12 May 2008 Melton Hunt Club - Garthorpe
Chorizo: ran out in the 3rd race, then won the Men's Open
Fine warm weather, perfect ground conditions, and some top class racing were the order of the day when a good sized crowd enjoyed Point-to-Point racing at the popular Garthorpe Racecourse, near Melton Mowbray on Sunday. Yorkshire rider, Oliver Greenall landed a double here which further increased his healthy lead in this seasons Men's Riders Championship.
Two Pony races preceded the opening race, run over five and seven furlongs respectively. Eleven year old Daisy Taylor won the first and fourteen year old Georgina Wales the second.
Nine horses went to post for the Melton Hunt Club Members Conditions race, kindly sponsored by M S International. This produced a thrilling finish with 14 year old Glenelly Gale, under Toby Greenall, holding on by a short head from the fast finishing Tallow Bridge, with Hi Up Brenkley taking third spot.
Race two was the Intermediate race, kindly sponsored by Mr & Mrs Tim Wood. This race produced another win for the Greenall family. Oliver Greenall on the favourite, Bow School, went to the front with two fences to jump and had five lengths to spare at the post. Sovereign Quest took second and Teeton Swansong held on for third.
Marshall Land Rover were the sponsors for the Melton Hunt Club Novices Championship race and four horses went to post. This produced an early surprise when hot favourite, Chorizo, ran out after only jumping three fences. However, recent Dingley winner, Burn Brook, trained and ridden by Richard Armson, raced ahead and never looked like being caught, winning by a distance from Return Fire and Thenford Ryde.
Wheat Displays & Exhibitions sponsored race four, the Ladies Open race, and seven went to post. Oh So Lively, ridden by Claire Hart, and Vingis Park, the mount of Jill Dawson, disputed the lead for much of the first circuit. However, Jill kept the ten year old, Vingis Park, well in touch and after a clever recovery at the third last fence, forged ahead to win by three parts of a length. High Gear, the mount of Gemma Hutchinson, took third place.
Four horses went to post for the Men's Open race, kindly sponsored by TTS Shipping of Melton Mowbray. David Easterby took the decision to run Chorizo, who had run out in an earlier race, and top local horse Coolefind, who was ridden by Dickie Barrett, as his regular pilot Stuart Morris had been injured in an earlier fall, were the major protagonists. The race produced another exciting finish with these two racing neck and neck. However, Chorizo, after a fine battle up the run in, held on by a short head to give Greenall his second winner of the afternoon.
Eight went to post for the next, the Melton Hunt Club Members Conditions race. This resulted in an easy win for the Richard Hunnisett owned and ridden, seven year old, Cheyne. Leading for most of the way, Hunnisett never looked in danger and won convincingly. Reel Dancer and Ballyowen took the minor placings.
The final race on the card was the Open Maiden race for 4,5,6 and 7 year olds, over 2½ miles and kindly sponsored by Chris & Antonia Bealby. Seven horses went to post. The race was won by the seven year old, Seaplace, however, hot favourite, Quoquille Des Sacart, unshipped his rider after three fences and the Roger Harvey trained, Watchthespace, was carried out by a loose horse with four to jump. Clearly Mad and Velvet Red took the minor placings.
The next Midland Area meeting is The Blankney Hunt, here at Garthorpe, on Saturday, 24th May.