19 February 2008 South Dorset - Milborne St Andrew
Ask Again: took the Ladies Open under Sarah West
Ask Again (Sarah West) won a memorable Ladies Open, when just getting the better of Red Brook Lad and Rimpton Boy, who led over the last, at Milborne St Andrew on Sunday.
Ask Again is now unbeaten in six completed Point-to-Point outings, but a hunter chase campaign beckons. "That's why we came here, I knew these fences would test him and he's jumped superbly", explained Sarah, PA to Paul Nicholls. Neither Red Brook Lad nor Rimpton Boy - winners of 43 races over jumps between them - lost anything in defeat and both look sure to add to their wonderful records.
Ditcheat trainers David Staddon and Caroline Parsons opened their account when Foolish Myth (Nick Scholfield) ran away with the Maiden. "That's the second win for the Ditcheat gallops", said David, grateful to the Champion Trainer for allowing them to use his training facilities. "I was disappointed with Foolish Myth at Larkhill but he needs a left-handed course". Owned by Mere breeders Richard and Deborah Webb, Foolish Myth recorded a good time and looks another to note.
Rupert Tory rode his sixth career winner when 2006 winner Bush Park took the Hunt race after leading throughout the final circuit. Bush Park is owned and trained at Winterborne Whitechurch by Rupert's parents, Norman and Monica, sister of trainer Robert Alner. "Robert trained Bush Park for Harry Wellstead and he'll be so pleased when he hears that we've won", said Monica.
South Dorset Point-to-Point Committee chairman Richard King was in the winner's enclosure after Vigzol (Richard Bandey) overtook Fully Loaded (Charlotte Tizzard) on the flat in the Restricted. Vignol suffered from a virus and broken blood vessels in the last two seasons. "But the vet said the other day that the horse was well", explained Richard. "The credit goes to Ali Trim, who does a lot of the work with him".
Rhys Flint rode his sixth winner of the season - he now leads in the novices' table by four - on comfortable Countryside Alliance winner, Whites Touch. "Rhys said she jumped really well", said Hardington Mandeville trainer Ben White, who handles the grey for parents Malcolm and Sharyn, and Suzanne Fletcher.
King Lok (Ran Morgan) surged clear of his field in the far corner to take the 2m 4f Maiden - the first-ever 2m 4f race staged at Milborne - for Hinton St Mary trainer Alice Fox-Pitt. "Tom Jenks, who used to ride Earth Summit, sent him over from New Zealand", explained Alice, familiar to racegoers as Channel 4 racing presenter Alice Plunkett. "He stayed really well, and Ran, who's Tom's brother-in-law, thinks he'll be even better over three miles".
Maxou des Brosses (Ryan Bliss) easily took the Volkswagen Touareg Men's Open after surging past pacesetter Highway Oak with four fences to jump, while Dean Nelmes took the closing one-mile South Dorset Invitation Flat race - held in aid of the Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance - on his family's Darling Approach.
