28 January 2008 West Street Tickham - Detling
Peter Bull: recorded a double
A glorious day's racing at Detling Point-to-Point (Sat 26th) saw large fields competing in perfect conditions. Two riders - Peter Bull and Phil York, went home with doubles.
Honorable Spider trounced his rivals for a popular win in the Mens Open, and the day ended with a dramatic disqualification after Splash And Dash, first past the post, failed to jump the second last fence in the Novice Riders race.
The first race, for maiden horses, was won by Balableu and Peter Bull, who extended his lead as top rider at the course by winning on Honorable Spider two hours later. Philip York rode Balau to take the Confined by two lengths from Gielgud, and was aboard Dante's Storm, easy winner of the Restricted.
Jenny Gordon, for so long a standing dish at Detling as a rider, saddled Heaven Is Above to win the Ladies Open in the hands of Claire Allen.
There was disappointment for new trainer Nick Pearce and his patron Simon Tindall. Deefour, widely held to be their best prospect for 2008, burst a blood vessel when strongly fancied for the Restricted. Sheriff's Friend and Magniolia ran disappointingly and Lively Lord, ridden by Eastbourne College schoolboy Ben Bentley, eventually unshipped his rider in the Novice.
This was the race that ended in controversy when Splash And Dash, the favourite, passed the post in front only to be disqualified for taking the wrong course. Rider Anthony Ward-Thomas had bypassed the second-last. The 12 runners had been stopped from jumping it on the second circuit, but it had been repaired in time for the finish. The race was awarded to Dartmoor raider Bucket Awl.
