“It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven upon the place beneath” -William Shakespeare; Merchant of Venice.
Yes Mr Shakespeare, but after Spooners postponement due to the waterlogged course at Easter, we have had too much of the wet stuff and did not expect a soaking on a Wednesday evening in late May.
But this is Dartmoor. The angry black clouds emptied steady rain over Cherrybrook as mist encircled the moor. The ground softened further, but the resilient point-to-point followers were treated to a fine treble from Novice champion Ed Vaughan plus a thrilling duel in the twilight between leading ladies’ Gina Andrews and Izzie Marshall.
Ed Vaughan rode the first three winners as he continues his march towards the National Novice Riders’ championship. The Luke Price gelding Captain MC was not exactly foot perfect, but made a successful quick re-appearance to win the Hunt race following his Bratton Down effort just three days ago.
The youngster’s other winners were each saddled by his father Tim. Vaughan cleverly slipped his field after half way to send seven-year-old mare Maska du Morvan clear of her four opponents in the Maiden. The Glamorgan mare had drifted from 5-4 out to 5-2, but was always holding the odds-on favourite Atlantic Lad.
The runners in the first two races had done a demolition job on a couple of the jumps so both the open ditch and the last fence had to be omitted for the rest of the card as the rain set in. This failed to deter Restricted winner Bumpy Evans who was soon well in front and skipped round to score unchallenged.
“I am in a hurry to do my final A level exam on Friday” quipped the rider, partnering his 25th winner of the season.
This is a game of ups and downs however and it wasn’t long before a crashing fall from Siberian Star in the Mixed Open saw the Welsh schoolboy eventually limp away from the third fence. This race went to Ron Alford’s His Own Star, signifying a welcome return to form for trainer Stuart Sampson and jockey Jo Supple.
The Owners and Trainers Conditions race provided a first winner on her third ride for 20-year-old jockey Izzy Lever. Riding Millbank Flyer in the colours of her mother Suzie, the inexperienced jockey delivered her challenge to perfection to draw away from front running Champions Hill after the third last. “He was always going well and jumped out of my hands,” said the young rider who trains the nine-year-old herself alongside working for the Blandford Forum yard of Mark Gillard.
In the fading light the last race featured the continuing championship battle between the two leading lady jockeys. Gina Andrews made a positive move to send the Dean Summersby trained Lakota Warrior to the front by passing the damaged open ditch on the first circuit. Izzie was always stalking on Alan Hill’s charge Urban Grit however and with Clever des Assence seen off, Gina increased the pace from the third last. A tight finish looked assured rounding the omitted final jump, but it was Lakota Warrior who grabbed the upper hand inside the last 100 yards.
So the National ladies’ title is still up for grabs leaving perpetual holder Gina three wins adrift of Izzie as we enter the final weeks of the season. Ed Vaughan is assured of the Novice Riders’ trophy and James King is set to wrestle the men’s award from Will Biddick.