After months of heavy rain and re-arrangements the Curre and Llangibby Hunt finally held their meeting in blazing sunshine this past Sunday, at the picturesque Howick course just outside Chepstow. It was good to be back in the pointing field in South Wales and a healthy crowd enjoyed the day after what has been a long wet winter.
The first race on the card was the Curre and Llangibby Hunt Farmers and Subscribers race, run in memory of Patience Stratton. This saw a small but competitive field, with the eventual winner being the small 5-year-old bay mare Joyzain, trained by Luke Price. This heralded the start of what turned out to be an eventful and satisfactory day for young Edward Vaughan, son of trainer Tim. Ed is currently still only 16 and this was his 11th winner. With a busy day ahead, it seemed certain that the tally would increase before the meeting was over.
The Wales Area Conditions race (Level 3) was next off and saw victory go the way of Catherine William’s Prime Pretender, ridden by daughter Eleanor. You only need two brave horses and two brave jockeys to make an exciting race and the finish of this race was as good as any that will be seen this season. Once again young Edward Vaughan was in the thick of the action aboard State of Fame, and it was a neck and neck battle to the line between him and his rival. The courage of both jockeys and horses could never be questioned as they both arrived at the last at a furious pace. Chloe Mills and Top of the Charts viewed the action back in third. Ellie Williams has a tally of thirty-three winners in total, eleven under rules, while Prime Pretender himself was scoring his second win of the season. Originally purchased to run under rules the gelding was spotted in the field by father Evan, who decided that he wanted him for point to pointing.
Another conditions race followed this time being run for PPORA Club Members Grassroots Riders, for those at the meeting who may have been confused by this new category the race card gave a helpful definition; a grassroots rider cannot have ridden more than 20 winners under the rules of racing, or the rules of a recognised racing authority Point to Point racing and Arab horse racing included. This saw another small but competitive field with the Lamerton trained The Dartmoor Rose emerging the winner from Siberian Star back in second. Dartmoor Rose’s jockey was having her first ride in Wales but it is her thirteenth winner overall.
The Men's Open Race saw the second leg of what was to be an eventual treble on the day for Edward Vaughan with his father's Poli Roli. When the Poliglote gelding was for sale bloodstock agent Tom Malone contacted Tim Vaughan stating he had a nice horse for Ed to ride that would be a safe and enjoyable conveyance for his first season. This was the horse’s second win this year and he was always in command once turning for home with the good mare Miss Seagreen back in second; James King could only watch from third with Footloose.
“A naughty boy but I’m so grateful to be able to ride him. He’s the horse of a lifetime.” Was Ellie William’s description of the prolific Voodoo Doll who won his sixth race in a row in the Ladies Open. The Getaway gelding likes to have a good look around him and as he is often left at the head of affairs Ellie has her work cut out to keep him focused. This in no way deters from his performance and he came home five lengths clear of Glancing Glory with Makety back in third.
The Restricted Race saw the final leg of the Edward Vaughan treble aboard Designer Destiny. The Jeremy gelding was left clear after the fall at the penultimate fence of Mr Bezi, but had always been in command. A delighted Ed claimed that his day was “brilliant” as he arrived in the winner’s enclosure.
Echoes of times gone by filled the course as the Maiden race was split into two divisions. The first division went the way of the very aptly named Ifindoubtgoflatout and Tom Broughton. Down The Inner was back in second with the well fancied Fifty Shades of Bay back in third. Ifindoubtgoflatout’s jockey was surprised but delighted with his success claiming that he had to keep the horse awake as he thought he would stop if left alone in front. The win gave the member of Fergal O’Brien’s yard his twenty third winner between the flags. Second division went to Unexpected Edge and Charlie Sprake. The Flemensfirth gelding was gifted to owner Chris Williams ( father of professional jockey Lorcan) by Paul Nicholls as the trainer felt he would not make the grade, A discussion took place as to the chance to run the horse in Point to Points and the result was a victory for the owner, the jockey and also trainer Dean Coleman. Despite his name there was nothing too unexpected about the victory as he set off two to one joint favourite with Catchim who could only finish third.