20 May 2008 Clifton-on-Teme - Upper Sapey
Comealong Cornwall: strolled home in the 5,6&7yo Maiden for rider/trainer Mark Wall
The Clifton-on-Teme staged their meeting at Upper Sapey yesterday and, since moving to its current date in May, the meeting has had to contend with bad weather on several occasions. This time though the racing gods were smiling and the meeting attracted plenty of runners, although the official going was good to firm, with firm patches.
Three runners faced the starter in the opening Members Race but from halfway the race developed into a match between the favourite Analan and Mark Wall's mount Glencairnabbey, with Rusty Zaffaran unable to go the pace set by his rivals.
There was little between the two leaders as they raced downhill towards the notoriously difficult third from home. There is no margin for error at this obstacle and Glencairnabbey fell when trying to match strides with his rival.
This was the second win of the season for Great Whitley owner/trainer/breeder Charlotte Banks who indicated afterwards this would be the mare's last race of the season.
Fergal O'Brien and Andy Hobbs are the only two trainers in with a realistic chance of winning the Areas Trainers Championship and O'Brien took a major step towards landing this prestigious award after Gulabill's victory in the Restricted.
Young Sam Drinkwater's riding has come on by leaps and bounds this season and that was self evident when he produced Gulabill (who had 3-lengths to make up on his rivals at the 16th) with a well timed run to lead at the final obstacle and gain the verdict by a length.
The 9-year-old gelding is owned by the rider's parents Paul and Karen, although his mother was unable to be present as she had taken Sam's brother to their local horse show in Winchcombe.
The Mixed Open saw O'Brien extend his lead in the trainer's championship after Hambaphambili's success under Mark Wall.
Meggies Lad and Hambaphambili set a blistering pace but at the fence at the top of the hill Wall's mount had a clear advantage. Ard Hudie looked dangerous over the next two fences but Wall had kept a little bit up his sleeve and his mount extended his lead as they raced towards the judge.
This was the third win of the season for Barry and Jenny Barnes 8-year-old who has also finished second in a Cheltenham Hunter Chase.
Andy Hobbs pulled some points back after Oliviers win in the Intermediate under Adrian Wintle.
The favourite was held up for most of the race until his jockey decided to put him into contention as they raced downhill for the final time. He was some 6-lnegths behind the leaders at this point but swept past at the second last and stayed on strongly to gain a two and a half-length success for co owners Stan Warner and Kate Abel Smith. Although he won "he was not enjoying the ground" according to his trainer "so that will be it for the year".
After a win earlier in the afternoon Mark Wall consolidated his position in the Riders Championship with victory aboard Comealong Cornwall in the 5-6-7 year old Maiden.
Wall not only rode this winner but trains it himself at his home in Coln Rogers and co owns it with his fiancée Axelle Waldman.
The mare had run well on her racecourse debut and showed the benefit of that experience by being at the forefront of affairs from the start. Polly Gundry moved the favourite Uncle Matthew up to dispute the lead at halfway but that challenge was soon beaten off and Comealong Cornwall strolled home for an easy victory and literally walked over the line to gain the official verdict by 25-lengths.
The 8-year-old and upwards Maiden resulted in a pillar to post victory for the Paul Davies trained Riverdeepmountanhi. Davies stable are just 6 miles from the Upper Sapey course and the 8-year-old son of Rashar hardly broke sweat in scoring a 10-length success at the expense of Sorbieiditmyway and Hop Pocket.
The horse came into the hands of Wigmore based owner Geoff Williams via Michael Oliver who has been responsible for so many winners this season and based on this performance should command a reasonable sum when he comes up for Sale at Ascot in a couple of weeks time.
The only away winner of the day was provided by Magicien in the Novice Riders Race.
Shobden trainer Steve Isaac was not going to run the horse after he came up in bumps (possible insect bites) prior to the weekend, but they had disappeared by the morning of the race.
The horse was given a gallop and was reported to be in top condition so connections decided that he should take his chance and with ground conditions in his favour Chaddesley Corbett next Monday beckons.
