13 May 2008 Towcester – Volkswagen Touareg Men’s Championship Final Hunters’ Chase
Tom Ellis: deputised for the injured Stuart Morris (on Tender Tangle), and got a long list of instructions for his trouble!
Despite only five horses eventually lining up, this prestigious final produced an excellent finish, with three in with every chance at the last, and it was Susan Humphreys's Back Nine, equipped with cheekpieces for the first time, who produced the best turn of foot up the hill to win going away.
Back Nine's previous form has been on ground much softer than he was running on here. "I was in two minds about running," said trainer Jane Western, "but as soon as I walked it I realised how good it was. I was pleasantly surprised."
"He doesn't normally go fast enough to keep up on top of the ground," she added, "but he's got the most amazing stamina - he likes to make us think he's run out of puff, and then finishes strongly, so the hill was ideal for him. The cheekpieces really sharpened him up, and Ian [Popham] said he felt like a different horse."
Jane was full of praise for Ian's handling of Back Nine. "He's a really up-and-coming rider, and he's got an old head on young shoulders, but I hope he doesn't up-and-come too quickly or he won't be available to ride for us any more," she laughed.
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Jane's response "I've been quite calm about it" to a question regarding her thoughts leading up to the race was firmly refuted by her partner George Allen, who commented "She thrashes about in bed so much I can't sleep!"
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Jane's opinion of the ground was not matched by that of the connections of Denvale and Rydal Park, who had no hesitation in withdrawing their respective charges. Both considered much of the going to be considerably firmer than the official estimate [which was changed after the first race], and in addition they were concerned about the lack of grass on the take-off and landing sides of some of the fences.
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The other absentee was Mister Bertolli, who got slightly tangled up in the tapes when whipping round and unseating Fred Hutsby at the start. He completed half a circuit riderless, jumping the fences perfectly, before being caught, and was withdrawn. Fred was philosophical about the incident. "It may not have been a bad thing in hindsight because I was a bit worried about the ground," he said, "although I wanted to get a run into him before Stratford."
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Ollie Bush, who had saddled Vinnie Boy to win the last two runnings of this event, filled the runner-up spot this time with Dennis The Legend, but was far from disappointed that her hat-trick bid had been foiled. "I was delighted with him," she said. "A three-timer with a novice horse would have really been a dream."
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There were no complaints either from the connections of third-placed Tender Tangle, who made virtually all the running until emptying just before the last. "If someone had said beforehand that's where we'd finish we'd have been more than happy," said trainer Sam Loggin's father Mervyn.
"Stuart gave me a list of instructions a mile long," grinned rider Tom Ellis, who was deputising for Stuart Morris, sidelined with an injured knee following a fall the previous day.
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As was the case at Cheltenham, the favourite Man From Highworth's stamina gave out in the closing stages, and he faded to finish fourth. "He was running away four from home," reported rider David Bass, "but he hit the ditch and then fell in a heap. He just doesn't stay. That two mile race at Stratford would suit him because he's got plenty of speed."
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The long journey from Northumberland went unrewarded for Garden Feature, who was struggling from three out and finished sore. "Her best chance was probably two years ago," said jockey Tom Oates, referring to her run in 2006 when she was still in contention when falling two out.
It had been an up and down three days for trainer Jimmy Walton, who had enjoyed two Point-to-Point successes over the weekend but had also lost a highly-regarded debutant, Tempting Trip, on Sunday.