News

ROULEZ COOL: justified favouritism in style
photo: Phil Britt

"Home-bred and English-bred, in fact Warwickshire-bred," was an elated Robert Waley-Cohen's initial comment after Roulez Cool had bounced back to form to beat a quality field in Hunter Chasing's final "classic" of the season, the W + S Recycling Stratford Foxhunters Champion Hunters' Chase.

"It means a huge amount to win," said Robert's son Sam who, despite his numerous successes under Rules, stressed that the amateur side of the sport would always be first in his affections.

A disappointing run in the Cheltenham Foxhunters, in which Roulez Cool was brought down, was the result of an earlier muscle problem. "We thought we'd got him back spot on but we obviously hadn't as he was never going that well," explained Sam.

His confidence was restored with a run at Ashorne, since when he has put on 14 kilos. "He has got a bit of a belly on him and I thought he'd eaten too much grass," laughed Sam, adding "He's been out in the field with Long Run so maybe they've been sharing secrets."

Roulez Cool won a Listed race in France as a four-year-old but then had a year off after knocking himself. His dam Makounji, the first horse bought in France by Robert, has just gone to Midnight Legend.

Long Run will return to Nicky Henderson after his summer break but Roulez Cool will be kept to the amateur route, with the 2010 Cheltenham blue riband as his target.

***********

"He had a gluteal tear, otherwise known as a pain in the arse." Robert explains Roulez Cool's setback in layman's terms.

***********

It seems likely that a new record was set, not only in this race but in Hunter Chases overall, by the three Greenall brothers, surely the only trio to have ridden against one another in the same contest. Only Martha's Kinsman (Jake) was able to keep up with the pace for any distance but he was eventually pulled up, as were Border Fusion (Thomas) and Dennis The Legend (Oliver).

**********

The pointtopoint.co.uk Champion Novices HC (John Corbet Cup)

Tom Weston would seem to have an affinity with greys. Following the Aintree victory of Silver Adonis, it was the turn of Hemington to give his rider another success in one of Hunter Chasing's most prestigious races. The seven-year-old had finished third in the corresponding contest 12 months earlier when trained by Maz Scudamore and was here saddled by her son Michael.

For the sponsors it could not have been a more appropriate result. pointtopoint.co.uk is the sport's official website run from the Weatherbys Chase office at Wellingborough, and winning owner-breeder Andrew Davis, who leases Hemington to his Horse Passport Agency company, is a former Weatherbys Stud Book manager.

The triumph was a first under Rules for Shropshire-based Andrew, who stated that all season this had been the grey's ultimate aim.

In addition to his Hunter Chase triumphs Tom has enjoyed a fine campaign between the flags and is currently lying fifth in the men's championship. He has booted home several winners for Maz, who wasted no time in staking her claim to his services in 2010-11, a request which Tom had no hesitation in accepting.

**********

The biggest groan of the evening was reserved for the final fence fall of Lisadell King, who had been been jumping for fun at the head of affairs from five out. He had just been joined at the last when knuckling over, but fortunately he and his veteran rider Godfrey Maundrell were unscathed.

***********

The Interbrands (Europe) Ladies' HC (Stratford Millennium Rose Bowl)

Hannah Lewis broke her Hunter Chase duck in the best possible fashion on Saturday, giving Cannon Bridge an enterprising front-running ride to hold off the challenge of Lady Myfanwy and thus reverse the placings with the previous year's winner.

So perfectly did Hannah obey the instructions of her husband Adrian Wintle that it seemed as though there was some secret line of communication between them. A nervous Adrian, box-walking in the paddock, exhorted his wife to "Kick on!" as she jumped the penultimate, a manoeuvre which she carried out to the letter.

It was a return to the glory days for Keith Pritchard's chestnut, who has won 19 races between the flags and was the season's winning-most Pointer in 2005. He has been partnered in Ladies' Opens this year by Isabel Tompsett, who was unable to commit to him here due to the possible participation of Chesnut Annie, who in fact was not declared.

It was thanks to Isabel that Cannon Bridge was still in training, as an injury picked up in a Bitterley fall was refusing to heal and he was due to be turned out for the summer. "48 days ago he got a nasty cut across his coronet band when he fell at Bitterley. It couldn't be stitched and he stood in his box for ten days," explained trainer Paul Davies. "Then Isabel recommended putting manuka honey on it, which did the trick."

************

For another Hannah it was an evening to remember for the wrong reasons. Hannah Watson was jocked up to partner both Gentleman Anshan for Rosemary Gasson and Dumadic for Sue Busby, but her dilemma was solved by Rosemary's selfless "after you" gesture to her fellow owner.

Unfortunately, when Sue declared Dumadic his passport was found to be out of date (she was fined £290 for her oversight), so with Lucy Barry booked to ride Gentleman Anshan Hannah, far from having two mounts from which to choose, had none at all. Few riders would have had Lucy's generosity of spirit in offering to stand aside, but Hannah, although very appreciative, was having none of it and insisted that Lucy keep the ride.

Rosemary professed herself delighted with her six-year-old's performance. "I think it might be a step too far for him but I want to see what he can do," she had said beforehand. He acquitted himself admirably, being well in touch until fading on the run-in.

Rosemary herself is hoping to take out a permit in the near future. "I'm not deserting Pointing," she stressed, "but I'd like the option of being able to run on more suitable ground sometimes."

***********

The Happy 60th Birthday Jonathan Bourne HC

Ryeman, diplomatically described by Ollie Jackson as "quirky" but more bluntly referred to by her trainer husband Andrew as "an awkward old cuss," gave owner-breeder Denis Williams a tonic when landing the spoils in the hands of Josh Guerriero. Denis has been unwell and due to the distance he would have had to travel from his Devon home had elected to watch the race on television.

The Jacksons have had Ryeman in their yard since his four-year-old days, and he is ridden much of the time at home by Jo Davies, who as Jo Cumings was one of the sport's leading ladies, riding 117 Point-to-Point winners.

"It took us a long time to get the message that three miles on soft ground wasn't ideal," grinned Andrew, whose tongue-tied charge is now campaigned in sub-three mile contests. "He does everything his own way and he doesn't do a lot in front," he added, while Josh admitted "He saves a bit for himself."

***********

"Can you get me in? I'm quite wide." Andrew checks that the photographers are using a wide-angle lens.

Back to Top