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Autumn's Over: took Open Maiden (Div 1)

With a winner on both Saturday at Erw Lon and Sunday at Bangor, Sheila Crow's yard is showing signs of a return to form, and her runners are fortunately proving more sure-footed than their trainer. Sheila herself was a faller in the mud at the Welsh venue, although as she pointed out "I was so drenched by then that you couldn't tell I'd fallen over."

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Sheila's Bangor winner Gunner Be Quick, wearing first-time blinkers, may have had luck on his side in the Maiden Division Two, as both Slavedriver and Malt Max looked to be going the better when they departed three out and two out respectively.

Slavedriver's rider Claire Allen was taken to hospital with concussion but was allowed home the following morning and hopes to be back in action at Easter.

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Debutant Autumn's Over (Jonathon Jarrett) won Division One, the narrow leader Macatoo going lame approaching the last. David Mansell, rider of the runner-up Bonny Jago, had ridden his 50th Point-to-Point winner the previous day at Kingston Blount on Gothic Charm.

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Hannah Kinsey, another lady rider recently in the wars, has obviously found herself the ideal medical specialist. Hannah, who was present at the meeting and was due to have an operation on her fractured cheekbone the following day, has been told she will be fine to enjoy a day out at Cheltenham, but on no account must she return to work!

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"The big poser - he needs to sort out his celebration technique." Hannah's sisterly assessment of brother Will's riotous arm-waving as he passed the post on their mother Julie's Adams Wine, successful in the Connolly's Red Mills Intermediate.

For Adams Wine read "A Dam Swine", and the reason for his reputation as "such a monkey" becomes clear. "I don't often come off at home but he's thrown me off a few times and galloped home," Will confessed.

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Clerk of the course Ed Gretton hit on the idea of publishing a jockey profile of Will in the racecard. As a result, will "Strands of Malpas," named (tongue-in-cheek) as Will's favourite hairdresser, find their business booming or taking a nosedive?

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The TBA/MFHA Mares' Maiden went to Ryan Mahon on Me Julie, described by owner-trainer Nick Lowe's wife Jo as "horrible last year, but absolutely lovely now." Nick rides the five-year-old in her work at home, which he considers an advantage when she goes racing. "Without my heaving hulk on the top, she thinks she's just got a saddle on," he laughed.

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Andy Hobbs has his team in fine form, and Olivier, who was operated on for a kissing spine prior to the season, provided him with another winner in the Restricted. Jockey Adrian Wintle - "I gave him a bollocking when the horse got beaten last time," grinned Andy - was completing a double initiated in the Men's Open by Magicien.

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Magicien, once described by a successful Point-to-Point rider as the most novicey jumper he'd ever ridden, has now won 12 races for handler Steve Isaac, but this was the first time he had triumphed prior to April. He was originally entered in the Ladies' Open but switched to the Men's when intended partner Hannah Kinsey was injured the previous week. "She'll be back on him as soon as she's fit," confirmed Steve, adding "She comes and tells the lads how to ride him!"

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Pip Harney, who relinquished his position as joint-Master of the North Shropshire the previous day, enjoyed a retirement present when his Home Made led from pillar to post in the Ladies' Open, leaving jockey Sam Beddoes wondering why trainer Heidi Brookshaw hasn't got owners beating a path to her door. "She one of the best," Sam stressed. "She gets everything fit first time out."

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Rhys Flint is surely a young rider who will make a name for himself in the years ahead, and he looked a cut (or several) above his rivals when landing both divisions of the Dodson & Horrell Novice Riders' race. Iris's Prince joined Rockwithacaveman (with four winners apiece) at the head of the Horse & Hound leading horse award when taking Division One, and Bobosh, also owned by the rider himself, took Division Two.

Martine Flint, who trains the pair for her son, was on stable duties at home, but will no doubt get her hands on both trophies in due course once they need cleaning.

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Overheard in the ladies' changing room.
Jockey (in her words, not-so-young, but free and single): "How are you getting on finding me a man?"
Colleague (young and already spoken for): "Who do you think I am, effing Paul Daniels?"

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