Point-to-point racing returned to its historical roots on Sunday when the feature race for the Midlands Area, the Fernie Four-Miler, provided a maiden win for Agriculture student Billy Chatterton on the family’s own Minella Friend.
“I feel like he’s taught me everything,” Billy said of trainer Philip Rowley. “When I started at Harper Adams, we sent him [Minella Friend] to Philip, who is only 20 minutes up the road. I’ve been riding out for him several days a week and learning so much.”
The 12-year-old, by King’s Theatre, was comfortable in victory, having tracked various leaders throughout the race and hitting the front at the open ditch with four to jump. Spanish Fleet, partnered by Dan Cherriman, was a strong contender in second, having led for much of the race, and Attention Please (J. Gambin) back in third surely exceeded expectations. The much-fancied Chase Me (Zac Baker) and One Conemara (Gina Andrews) finished fourth and fifth respectively.
Tommie O’Brien looked to have the PPORA Members Conditions race all sewn up when jumping Hawkhurst over the last several lengths ahead of the long-time leader and Helen Connors-trained Smoke Man (Tom Chatfeild-Roberts). Three strides later though, Hawkhurst seemed to stop dead in his tracks and lost all his momentum, allowing the eight-year-old Gold Wells gelding to catch and overtake him before the line.
“We’ve always known Hawkhurst can do that, we just never know when it is going to happen,” trainer Alan Hill said afterwards.
Tom Chatfeild-Roberts was understandably pleased with the performance of his father, John’s, Smoke Man. “He’s better than he looks on recent form, and this track suited him,” he confirmed. “I knew he’d stay well.”
The Novice Riders Conditions race went rather as expected as favourite Blazing Tom carried Natalya Irvine home a long way ahead of Billy Chatterton’s mount, the Chris Bealby-trained Inchcolm. Meisha Micklewright and Love Manhattan finished third.
Irvine had previously won on this horse in the Mixed Open at Mollington but this time her parents Stephen and Gaynor were able to watch it in person. “We actually broke the sofa because I was jumping up and down on it watching the live stream from Mollington,” Stephen said.
Trainer Tom Ellis said, “He’s a great little horse. I saw him advertised on Facebook and thought he might be perfect for Natalya to ride.” Based on this display, they should have more good times ahead.
The Restricted race saw a good, close finish between The Triple Pillar, trained by Gerald Bailey and ridden by stable jockey Tom McClorey, and Aclassagold, ridden by Zac Baker for Martin Wanless. The former, wearing cheekpieces as an experiment, was victorious by just over a length. Halloween Harry (James Martin) was third for James Ridley.
A well-supported Conditions race for nine-year-old and over horses produced a popular win for local trainer Louise Bevin with Wayupinthebox, ridden by Jack Andrews for the first time. They finished three lengths clear of Lisheen Prince (Izzie Marshall), with Bardista (Tom McClorey) back in third.
“He carried me everywhere and was very straightforward,” said Andrews of the 11-year-old, which hadn’t won since 2017.
“His form doesn’t do him justice,” Rory Bevin explained afterwards. “We actually hadn’t decided whether he would run here or at Fakenham in the hunter chase, but I did the entries on my phone while I was riding and somehow forgot to press enter for the Fakenham entry. So, we didn’t have much choice!”
Jack Andrews had two runners on the card and the second completed a quick-fire double for him. This time he triumphed on Pollards Fen, for David and Victoria Phelan, in the first division of the Maiden, beating Everything Now (Alexandra Ingram) by 10 lengths, with Robin Is Ready (Miss R. Grissell) a further two lengths back in third. This was the winner’s third start and his first over three miles, and they will probably look for a restricted at Garthorpe next.
The second division of the Maiden was won by a significant margin by favourite Fier Jaguen, ridden and trained by Bradley Gibbs for Julian Sherriff. It was not all plain sailing though as, having made all the running, the six-year-old chestnut made a mistake at the last and Gibbs did well to stay put.
“He’s a promising horse,” Gibbs said. “We were unlucky to win and then be disqualified for missing a marker at Chaddesley Corbett, and then we were beaten by a good Ellis Horse at Aldington.”
The day’s racing had begun with two pony races. The 148cm opener was won by Charlie Maggs aboard Pick Pocket, with Madame Mimi (Joe Leavy) and O’Flynn’s Daughter (Billy Loughnane) second and third. Bruce Vaughan won the 138cm race on The Gentle Touch, ahead of Mayday Black Mink (Mason Paetel) and Menedh Knight (Miley Jenkins).
Midlands Area pointing now has a three-week hiatus before the next of our Garthorpe meetings on Sunday, 23rd May. Spectators will hopefully be welcome at that meeting, with more details to follow.