News

CHILLING PLACE: winner of the Lady Dudley Cup
photo: David Dew

A near capacity crowd was on hand to witness an excellent day's racing at Chaddesley Corbett on Saturday afternoon.

One family has a long association with this meeting; Major Harold Rushton used to carry his family's royal blue and cerise hoop colours to success back in the 1930's.

He was followed by his daughter Pat Tollit, who dominated the Ladies scene in the 1950's and 60's and now she has the pleasure of seeing her daughter Angela Rucker, who rode two winners at this meeting.

Mrs Rucker and her husband William are great supporters of the sport in the West Midlands and have also enjoyed success under Rules, with their State of Play finishing third in this years Grand National.

Mrs Rucker's Hunt Members mount Tragic Realm looked as though he would run out a easy winner on the home turn but a major blunder at the final obstacle left the door ajar for Haggle Twins; the leader soon got back on an even keel to claim victory, with two of Rucker's neices claiming second and third places.

Tragic Realm ran under Rules for Evan Williams's yard but proved disappointing in that company but "a season with the Worcestershire has been the making of him" according to his Droitwich-based Trainer.

Having given Tragic Realm a 30-length beating at Paxford, Shernally started a warm favourite for the five-runner Ladies Open. Mrs Rucker and Petit Lord had moved to within two lengths of Shernally when that horse departed at the 16th.

This left Petit Lord with a clear advantage and the gelding ran out an easy winner to provide his Trainer/Rider with a well-deserved double.

Strong Weld and Rhys Jenkins made every post a winning one in the Confined. The 13-year-old is a confirmed front runner so there was no doubt he was going to set a fast and furious pace. Hannah Chisman and My Pal Val looked dangerous at one point but Strong Weld threw in another prodigious leap at the second from home and this sealed his rival's fate.

The winner is owned and ridden by 45-year-old Rhys Jenkins, a Chartered Surveyor from Worcester, whose post race comment summed things up: "If only I was 20 years younger and the horse was 5 years younger".

The Lady Dudley Cup went to a worthy recipient in the shape of Mike Tuckey's Bicester raider Chilling Place, ridden by his son Ben.

On the uphill run to four out Chilling Place held a substantial lead, which he maintained all the way to the post.

After their big win, the Owner commented "It does not get any better than that, we have wanted to have a go at this race for a long time but this is as far as the horse wants".

At the West Midland Preview Evening last Autumn organised by Kidderminster Trainer Helen Needham in the aid of the County Air Ambulance, a "Wheelbarrow of Booze" was one of the prizes.

Due to the generosity of the previous winner this was re-raffled at Chaddesley to raise further funds for this worthy cause.

The weather, a big crowd and everyone's generosity resulted in a substantial sum being raised during the afternoon and this has allowed them to push the total past their £2,500 target.

It is understood arrangements are being made for a presentation to take place during the Wheatland fixture at Chaddesley Corbett on Sunday 8th May.

Back to Top