10 May 2011 Report: Wheatland - Chaddesley Corbett
by Peter Mansell
Chaddesley Corbett played host to the Wheatland's Point-to-Point on Sunday, with a good number of the 148 entrants declaring on the day.
Stephen Rea trains at Belbroughton just a few miles away from Chaddesley Corbett so Ben Ryan's success in the Restricted proved popular with the locals. With regular pilot Jake Hodson required at Worcester, Hannah Lewis was lined up as a replacement and as she told the trainer after the race "He was gaining lengths in the air and I could not believe how well we were going, so I kicked on".
Three horses had drawn clear of the field as they met the rising ground on the climb into the home straight. Lewis managed to secure first run with Ben Ryan and gained a length at a vital stage of the race, which was to prove crucial at the finish.
Rea, who has recently retired as Manager of Hall Green Greyhound Stadium, stated "I was confident of success because I fancied the horse when was beaten at Welbeck recently trying to concede about two stones to the winner".
Angela Rucker's stables at Himbleton enjoyed a good start to the season but they were then hit by the virus, which scuppered their plans for the season. Cedrus Libani has been quicker to recover than some of his stablemates however, and he seemed to be back to something like his best following his impressive win in the Mens Open.
Straightening up for the judge, Cedrus Libani continued to dominate the race with Most Definitely and Just Talking throwing down challenges but these were brushed aside as Cedrus Libani drew clear over the final two fences.
"He's entered for Cheltenham Sales on Wednesday, but Richard is hoping we will keep him so we will have to make a decision in the next 24 hours" stated the trainer's husband after the race.
Burton's second winner was provided by the James Richardson-trained I No Understand in the Maiden, who had been bought as a three-year-old at the Goffs Land Rover Sale.
Abberley trainer Zoe Hammond took the Conditions race with her new Irish import Anynearexit. Unfortnately the trainer was unable to be present as she had a long-standing commitment to judge at Alvechurch Show.
Anynearexit claimed the lead at the third from home and was driven clear in the home straight.
"Owner Mark Roberts asked us to find a horse he could have some fun with" explained the trainer's husband Mike later "We tried to buy her in the autumn but they were asking too much but the price dropped after she ran in Ireland over the winter"
Hammond had gone close to landing a double before Zinc Mine was just touched off in the Club Members Race.
The Ladies Open attracted a top class field including Sericina who had been pulled up in the Cheltenham Foxhunters, but they were all put in their place by an unfancied outsider.
Sericina, Kalmo Bay and Distiller were inseparable at the third from home but Jane Williams had timed to run to perfection on Distiller who had a distinct advantage approaching the penultimate. They stayed on strongly to win by five lengths from Whistling Straits and Fantastic Champion, with Sericina weakening into fourth.
"He has only been in a couple of months" according to Richard Bevis. The Naunton-based trainer was astounded by this success "I expected the horse to run well but I did not expect him to beat Kalmo Bay or Sericina. Jane gave him a great ride, and was very patient and kept kidding him along".
The Enville-based rider has enjoyed a good week as she partnered Billyvoddan to victory in the AGA Final at Cheltenham for Morville trainer Phillip Rowley followed by this victory.
The team in charge of course preparation at Chaddesley Corbett deserve a "pat on the back" after their efforts (with the help of overnight rain) provided good going for the fourth meeting to be staged at the Worcestershire venue in 2011.
