06 May 2008 Cotley - Cotley Farm
Master Mark: survived a last fence blunder
Polly Gundry and Rachael Green rode doubles at Cotley to maintain their duel for this season's National Championship. With 13 racing days left this season, Polly leads Rachael by 31 - 28.
Polly was first on the scoresheet with Len and Rose Vickery's Kiama in the Hunt race. Winner of five of her six races this season - including the prestigious TBA/MFHA PPORA Mares Final at Clifton-on-Dunsmore - Kiama led throughout and forged a distance clear in the last half mile. "She's enjoyed herself today, so we might run her again if the ground remains suitable - the Exeter Racecourse Intermediate Final next Wednesday [14th] is a possibility", said Rose. "We've wanted to win this race all season", added Len, "and I'm pleased that our two children, Shirley and Nigel, and three grandchildren, Jack (3), William (12) and Chris (10) are here to share the moment".
Rachael immediately hit back with the Axe Valley Racing's Master Mark in the 2m 4f Maiden. A 3,000 gns Ascot purchase last summer, Master Mark passed pacemaker Berkeley Court (Alex Charles-Jones) at the penultimate, although a last fence mistake caused some alarms.
Polly extended her lead when Rockwithacaveman led over the last two fences in the Mixed Open. Rockwithacaveman was unbeaten in five Point-to-Points earlier in the season before appearing to be unsettled by the racecourse atmosphere prior to contesting Marblehead's Exeter Hunter Chase. "That's why we came here", explained Ed Walker, joint trainer with Polly. "He didn't enjoy being at Exeter and we wanted to run him in one more Point-to-Point so that he didn't lose his confidence. He won't run again this season, but we think he'll improve an awful lot as a seven-year-old next season".
Rachael "equalised" with Pleasure Shared in the Restricted, although Polly was upsides and travelling well when her mount Pendoun fell at the penultimate. "We bought Pleasure Shared for 18,000 euros at St Cloud 18 months ago to run in Point-to-Points and then sell on - he's entered for Doncaster Sales in a fortnight, although he might run again in the meantime", said Champion Trainer Paul Nicholls, joint owner with Julia Minton. "Note that he'll be a stone better on fast ground", added trainer Richard Barber.
Polly's hopes of a treble were dashed when Gemster just failed to catch The Kings Fling in the Veterans' race. "The Countess [joint-owner Susie Goess-Saurau] hasn't seen him all season, so we'll make sure she's available before planning his next race", smiled Richard Woollacott, now on the 21-winner mark for the season.
Lagan Legend led throughout most of the final circuit to take the closing Maiden race under trainer Charlotte Tizzard. "I bought the mare in November and hunted her myself", said Littleton Pannell (near Devizes) farmer Robin Sharp. "I rode in Point-to-Points and wore this same set of woollen colours when winning at Larkhill on Tic Tac Lady".