News

19 May 2012 Scene & Heard: United Hunts Meeting at Folkestone

Mid Div And Creep, who was in outstanding form in 2010/11 but for whom little has gone right this year, returned to winning form in the Shepherd Neame Open Champion Hunters' Chase, despite taking some time to warm up and requiring a couple of reminders in the early stages. READ MORE

14 May 2012 Scene & Heard: Melton Hunt Club - Garthorpe

Blarney Highwayman confirmed Adrian Maguire's high opinion of him by winning the Mixed Open under Richard Armson, outspeeding Coolefind, who at 14 is twice his age, on the flat. The Irishman, who at one time had Denman in his care, had considered Blarney Highwayman to be possibly the best he had handled. READ MORE

09 May 2012 Scene & Heard: Warwickshire - Mollington

Jimmy Tarry has been the winning-most rider at Mollington since it originally opened in 1972, his tally including a five-timer in 1999, so it was perhaps fitting that he should saddle the first winner when the course re-opened its gates after a five year gap. READ MORE

08 May 2012 Scene & Heard: Tredegar Farmers - Lower Machen

After her all the way victory in the Ladies' Open, her sixth success of the campaign, Chesnut Annie remains on course to regain the Connolly's Red Mills leading horse award which she won in 2008/9. READ MORE

04 May 2012 Scene & Heard: Cheltenham Hunter Chase Evening

Carolyn Tanner reports on a thrilling evening of racing at Cheltenham on Wednesday night. READ MORE

25 April 2012 Scene & Heard: Braes of Derwent - Corbridge

Sea Scout has the Northern area's coveted Heart Of All England Hunter Chase in his sights after justifying favouritism in the Ladies' Open under Claire Metcalfe. READ MORE

22 April 2012 Scene & Heard: Bangor - April 21st

Carolyn Tanner reports from Saturday's meeting at Bangor. READ MORE

21 April 2012 Scene & Heard: Southwell - April 20th

Carolyn Tanner reports on the action from Southwell last Friday evening (April 20th). READ MORE

17 April 2012 Scene & Heard: Pytchley - Guilsborough

Lake Legend, six times successful under Rules from Alan King's yard, made a winning debut between the flags when taking the Men's Open under a perfectly-timed ride from the very promising Leo Mahon. READ MORE

04 April 2012 Scene & Heard: Ledbury - Maisemore Park

Findlay's Find's Mixed Open victory owed everything to an outstanding ride from first-time pilot Liam Payter, who was booked three days earlier - "And you don't turn down a horse like that," he commented. READ MORE

03 April 2012 Scene & Heard Extra: Pointing Proposal

Most people celebrate a winner by having a drink or two. Rob Keyes, owner of the Horseheath winner Thehookybooky, showed his delight in slightly different fashion. READ MORE

02 April 2012 Scene & Heard: Teme Valley - Brampton Bryan

It was déjà vu for David Manning's Fourty Acers, who for the second successive year made a winning seasonal debut at Brampton Bryan by taking the Men's Open in the hands of Josh Hamer. READ MORE

28 March 2012 Scene & Heard: Badsworth & Bramham Moor - Whitcliffe Grange

Mark Walford must wish that every Yorkshire meeting was held at Whitcliffe Grange, as having ridden a double at the inaugural meeting in 2011 he repeated the feat on Sunday, taking the Confined on Go Moss Go and the Men's Open on The Viking. READ MORE

26 March 2012 Scene & Heard: Belvoir - Garthorpe

Ungaro, whose most recent success came in Kempton's prestigious Feltham Novices' Chase in 2006, was a surprise winner of the Mixed Open under Heather Kemp, staying on well on the run-in to repel the challenges of the odds-on My Old Piano and Menchikov. READ MORE

21 March 2012 Scene & Heard: Curre & Llangibby - Howick

The remarkable Chesnut Annie recorded her 30th success between the flags, and her ninth at Howick, when taking the Ladies' Open, although not before giving her supporters a fright. READ MORE

20 March 2012 Scene & Heard: South Wold - Brocklesby Park

It's next stop Cheltenham for Billyvoddan, who won his second AGA Ladies' Open qualifier of the campaign under Jane Williams despite being hampered by loose horses leaving the back straight, and will return to Prestbury Park to defend his crown. READ MORE

13 March 2012 Scene & Heard: Sir W W Wynn's - Bangor-on-Dee

Seldom can a Members' winner on a nine-race card be named as producing one of the most impressive performances of the day, but there was no doubting the credentials of What A Laugh to take that accolade. READ MORE

13 March 2012 Scene & Heard: Kingston Blount Racing Club - Kingston Blount

Late arrivals to the meeting would have missed one of the day's most impressive performances, that of Penmore Mill, who showed his rivals a clean pair of heels in the Members' Conditions race. READ MORE

06 March 2012 Scene & Heard: Cottesmore - Garthorpe

First-time blinkers and a front-running role worked the oracle for Sheriff Hutton, who battled on gamely to land the Men's Open under trainer Oliver Greenall after looking likely to be swallowed up approaching the last by the gallant veterans Coolefind and Border Fusion. READ MORE

05 March 2012 Scene & Heard: Thurlow - Horseheath

John Ferguson saddled five runners at the meeting and went home with three first and two second places. This took his winning tally between the flags this season to ten, on top of the 22 successes he has achieved under Rules since September 30. READ MORE

28 February 2012 Scene & Heard: Essex Farmers & Union - Marks Tey

There was no more popular winner at the meeting than the Confined scorer Evening Echo, the first leg of a double for jockey Andrew Braithwaite, his trainer wife Lauren, and owner Roy Green. READ MORE

20 February 2012 Scene & Heard: North Hereford - Whitwick Manor

It was a day of doubles at Whitwick, with two winners apiece for trainers Sheila Crow, Sarah-Jayne Davies and Tom Lacey, and for jockeys Sam Drinkwater and Jeremy Mahot. READ MORE

30 January 2012 Scene & Heard: Midlands Area Club - Thorpe

Joe Docker, whose father John is Chairman of the meeting, recorded his 100th success between the flags when taking the Maiden Division One on the Holly Campbell-trained Popaway. READ MORE

24 January 2012 Scene & Heard: West Percy - Alnwick

John Dawson rode his first winner since undergoing three operations on his anterior cruciate ligament in the summer when landing the Men's Open on Maria Myco's Top Dressing, despite reporting that his mount had not been too happy on the track's undulations. READ MORE

16 January 2012 Scene & Heard: Dunston Harriers - Ampton

The last-minute decision to give Divine Intavention a Men's Open entry bore fruit at Ampton, Mark Wall's forcing tactics on the final circuit seeing his mount home ahead of the odds-on Ballyeightra Cross. READ MORE

10 January 2012 Scene & Heard: North Cornwall - Wadebridge

The evergreen Southwestern recorded his 23rd victory for the Exmoor Partners, and his second of the season, when justifying favouritism in the Men's Open under Neil Harris. READ MORE

10 January 2012 Scene & Heard: Larkhill Racing Club - Larkhill

Description left his dismal Barbury display behind when given a fine front-running ride by Gina Andrews to take the Ladies' Open. READ MORE

03 January 2012 Scene & Heard: Cambridgeshire Harriers Hunt Club - Cottenham

John Ferguson has sent out some smart recruits to score under Rules this season, but none of his 14 winners will have given him or his wife Fiona as much pleasure as seeing their son James record his first success in the Mens Open on Earth Dream. READ MORE

20 December 2011 Scene & Heard: South Midlands Area Club - Whitfield

Claire Hart's long-held dream came one step closer to reality at Whitfield, where Palypso de Creek annihilated his rivals in the AGA Ladies' Open. READ MORE

06 December 2011 Scene & Heard: Point-to-Point Owners' & Riders' Club Day 2 - Barbury Racecourse

Both winning Open race riders had more than tactics on their minds at the start of the day, as the first hurdle that Angela Rucker and Nick Sutton had to overcome was that of watching their respective offspring making their debut in the Dodson & Horrell Novice Riders' contest. READ MORE

05 December 2011 Scene & Heard: Point-to-Point Owners' & Riders' Club Day 1 - Barbury Racecourse

Master Medic, who was trained by Robert Alner to win several Chases and is now in the care of his wife Sally, returned from illness to take the Mixed Open from another former useful Rules performer The Polomoche, who failed by just a head to peg back his rival on the run-in. READ MORE

29 November 2011 Scene & Heard: Cambridge University United Hunts Club - Cottenham

Trainer Gary Hanmer took the honours at Cottenham on the season's opening day, travelling two horses from his Cheshire base and capturing the spoils with both. READ MORE

21 June 2011 Scene & Heard: Torrington Farmers - Umberleigh

Seldom can a jockey have ridden a treble at a meeting and ended the afternoon feeling disappointed, but 18-year-old Mike Heard found himself in that position on the season's final day. READ MORE

29 May 2011 Scene & Heard: Stratford - May 27th

This year at Stratford saw both Hunter Chase finals held on the same evening, resulting in a delectable feast of action for racegoers. Carolyn Tanner reports. READ MORE

24 May 2011 Scene & Heard: Meynell & South Staffs - Garthorpe

Thomas Greenall made a successful return to race-riding on Sunday when taking the Mixed Open on Sea Senor for owner Brian Dunn, who is not enjoying the best of health but who was present to accompany his horse into the winner's enclosure. READ MORE

16 May 2011 Scene & Heard: Fernie - Dingley

Super-sub Nick Pearce made it three wins from three rides for trainer Gerald Bailey this year when taking over from owner Richard Hunnisett, who had a heavy fall in the opening race, to land the 4m Mixed Open, the Midlands area Feature race, on The King Of Angels. Nick was also maintaining his 100% record for Richard, with a career two out of two. READ MORE

13 May 2011 Scene & Heard: Folkestone Hunter Chase night

Owner-trainer Alan Hill admitted to being "gobsmacked" after Mysaynoway had romped home under Gina Andrews in the 3m7f Shepherd Neame Open Champion Hunters' Chase. READ MORE

12 May 2011 Scene & Heard: John Wade Amateur Racenight - Sedgefield

A journey of almost four hours proved worthwhile for Mark Wall when Sheknowsyouknow, who had travelled the previous day from Mike Hawker's Wiltshire yard, made virtually all to win the Oaklands Veterinary Centre Novices' Hunters' Chase. READ MORE

06 May 2011 Scene & Heard: Cheltenham Hunter Chase Night

The Connolly's Red Mills Intermediate final has produced some stirring finishes since its inception in 2008, and this year's renewal did not disappoint, with Damman getting up on the run-in to head the long-time leader Now Listen To Me and Ballyeightra Cross and thus give trainer Fergal O'Brien and jockey Sam Drinkwater their second successive victory in the contest. READ MORE

03 May 2011 Scene & Heard: Lauderdale - Mosshouses

Just 24 runners contested the seven races at Mosshouses, but there was no shortage of incident, plus some close finishes, to keep the large crowd entertained. READ MORE

02 May 2011 Scene & Heard: "Heart of All England" Hunter Chase - April 30th

This is the contest which all the Northern area trainers covet, but this year it turned into an Easterby benefit, with David Easterby saddling the winner Bitter Blue and the third home Mr Gossip, and his brother-in-law and sister, Ian and Susan Mason, being responsible for the runner-up Impact Zone, with daughter Jo on board. READ MORE

02 May 2011 Scene & Heard: James Griffith Memorial Hunter Chase- April 29th

My Flora duly justified favoritism in this five-runner contest, but in her first attempt over regulation fences and on ground quicker than any she had previously encountered she at times looked far from an odds-on certainty. READ MORE

25 April 2011 Scene & Heard: Pentyrch - Bonvilston

Chesnut Annie and Lady Myfanwy have won 49 Point-to-Points between them, and were expected to fight out the finish in what was surely Wales's most eagerly-awaited clash of the campaign. Both, though, were completely upstaged by their sole rival in the AGA Ladies' Open, Oca de Thaix, who gave a splendid display of jumping when making virtually all in the hands of Charlotte Evans and in the process booking his place in the Cheltenham final. READ MORE

13 April 2011 Scene & Heard: Pytchley - Guilsborough

Sam Waley-Cohen, the most high-profile amateur jockey in the country, who had come so close to winning the Grand National the previous day, scored his first success since landing the Cheltenham Gold Cup on Long Run when making every yard of the running in the Men's Open on his father Robert's Otage de Brion. READ MORE

05 April 2011 Scene & Heard: Ledbury - Maisemore Park

Under a perfectly-timed ride from his trainer Sally Randell, Surenaga's finishing speed proved too much for his rivals in the Mixed Open at Maisemore, where a total of 98 horses contested the eight races. READ MORE

04 April 2011 Scene & Heard: United Pack - Brampton Bryan

Fourty Acers, successful over hurdles and fences for David Manning when trained by David Pipe, made a winning debut between the flags under Josh Hamer, making every yard of the running in the Men's Open and never looking likely to be overhauled. READ MORE

28 March 2011 Scene & Heard: Puckeridge - Horseheath

The veteran Northall Lad, who had run so well in defeat at the previous meeting on this track, proved far too classy for his three rivals in the Men's Open, cruising home in the fastest time of the day with rider Andrew Braithwaite taking leisurely looks over his shoulder all the way up the home straight. The only surprise was that he started odds against, with Parkinson being preferred in the betting. READ MORE

21 March 2011 Scene & Heard: Fitzwilliam (Milton) - Cottenham

There were plenty of excuses for birthday celebrations at Cottenham, where George Greenock, 25 the previous Wednesday, completed a first double on Caveman (Men's Open) and Rockfield (8yo&up Maiden). READ MORE

21 March 2011 Scene & Heard: South Wold - Brocklesby Park

An incident-packed AGA Ladies' Open, in which four started but only Eliza Doalott and Freya Brewer got round, proved yet again that it doesn't pay to be frightened off by strong opposition, as some entries appeared to be. READ MORE

15 March 2011 Scene & Heard: Sir W W Wynn's - Bangor-on-Dee

It was a day of doubles and trebles on the 11-race marathon card at Bangor. READ MORE

09 March 2011 Scene & Heard: Cottesmore - Garthorpe

Enigma Variations continued his upward curve at Garthorpe, making virtually all to win the Confined under the watchful eye of Amanda Lindsell, who had purchased him in Ireland for owner Toby Hunt. READ MORE

07 March 2011 Scene & Heard: Brecon & Talybont - Llanfrynach

Peter Corbett's gloomy prediction prior to racing that his home-bred Upton Legend would not appreciate the ground failed to take into account an outstanding ride by Jane Williams. READ MORE

03 March 2011 Scene & Heard: The Perils of a Hot Wash

Point-to-Point trainer Robin Butterworth yesterday recounted to us a story which highlights the dangers of washing delicate racing silks at a hot temperature.... READ MORE

28 February 2011 Scene & Heard: Thurlow - Horseheath

Caroline Fryer, whose recent Higham runner-up Leo McGarry broke down so badly that he had to be put down, gained some compensation when saddling her mother Sandra's Ide No Idea to take the Intermediate under Rupert Stearn. READ MORE

22 February 2011 Scene & Heard: North Hereford - Whitwick Manor

Carolyn Tanner reports on the action from the North Hereford. READ MORE

18 February 2011 Scene & Heard: Leicester - February 16th

"Jumping hasn't always been his forte but this was the best he's ever jumped," enthused Mark Wall after piloting William Somers to victory in the valuable Mallard Pawnbrokers Hunters' Chase. READ MORE

14 February 2011 Scene & Heard: Tanatside - Eyton-on-Severn

Just three races took place before proceedings at Eyton were halted due to the lack of a horse ambulance, the one which was in place on the course having left the venue to transport an injured horse to the veterinary surgery.  READ MORE

07 February 2011 Scene & Heard: South Midlands Area Club - Whitfield

"I wanted to train a winner at 80, and now I have." Dick Baimbridge has trained nearly 500 winners between the flags, but few will have given him as much pleasure as Shernally, who won a hotly-contested AGA Ladies' Open under a fine ride from Jane Williams. READ MORE

07 February 2011 Scene & Heard: Cambridgeshire with Enfield Chace - Horseheath

Gina Andrews, 19 on February 3, had further cause for celebration two days later, recording her first treble and in addition registering her 50th career success on the third of the trio, Batalov in the older horse Maiden. READ MORE

01 February 2011 Scene & Heard: Yorkshire Area Club - Sheriff Hutton

It is beginning to look as though Mick Easterby allows the meeting to be run on his land for the benefit of his family, as his son David and daughter Cherry Coward both saddled two winners. READ MORE

18 January 2011 Scene & Heard: Dunston Harriers - Ampton

Alan Hill has his string in tremendous form, and he followed up Dante's Storm's Detling success 24 hours earlier by saddling Karen Exall's Mid Div And Creep to win the Ladies' Open under Gina Andrews. READ MORE

17 January 2011 Scene & Heard: S. E. Point-to-Point Supporters Club - Detling

"He's still a machine!" was Phil York's comment after teaming up with Dante's Storm to win the Conditions race. READ MORE

10 January 2011 Scene & Heard: Larkhill Racing Club - Larkhill

Michael Miller is still a few winners short of the 178 recorded by his father Richard, but he moved two closer with an expertly-ridden double on Vintage Class in the first Conditions race and Jayne's Crusader in the Men's Open. READ MORE

04 January 2011 Scene & Heard: Cambridgeshire Harriers Hunt Club - Cottenham

"It was an afterthought to bring him," admitted Simon Sherwood after his wife Lucy's Posh Dude, ridden by son Jack, had caused an upset in the Men's Open by comprehensively overturning the odds-on Start Royal. READ MORE

13 December 2010 Scene & Heard: Cambridge University United Hunts Club - Cottenham

AGA could not have had a classier or more high-profile winner of their first Ladies' Open qualifier, Kicks For Free having those qualities in abundance. Thoughts of the prospect of a close finish were dispelled as soon as Angela Rucker pressed the button at the penultimate, and the nine-year-old quickened clear in hugely impressive fashion. READ MORE