08 April 2010 Report: Tedworth - Barbury Castle
by Brian & Gill Armstrong
Commander Vic and Tom Bishop coasted home a distance clear of their rivals in the coveted 3m6f Tedworth Gold Cup at Barbury Racecourse on Saturday.
"Gladiatorial won this twice, so it's the third time we'll have had the Tedworth Gold Cup at home", said Tom's mother, Owner/Trainer Frances Bishop, whose yard is adjacent to Wincanton racecourse. Led up by Tom's brother, Exeter University student Brook, Commander Vic was never in danger after Tom pressed the button at the start of the final circuit.
John O'Sullivan's Royal Tir (Curly Holdforth) dominated the Confined race after market rival Yes My Lord (Ryan Bliss) fell six out. "Royal Tir retired after the 2007/08 season to go team chasing in Suffolk with John's brother-in-law, James Moore, but didn't take to the different cross-country fences, although he won some minor dressage competitions", explained Hursley trainer Penny Lownds. "He won 13 races in France and three Opens for us and it's lovely to find a nice easy race for him on a course and ground that has suited him so well".
Charlotte "Charlie" Brown rode her first-ever winner on Conditions race winner Pastek. Arctic Ghost (Sam Allwood) was left clear when challenger Sheknowsyouknow (Mark Wall) fell six out, but Charlie produced Pastek with a well-timed run to lead approaching the last. "It's our first win as well", added Fordingbridge Owner/Trainers Martin and Kathryn Peaty, who bought Pastek from Jamie and Lucy Snowden last summer.
The Tom Lacey-trained four-year-old Loose Preformer (Jerry Mcgrath) took a thrilling 2m4f maiden where the three principals jumped the last upsides and Henry The Viking, who looked likely to pass all three, swerved violently and unseated Amanda Bush 50 yards from the line. A sixth career winner for 19-year-old jockey Jerry Mcgrath - "three Points, one flat race, one bumper, and one Hunter Chase", he explained - Loose Preformer now heads to Cheltenham Sales on 14th April.
Lorikarad (Liam Payter) led over the last three fences and held on in the Restricted for Stourbridge trainer Charlotte Jones, whose co-Owner Ron Tolley was on holiday in Egypt.
New Forest Trainer James H. Young notched his first winner for three years when Heynewboy (David Turner) got the verdict over Buried Gold (Will White) in the three mile Maiden, although many spectators felt a dead-heat would have been a fair result. "We've had 11 seconds since, the horse is 10 and has been placed in four of his five races, so I don't think we're winning out of turn", smiled James.
Charlie Brown received the award for the day's best riding performance from Nick Bush.
