12 May 2008 Wheatland - Chaddesley Corbett
Itsalf: took the Mixed Open under Mark Wall
After such a wet spring it's surprising how things have changed so rapidly in the last week but judging by the times recorded on Sunday afternoon conditions were definitely firm.
David Mansell came into this meeting hoping to extend his lead in the Area Championships but fate was not on his side because he was beaten on two fancied horses so Mark Wall is still within touching distance of the title.
With a short time to go before declarations closed for the Mixed Open, Mansell and the Dudley Cup winner Cottage River appeared to have scared off the opposition, but Naunton trainer Marcella Bayliss made the bold decision to run. This prevented a walkover and that policy paid dividends when Itsalf finished alone.
The pattern of the race was set from the start with Itsalf leading at a moderate pace while Cottage River was always three or four lengths behind. The leader ploughed through the 11th and Mark Wall did well to maintain the partnership, but as he said afterwards "David did me a big favour by contesting the lead because my horse was doing nothing in front".
The positions remained unchanged until Cottage River moved into a challenging position at the final open ditch, but down by the Dudley Cup start Itsalf started to pull away from his rival and it was evident that all was not going to plan with the favourite.
He was never travelling from this point and was pulled up after another slow jump at the penultimate. Mansell reported afterwards at a subsequent Stewards Enquiry that "Cottage River was never trying or responding to my riding and was hanging so badly I decided to pull up".
Itsalf's breeder John De Lisle Wells was on the phone immediately after the race to David Morgan at his pub the Golden Heart at Nettleton Bottom with instructions "to get a bottle ready for the celebrations".
Bayliss was quick to congratulate her jockey with a "well sat" as the horse returned to the winners enclosure and her comment "that you have got to be brave sometimes" summed up the situation well.
Things did not go according to plan for Mansell in the Restricted where he rode the Julie Houldey trained Sykee Savage. This combination got no further than the third where they ended up on the floor as Himself Dreams On made the running.
Iochtaran was driven along by Tom Weston (on his first ride back since breaking his collarbone at Woodford) to stay in touch with the leaders as they met the rising ground approaching four out.
That persistence paid off because his mount was disputing the lead with Himself Dreams On when the Andy Hobbs trained 10-year-old made a monumental blunder at the third from home.
The winner had the race won from this point although Himself Dreams On did manage to reduce the deficit approaching the last but he could never recover from the blunder which occurred at a vital stage in the contest. The winner is owned and trained by Gearoid Costelloe near Worcester.
Lady riders had a field day at this meeting with Himbleton rider Alex Smith Maxwell taking the Confined with Hi Tech Man; Jane Williams took the Restricted on Sapega for her mother's, Diana, Enville yard; while Immy Robinson guided Jemaro to victory in the Members for Shifnal based Caroline Robinson.
Hi Tech Man won the Worcestershire Members over this course three weeks ago but his chances had disappeared in the mud when beaten at Cold Harbour recently.
Back on his favourite track and with conditions in his favour Miss Smith Maxwell was always holding the upper hand and she swooped late to land the spoils by two and a half lengths from Lord Louis. Unfortunately winning owner Katherine Smith Maxwell was unable to be present, as she had taken her son to some Hunter Trials in Dorset.
Sapega and Jane Williams equalled the second fastest time recorded over the course after their victory in the Conditions Race. The winner took up the running when Wenceslas weakened at the final open ditch.
Immy Robinson and Airoski tried to mount an effort over the final three fences but they lacked the pace to mount an effective challenge and the Enville trained gelding stayed on strongly to record his first win of the season for the riders mother Diana.
There was compensation for the connections of the runner up (owner Jeremy Beasley and trainer Caroline Robinson) when Jemaro gave an exhibition round of jumping in the concluding Members.
This race was something of a O.A.P.'s convention with the winner 17-years-old while the runner up Philtre is 14, but they went at it hammer and tongs over the final half mile but the winner had the race in his pocket as they turned into the home straight.
The 17-strong Maiden resulted in a first win on his third ride for 22-year-old Tom Clover who is studying at the R.A.C. in Cirencester.
Land Rover Lad stormed into the lead between the final two fences to land this race in the colours of the riders parents Paul and Jackie who used to train the horse before he joined Kim Smyly's stable at Stanton. The rider attributed numerous trips up the Shenberrow Hill gallops for the improvement in the 10-year-olds performance.