A change of routine has solved his allergy problem, and he now lives in a dust-free atmosphere in a large airy barn.
The Maundrell string kept going during the wintry conditions by cantering on the snow - "The weather was so cold that the snow didn't ball up in their feet," said Paul Thompson, who has looked after the Maundrell horses for six seasons, and to whom Godfrey handed the credit for the day's successes.
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Godfrey and Paul are looking to attract new owners to the yard with a view to the latter eventually taking over all the training. Spiders Nephew's victory provided the best possible advert for Paul's ability, the six-year-old being his initial success in his own name.
Spiders Nephew, home-bred by Hilary McCall, is so named because of his relationship to Jeremy Spider, who was also bred by Hilary and who was saddled by Colin Tizzard to win the Sussex National at Plumpton in 2003. "I'm waiting for Tizzard to phone up and offer me a lot of money for him," smiled Hilary, who owns Rosehill Stud at Appleshaw.
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Turthen was odds-on to give Charlotte Tizzard, Colin's niece, a victory on her first ride back from injury, but the Cheltenham runner-up was comprehensively beaten by the former winning Hurdler/Chaser Theatre Diva, who was given a well-judged ride by Jo Buck. "I couldn't believe we got her so cheaply - I thought she'd be far too expensive," said owner Jackie du Plessis, who bought the mare at Ascot last summer for 3,700gns. "I kept feeling her legs for the next two weeks because I thought there must be something wrong with her."
Theatre Diva, who is amenable enough to be hacked out at weekends by a 12-year-old rider, was purchased as a brood mare, but plans to put her in foal are now on hold for a while.
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Jo, who rides out for Leslie Jefford, had a less pleasant time an hour later when she was carted round the course by Jayjay Valentine after losing her irons at the first. "That was the scariest experience I've ever had," admitted Jo, who did exceptionally well to remain in the saddle while her mount was flat out.
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With Sam Waley-Cohen heading off to Ascot to partner Stravinsky Dance [who finished well down the field], James Tudor picked up the Men's Open ride on Roulez Cool, who earned his Cheltenham qualification with a hard-fought victory over Drybrook Bedouin. "I sent him to auction as a yearling and he didn't get a bid," said his owner-breeder, Sam's father Robert, adding, "I'm glad he didn't now!"
"He needs a stronger pace because he wouldn't settle," reported James. "Sam said not to let him hit the front too soon, but if I ever rode him again I'd drop my hands on him and let him roll. He stays so well, and he'll get every yard at Cheltenham."
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Overheard. Jockey, discussing tactics with fellow rider: "Don't follow me - I could end up in the tank park."
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Trainer Richard Barber teamed up with his owner brother Paul to win both divisions of the 3m Maiden. Cappoquin, who is named after the Co Waterford town where Paul and his wife Marianne often stay, won the first division under Ryan Mahon, who missed last season while serving a seven month ban, while Nick Williams took the reins on Div 2 winner That'll Do. The latter, who gurgled coming into the straight, said his rider, finished distressed and went down in the paddock afterwards, but was revived by the administration of oxygen and was able to walk away.
The Barber yard kept up the good work with a treble the following day at Chipley Park.
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The second of the 2m4f Maidens went to Melteme, owned and trained by Simon Hart, the secretary of the SMAC meeting at Whitfield, and ridden by his niece Claire Hart, who shares the South Midlands PRO duties with Ruth Tutton. Credit for the success, though, was claimed by Simon's nephew William, who has a one-twelfth share in Melteme, his first venture into ownership, and pronounced himself to be the lucky charm! "He's always had a keen interest," pointed out his uncle, "mainly in betting."
"I'm a very young-looking 49-year-old, so I might come out of retirement to try to get one more winner," grinned Simon, who recorded 49 Point-to-Point successes, the last of which was on High Degree at Upton in 1995.
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The King's Troop race which traditionally kicks off this meeting is always eventful, but this year's contest was surely one of the most incident-packed to date. Honours went to Capt Max Chenery, having his initial ride, on Blackadder, but only after first the clear leader and then his nearest pursuer, who had lengths to spare over Blackadder, unseated at the last.
