15 April 2009 Report: Taunton Vale Harriers - Kingston St Mary
FREDDIE ED: and Harry Challoner win the Open Maiden
The large Bank Holiday crowd saw Jimmy Tennis secure the Mens Open, but Carrie Janaway's 12-year-old almost missed the race.
"The lorry broke down coming off the M5 this morning, and Richard King and Colin Mitchell picked us up and gave us a lift the rest of the way", explained the Gloucestershire trainer.
Barney Blue stretched the field on the final circuit, but gift horse Jimmy Tennis - "he's ex-Venetia Williams, and was given to me and Stuart Jarrett in August", said Carrie - was always in contention and sprinted clear under Ian Chanin in the straight.
Glanvilles Wootton owner Richard Mitchell and his trainer wife Elsie were reminiscing after Irish purchase Tricky Tangler (Dan Drake) caught pacesetter Inching West (Jenny Carr) at the last in the Young Horse Maiden. Richard said: "Run To Me was my last winner as an owner and he would have been 34 now so it must be over 20 years ago, though I did ride a winner - Yquem at Tweseldown - in 2001 after a 13-year absence from the saddle".
Sliema's Confined win surprised Bradford Peverell trainer Fiona Shaw. "I didn't expect him to win and told my mother [joint owner, Lady Acland] not to come", admitted Fiona. Sliema made virtually all the running under Nathan Wilmington and surged clear over the last three fences.
Freddie Ed led after the second last to justify jockey Harry Challoner's long journey from Cheshire in the Older Horse Maiden. "The ground and the course have been the key today", said Gloucestershire owner-trainer Richard Bevis. "He doesn't really stay, but he can freewheel down the hill twice here".
Grande Bretagne led on the far side before quickening away over the last three fences to take the Restricted for Crediton owner-trainer Sarah Prouse. "We were in front earlier than I wanted, but when the opportunity arose, I took it to get the inside", admitted jockey Darren Edwards, now on the 10-winner mark.
Former National Champion Rachael Green rode her first winner for five weeks on Peter and Sandra Maltby's Rye Brook in the Ladies Open. Croix De Guerre (Katharine Hobbs) made much of the running, but Rye Brook showed the better turn of speed in the straight.
Oh Vlo easily took the Hunt race for Culmstock owner-trainer Ray Alford, the Taunton Vale Harriers Point-to-Point committee chairman.
