26 April 2010 Scene & Heard: United Pack - Brampton Bryan
by Carolyn Tanner
When Jeremy Mahot won the Confined on Upton Springs it brought up a century of winners for her owner-breeder Peter Corbett, who moved on to 101 less than two hours later courtesy of Ladies' Open winner Upton Legend.
The Upton duo also made up two-thirds of a first treble for trainer Sarah-Jayne Davies, the middle leg of which was provided by Restricted scorer Turn Card.
***********
Upton Springs, who lost both her front shoes during the race, was equipped with blinkers for the first time in order to make her concentrate, said Sarah. "She needs to get to the front and when she didn't get her own way last week she sulked and didn't want to play, but Jeremy gave her a terrific ride today," enthused Sarah, who owns a half-share in the mare. "I was going to sell her so Sarah had to have a share to keep her in the yard," smiled Peter, who was full of praise for the trainer.
***********
"It's work time now - there's three months in the summer for partying and playing about." Sarah's rejoinder to Peter's comment "She works harder than anyone I know."
***********
Sarah's belief that Upton Legend had probably given Jane Williams a hard time - "She does as much as she's made to do," was the trainer's observation - was borne out by the jockey. "I see two strides [to the fence] and she sees five," laughed Jane. "It's no good kicking her in because she'll make a mistake, so it's best to let her pop and then make ground between the fences."
***********
"I'll have to live to 120 to see any results from these." Peter Corbett's response to the question about the future brood mare prospects of his two winners.
***********
"I don't know who's blowing most, the jockey, the horse or me!" Sarah exclaimed after Turn Card had given Jeremy a double, his first since the corresponding meeting in 2008. The chestnut was greeted in the unsaddling enclosure by a delighted Helen Taylor - "I spoil him and give him apples every week," she said - but joint-owner Paul Duce was absent on business in Milan.
***********
Jeremy's ability to ride winners was matched by his acumen as a tipster. "Opium du Bois will win this," he declared prior to the Men's Open, and under a positive ride from David Griffiths Dawn Shillingford's charge, fitted with first-time cheekpieces, did just that. He was putting behind him a disappointing run on this track three weeks earlier, but on that occasion, said owner Michael Opperman, he struck into himself. A Worcester Hunter Chase could be next on the agenda.
Michael and his wife Averil will be hoping that the victory is a good omen for the Conservative party, their son Guy, himself a winning amateur rider, being prospective Tory candidate for Hexham. "Guy obviously hasn't had time to ride recently," said Michael, "but he hopes to be back in the saddle the week after the election."
Having recently been canvassing in their local West Worcestershire constituency on behalf of Harriett Baldwin, Michael and Averil were heading north the following day to join their son's campaign party.
************
Another dual scorer on the day was Marc Barber, who has been concentrating as much on training as riding in recent seasons. His previous double was in 2002, the year in which he won the national novice championship.
Marc's Hunt race winner Major Royal was a first for trainer Steve Isaac since moving to a new yard, a stone's throw from the course, at the start of the season. Major Royal was out of action last season after incurring an injury at Bredwardine two years ago, and his victory, said Steve, would be a tonic for his owner Barbara Gibbons, who herself had been under the weather in recent weeks.
************
Marc doubled up in the 3m Maiden on one from his own yard, Jimmy Bedney, described by owner Sirrell Griffiths as "the dearest horse I've ever bought and the most b....y disappointing!" Jimmy Bedney, purchased by Sirrell as a three-year-old, had promised so much in the early days and was placed in a Bumper and over hurdles. "McCoy rode him and said he gave him the feel of a good horse," said Sirrell, "but that he needed his back and his breathing sorted out. He was right."
But it was the tactics suggested by Sirrell's wife Joyce which worked the oracle. Her advice to "let him go in front," had previously been ignored by her husband, but on this occasion Marc bounced him out and they never saw a rival. The nine-year-old had been generally considered to be a short runner, but Marc did not subscribe to that theory. "The further he goes the better," he opined, "and now that he's got his head in front I think he could go on from here."
************
Marc's hopes of a treble were thwarted when Ralahine, who carried Sirrell's colours in the 2m4f Maiden, had to give best to Pete Mann on the tongue-tied Warwickshire raider Oujamaflip. Pete saved every yard by hugging the inside throughout. "Nobody had been there, so it was the best ground," he reasoned.
"He's had every wind operation under the sun," said Oujamaflip's trainer Laura Hurley, who owns him in partnership with licensed trainer George Baker, his previous handler, and who may take the mount herself in the Hunt race at Ashorne. It was a second course success for Pete, who had triumphed on Killarney Prince in 2006.
************
The number of runners on the day was testament to the work done on the ground by clerk of the course Wayne Tuffin and his helpers who, as they had the previous year, had watered extensively to produce going described by jockeys as "ranging between good and good to firm, and perfectly safe."
