Organisers of the Old Berkshire point-to-point, held at Lockinge on Easter Monday, 21st April, had made every effort to produce a safe racing surface and jockeys praised the work done on the ground – described as Good to Firm, Firm in places. However, a dry spring – together with a plethora of fixtures over the Bank Holiday weekend – never makes it easy to attract runners, and only 11 faced the starter in the four competitive contests that took place. The fixture did its best to keep the usual vast crowd entertained, though, by focusing on the dog show and terrier racing in the gaps between the horse racing and bringing the start time of the last contest forward. Judging by the number of vehicles still in the car park at the end of the day, racegoers took the limited action in their stride and enjoyed their day out in the countryside.
All the races went to owner-trainers, and two of them were also ridden by family members, showcasing the true grass roots of the sport. Stars of the show were 77-year-old trainer Tim Underwood and 58-year-old jockey Phil York, who combined for a double. Tim brought five horses to the course and ran four of them, withdrawing Ask Nile after being the only declaration in the Bear at Wantage (Arkell’s Brewery) Conditions Race (Level 2) to avoid carrying a further 3lb penalty for a walkover on his next outing.
Tim and ‘Yorky’ initiated their double with Song For My Father in the Dubarry of Ireland Restricted Race over two miles five furlongs, for which three went to post. The ex-Irish eight-year-old, odds-on favourite to up a Kingston Blount success on his British pointing debut, was held up early and – when Intricate Pillar was left in the lead after market rival Monrocco Moonlight stumbled and unshipped his rider – he quickly joined her and looked set to quicken clear. However, the mare, a winner over seven furlongs on the flat, made Song For My Father work for his victory and it took all Yorky’s experience and guile to take command round the final bend and score by two-and-a-half lengths.
“That wasn’t very comfortable,” admitted Tim – who trains at Beedon, just a few miles away – afterwards. “Maybe the mare is better than I thought, or maybe he’s better over a longer trip (his Maiden success was over three miles) – he’s not terribly quick at home. Horses run better on ground that suits them, and I think he’ll prefer a bit of give.” Tim confirmed plans for Song For My Father, saying, “He’ll go to Godstone next – that will suit as the Restricted is the first race, as he gets in a state, and we brought him late today – then back to Kingston Blount. He’ll think it’s Christmas with a fortnight’s break after this!”
Yorky said afterwards, “I was hoping to hell I’d got my timing right! I just wanted to leave him alone and let him get on with it. They went faster today (than at Kingston Blount), and he jumped better – he’s good when he goes long, but not when he gets in short.”
The veteran jockey was again seen at his best on odds-on shot – nine-year-old seasonal debutant Kyler Kane – in the closing Charles Russell Speechlys Maiden Race, another race with three runners, dictating a modest pace and always finding more when asked to hold off the persistent challenge of Myneighbour and score by a cosy two lengths. Tim’s other runner, Kedg West, was never in contention and finished four lengths back in third.
“That was nice and slow, wasn’t it?” laughed Tim afterwards. (The Members race was more than 30 seconds faster and the Open 50 quicker). “Yorky did the right thing, looking after him in front and nursing him round. He needed the run. He’s a prat to ride at home (!) – you can’t ride him in a straight line – and Neil Kinnon and I share the work on him. He wasn’t getting home last year, and we operated on him recently. We’ll try to find a bad Restricted next!” Tim’s successes on the day took him into the lead in the South Midlands Area Trainers Championship, a title he’s never won, and he admitted it was a target this year, saying, “It would be fun!”
Yorky confirmed the trainer’s views, telling me, “Nobody else wanted to lead and I was wary about asking him to, but he jumped brilliantly and, every time I asked for an effort, he went for it.” Kyler Kane’s victory was a 412th career success for the ‘Peter Pan of Pointing’ and, asked about highlights, he smiled, “The fact I’m still here! My whole career is a highlight. It took me about 20 rides to have my first completion, so it was always Mission Impossible!”
The MAKAROVA Mixed Open Race, sponsored by Saracen Horse Feeds and Brightwalton Stud, was a match between Precious Bounty and Bloodstone, owned and trained by good friends Ashley Bealby and James Henderson respectively, and ridden by Ashley’s daughter Marina and James’ son George. It went the way of the former – the result never looked in doubt after the 11-year-old, another odds-on favourite, joined Bloodstone at the cross fence and he quickened clear from three out to score by an easy 12 lengths, which could have been more.
It was a good weekend for Ashley and Marina, who also won with Due Reward on Good Friday but Ashley, asked if this success was expected, responded, “Nothing’s obvious with horses! He likes firm ground – we’ve been waiting for it most of the season – and I think Marina’s 5lb allowance (for riders with five winners or fewer) made a difference. We need to find a race next somewhere that hasn’t been over-watered.” Commenting on a season that has brought three wins, including a first success for his daughter, Ashley confirmed, “Marina’s enjoying the riding and (his wife) Annabel and I are enjoying the training. Precious Bounty is such a Christian – he jumps so well and looks after his riders. I want to thank Ellie Callwood for selling us the horse – he brought Ellie through the grades and now he’s doing the same for Marina.”
As for the jockey, Marina laughed afterwards, “It’s nice racing against your friends. He loves top of the ground and looks like a sturdy little pony, doesn’t he? He’s not your typical Yeats.” About her season, she echoed her father’s thoughts. “I’m delighted with the way it’s going. We’re lucky to have nice horses and I want to thank my parents.” She smiled again, seeing her father approaching, before saying, “Mum does all the work!”
James and George, runners-up in the Mixed Open, had already enjoyed success in the Moss Fallon Solicitors Old Berkshire Hunt Members Race, which attracted three runners, all of which could be backed at odds-against. They were responsible for the favourite, six-year-old Pax, who made most of the running and never looked likely to be troubled by Tim Underwood’s runner Presenting Point, winning by a comfortable 20 lengths. Aikenbreakinheart had unseated at the third, the open ditch.
Pax was providing a third win of the season for the father and son pairing, following up a Siddington Maiden success last month, and George said afterwards, “That was nerve-wracking. Hopefully we can have some fun with him, and we’ll go for a Restricted next. He’s a real trier and, when he hit a flat spot – which he also did at Siddington – he ran on again. I’m hoping to catch-up with my (now retired) brother Fred – I’m two wins behind him,” continued George, before adding, “They’ve done an exceptional job on the ground and I’m a happy beneficiary.”
James was quick to give praise for the horse’s form to Caroline Bartram, who joined his yard from Mick Easterby over the winter, and told me, “He really jumps and measures his fences well and it would be nice to think he could be good enough to go to the Restricted Final at Stratford in June.”
Madeline Plumb and Laurel Girl walked over Luck Greayer Bloodstock Shipping Keeper-Jockey Conditions Race (Level 2), and the owner-trainer-rider explained her decision to do so, ruling the nine-year-old mare out of Restricteds. “We’ve been finding Restricteds really competitive, and I’d rather ride her in Novice Riders races.” Madeline enjoyed a first career success on Laurel Girl at Cocklebarrow in January and, confirming that her other horse Stand Off have been retired, said with a smile, “But I’ve got a lovely Mahler from Nigel Twiston-Davies for next season.”
The two pony races, sponsored by Pinewood School, did see plenty of runners – eight in the first, won by Nell Greatrex, daughter of trainer Warren and bloodstock agent Tessa, on Mysterious Lady, and ten in the second. This went the way of Annie R U OK, a fourth consecutive success in the race for Harry Vigors. The 15-year-old, in his last season pony racing, is hoping to be an apprentice for a flat yard next year.