28 April 2008 Berkeley - Woodford
Mister Putt: the first leg of Geoff Barfoot-Saunt's double at the meeting
Geoff Barfoot-Saunt has now assumed the role as one of ‘the most senior jockey's in the West Midlands area' but that has its benefits and he put all that experience to good use with a double during Saturday's Berkeley Point-to-Point at Woodford.
Now based at Huntingford (near Charfield) his first success came on Roger Magg's Mister Putt in the Members.
The runners disappear out of sight at the far end of the course before reappearing in the shadows of the castle and by the time they did so Martin Ossie had surrendered the lead with the two market leaders about 4-lengths clear of the constantly improving Mister Putt.
That order remained unchanged until Barfoot-Saunt produced his mount with a well timed run to take the lead between the final two fences and his 4-length advantage at the last was maintained all the way to the line.
Barfoot-Saunt repeated the tactics, which had proved so successful earlier in the afternoon on Alexander Musical in Division II of the Maiden.
Black Spot Bob led until he was passed by Port Talbot at the fourth from home and Peter Mason's mount maintained a 3-length advantage until they started to send out distress signals approaching the second from home.
Alexander Musical had crept into contention all the way up the home straight and came through to open up a clear lead between the final two fences and retained command of the race on the run in.
The winner carries the colours of Cheltenham Builder Brian Parsons, who purchased the horse privately last year from Upton-on-Severn trainer Simon Lewis and then placed the horse in the care of Longdon's John Taylor.
Winning bets in this race were subject to a 30p in the pound reduction following the late withdrawal of the Dick Baimbridge trained favourite Equivocate.
She managed to get loose from her handler on the way to the parade ring and was last seen heading off towards the main Bristol Road. (Luckily the mare was recovered soon afterwards without any long-term effects from her escapade).
Now in his mid-70's the Berkeley trainer has been around long enough to know that life and racing is full of ups and downs and was in reflective move after Slavedriver had fallen at the last in Division I of the Maiden.
(Jockey Tom Weston was fired into the ground in what looked a particularly nasty fall and was subsequently taken to hospital in Bristol, but released later with a broken collar bone and concussion).
After that fall and the problems with Equivocate Baimbridge said "It's just not my day today!"
With nobody particularly keen to make the running over the first couple of fences, Mark Wall grabbed the bull by the horns and sent Quantocks Last Brat to the front at the 3rd.
Their effort began to peter out as they straightened up for home and approaching three out Slavedriver led from Just Buddy with all the other runners trailing in their wake.
Weston's mount seemed to be coming to the end of his tether between the last two fences but was still 3-lengths clear jumping the last, but unfortunately he knuckled on landing.
This left the way clear from Jack Watson's mount Just Buddy, but as sometimes happens in racing, they were unable to avoid the prostrate pair in front of them and were brought down with the race at their mercy.
The excitement did not end there because there were now three horses vying for the lead with Grand Affair and Ryan Bliss taking advantage of the situation which had developed in front of them although they had to pull out all the stops to repel Mark Wall's renewed challenge on Quantocks Last Brat while Choice Connection from Richard Barbers yard was a length away in third.
The Dorset trainer had scored a double earlier in the afternoon with successes for Range Rover in the Intermediate and Rimpton Boy's plucky win in the Ladies.
"He is for sale at the right price" commented successful trainer Julie Houldey after We're Confused's victory in the Restricted and it would be fair to say that the horses value was probably lower at the start of the race than it was afterwards.
Dave Mansell has ridden Eco Style to win at Bitterley but he remained loyal to We're Confused and that proved the right choice.
Both horses were at the fore front of affairs from the start and quickly established a useful lead, then allowing their rivals to reduce their advantage before drawing clear again as they went out on to the second circuit.
Eco Style was still in contention when he blundered badly at the 14th (the final open ditch) and was immediately pulled up.
Turning back to face the judge We're Confused was still a couple of lengths clear while Just Here had taken over from L'Homme Sauvage as the leaders principal rival.
Hard though he tried over the final three fences We're Confused was always holding the upper hand and strode clear for another easy success for his owners the Sandfield Farm Racing Club who are based at North Nibley.
Strong Weld and Liam Payter scored their fourth win of the season with another pillar to post victory in the Men's Open.
At this stage of the season, the opposition should know that Strong Weld only has one way of running. "He can only go one gallop - but it is a good one" stated trainer Nicky Sheppard after Nigel and Serena Gowlings 11-year-old had once again ground his rivals into the ground.