06 April 2010 Report: Vale of Aylesbury with Garth & S. Berks - Kimble
by Claire Hart
Whilst everywhere else in the country was victim of pouring rain and soft ground, at Kimble the sun shone and the going was good.
Five went to post in the opening Confined, where Bon Accord (James Tudor) was sent off the odds on favourite. From six out Buckby Lane (Sam Waley-Cohen) quickened the pace and from there was in command, it was a tight finish with Buckby Lane just holding on.
‘I hunted him hard and wasn't sure whether or not we would run him again but he was so well so we have, he has been running brilliantly finishing second in three hot Mens Opens this season and really deserved to win here' said trainer Jane Starkey. ‘I am very grateful to Robert (Waley- Cohen) for the use of his gallops' she added.
‘ He is back to his very best today, he needs a flat galloping track' were jockey Angela Rucker's sentiments after winning the competitive Ladies open aboard Honest Endeavour. Kicking on from two out, the winner and Balladeer (Gina Andrews) drew clear and in the end Honest Endeavour won by 2 lengths.
Only four went to post in the Mens Open, where Chilling Place (Ben Tuckey) was sent off the hot favourite. More Trouble (James Tudor) tried to lay a challenge from three out but the winner kept finding more and was a comfortable twelve length victor in the end. ‘ I would love to find a Hunter Chase for him as he is so talented but opportunity is so limited because I struggle with the lighter weights ‘ commented jockey Ben Tuckey.
Most exciting finish of the day came in the Restricted where K im Smyly's mare Keel Road came out the best in a three way battle to the line. From three out Betavix (Ben Tuckey), who was favourite, Dusky Lory (Ian Bostock) and Keel Road (Nick Sutton) drew clear.‘Gyles will steal this one now to run under rules' laughed Kim.
Andrew Mobley's gelding Astrop Road (Kevin Merry) got off the mark in the Maiden. He was in command from the second last. Andrew was quick to praise the jockey ‘Kevin broke this horse in years ago and he has intensively schooled him in the last 10 days, this horse is not straightforward and a complete monkey'.
Biggest cheer of the day came in the Hunt Members race where only three went to post. Outsider Mr Naborro (Tom Brockett) took the initiative and made the race his own turning down the back for the final time. Soon fifteen lengths clear the only worry came when Most Defnitely (Tim Underwood) was closing down coming to the last but blundered and unseated his rider.
This was a first success for 23 year old Tom who bought the horse himself midway through last season. ‘He has always wanted to win here, it is our local track, this means the world to us all' said an emotional stepfather Rory Lawther.
