13 April 2008 Pytchley - Guilsborough
Stuart Morris: rode a double at the meeting
Having been postponed from last Sunday, owing to poor weather conditions, the Pytchley Hunt got their annual meeting off on ground that was near perfect.
The first race was the Members race, sponsored by Bidwells, and five went to post. The race was fought out by two of the leading Midlands riders - Dickie Barrett and Stuart Morris. Barrett's mount, Persian Hero, led from start to finish and held off Tallow Bridge, the mount of Morris. Teeton Bollinger, joint favourite with the winner, took third place.
Calnan Cox Solicitors were the sponsors of race two, the Confined Race, and 10 went to post. The ex-Paul Nicholls trained Harapour, ridden by owner Richard Hunnisett on the back of a recent win at Thorpe, had too much pace for this field and won with a little in hand. Carbon Footprint and Teeton Dazzler filled the places.
Seven horses ran in the Ladies' Open race, sponsored by Shoosmiths Solicitors, that was run in the fastest time of the day. Jill Dawson's newcomer, Vingis Park, went off favourite and set the early pace. However, the Berkshire trained Five Seven Live, with Tash Mckim onboard, went ahead going to the last fence and won comfortably. Tooley Park ran another good race to take third.
Race four was the Men's Open race, sponsored by Abbey Ross, and attracted a field of five. This was a fascinating race with past Hunter Chase winners Coolefind and Denvale sent off the market leaders. Although the Bailey trained Denvale set the early pace, Stuart Morris sent Judy Wilson's ten year old, Coolefind, to the front two fences from home and drew five lengths clear to land the spoils.
Eleven horses went to post for the Restricted race, sponsored by Macintyre Hudson. Stuart Morris recorded his second winner of the day when he brought the consistent Walters Laddie through the field with a well timed run and held off Oscar Buck and Return Fire. This was also a second success of the day for the Judy Wilson/Bill Warner team.
Dallas Burston Healthcare sponsored the sixth race, the first division of the Maiden, which attracted a field of ten. This resulted in a win for the first season youngster Thenford Ryde from the Holly Campbell yard. Joe Docker was onboard and sent the five year old clear with three to jump. Call Me A Lady and Abbey St Bathans took the minor placings.
The Final race of the day was division 2 of the Maiden Race, sponsored by Samuel Rose, and saw a field of nine go to post. The race proved to be a milestone for Atherstone-based rider Sarah Phizacklea and her horse Another River, as this was the first time she had ridden a winner that she also owned and trained. Another River took up the running early on in the race, never looked like getting caught, and had ten lengths to spare at the post. Maddies Dream and Seaspace filled the places.
Following the day's racing there were two Pony races sponsored by Harley Racing. Alex Chadwick won the first race with Crosswell Robbie and George Saunders the second race on Chiumbo.