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SHALMIAR FROMENTRO: potentially useful French recruit

Josh Guerriero and Suzy Berry took the riding honours with doubles at Kingston St Mary on Easter Monday.

Josh led off with Mixed Open winner Thirtytwo Red, who regained the lead at the last, although runner-up Napolitain finished lame and Ryan Bliss dismounted immediately after the line.

"That was a confidence booster after two Hunter Chase outings, but we will look at Exeter's next Hunter Chase now", said Owner/Trainer Ray Alford.

Josh deputised for four other Riders on the Polly Curling-trained Restricted winner Lord Lescribaa. "I'm out for the rest of the season pending a shoulder operation, [my sister] Katherine broke her collarbone at Dunthrop last weekend, James Best broke his leg earlier today and Matt Griffiths arrived from Chepstow three minutes too late to take the ride", explained Diana Hobbs, whose mother Sarah Hobbs and grandmother Mary Hill own the winner.

Matt gained compensation on Sue Popham's Maiden winner Ataraxia, although the mare needed driving along for virtually the whole three mile trip. A crack at Kingston Blount's 4m2½f Southern Grand National on 17th April is on the cards.

Suzy's double came via Long Night and Ha Ho Magregor, two inmates of her North Petherton yard. Long Night forged 20 lengths clear over the last three fences in the Hunt race. Ha Ho Magregor, owned by Suzy's father, Tony Berry, will contest Ladies Opens after landing the Intermediate. "He's a little horse for lugging 12st in soft ground", felt Tony.

Jane Williams and her daughter Lizzie Kelly introduced a nice prospect when four-year-old Shalimar Fromentro held on in the first young horse Maiden. "He was one of four we bought in France as yearlings two-and-a-half years ago and is from the same family as Azertyuiop", explained Jane, who was looking forward to her Maljimar contesting Saturday's Grand National.

Mad King Oskar (Ryan Mahon) finished alone for Owner Chris Giles, whose Tricky Trickster is another leading Aintree fancy. "I don't know how to assess this race, but at least the Owner's week has started well", commented Trainer Richard Barber.

Pimbury led throughout the final circuit in the Confined. "Sam said he didn't want to lead so early, but the horse was going so well that he had to", smiled Andy Ross, head of Pimbury's syndicate of Owners.

Jenny Parsons, MFH, riding Whiskey Or Carrots, took the Charity Flat race staged in aid of The Mark Davies Injured Riders Fund.

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