Plumpton Sun And Excitement

Linda sent four horses to Plumpton today.  The course looked good in the glorious spring sunshine and the horses put smiles on everyone's faces.  In the opener, a National Hunt novices hurdle, Linda had two of the four runners in Moneystown and Pippa The Dancer.  The other two horses were a class above, both being rated in the 130s, so it was no surprise when they pulled away.  Moneystown ran and jumped well but was no match for them finishing 46 lengths behind them, which still constituted an improvement and probably best performance to date.  Pippa was disappointing, never really travelling, but her 4th place still earned £200 prize money.

Moneystown

Pippa The Dancer

Clonusker was the next to race in the novices handicap chase, ridden by Tom Garner.  He travelled well and probably jumped his best yet with no sign of a mistake.  He ran in midfield early on but moved up going to the final circuit.  He took the lead over the open ditch three out but was caught over the last by the bottom weighted horse.  He finished second  beaten 2 and three quarter lengths.

Clonusker mid race.

Finally it was the turn of Itoldyou.  Ridden by Tom Cannon and carrying top weight he was intending to be settled in mid division early on but Goring Two set off to make all and it was left to Itoldyou to lead the chasing pack, albeit at a sensible pace.  He began to close on the leader with Venetian Lad down the back straight on the final circuit.  He jumped into the lead over the open ditch and was a length and a half to the good round the railway bend.  However entering the home straight Venetian Lad rallied and the two battled over the last two fences just ahead of Royals And Rebels who had closed on them round the bend.  Itoldyou touched down just in front over the last and looked like he might hold on with 50 yards to go.  The three horses flashed across the line together for a three way photo.  Unfortunately Itoldyou had been beaten into third place but this was a tremendous effort after his disappointing outing over hurdles last time.

Itoldyou

Photos by Louise Bruce.

Special Saturday.

There was a big turnout for breakfast this morning, and the first signs of spring put everyone in a good mood. Horses worked on the track and some were schooled over the jumps. The whole morning was rounded off nicely when the staff celebrated Karen's birthday.

Team Work.

There is more to the Southfield's team than just Linda, Paul, Karen and the stable staff.  When Ben, the farrier, was up recently he received a thank you reward from Linda for his work in getting Clonusker his Plumpton victory.

Linda said, "It has always been my practice to give Ben a reward every time he plates a winner. A lot of the horses have delicate feet and take a lot of effort from the farrier to shoe and balance the foot correctly helping us to keep them sound and running ! "

Ben with Chris, his apprentice, Karen, Molly the dog and Clonusker after receiving their picture from Louise Bruce and winnings.

  

As they say, "Where there's muck there's money!"

After surviving an early morning inspection after severe overnight rain and further outbreaks during the morning and while racing, Plumpton went ahead and provided Kayflin with the opportunity to put her disappointing Leicester run behind her.  This she did in good style despite the conditions.  Ridden by Tom Garner in the two and a half mile contest she was settled, as instructed, towards the rear but in touch.  Jumping well she stayed there for the first circuit and a half, ignoring the mud flying around her.  She made good forward progress down the hill on the final circuit, still jumping well, to challenge the all the way leader rounding the station bend.  Entering the straight the leader had saved a little and pulled clear leaving Kayflin to battle on to hold on to second place and more prize money. Mind you most of it will be spent cleaning the silks and tack!

This is Tom Garner after the race, imagine what Kayflin was like!

Earlier on the card Dick Churcher saw his Indispensabelle have her first run over hurdles and was delighted with her jumping and finishing position of 5th.

 Dick, Tommy Dowling, Linda and Karen before the race.

Indi shows she can jump.

Double Dashed.

Clonusker was quickly turned out again today at Lingfield, only seven days after his Plumpton win.  The 7 pound penalty that he carried was likely to be less than his future rise in the handicap, and with only five declared it was an opportunity not to be ignored.  Again ridden by Tom Garner, he was settled in third place for the early part of the race.  He was moved into the lead going to the top of the hill on the far side and he held onto his advantage into the home straight.  He had one other horse beside him up the home straight as they pulled clear of the rest, but after jumping the last together the other horse proved just too strong on the day and Clonusker finished 2nd, one and a half lengths down.  It is possible that if he hadn't had to take this chance so soon after his victory that the outcome might well have been different.

Clonusker after his 2nd place.

Saturday Starts In Style

This morning saw a good gathering of owners to share a champagne celebration breakfast, following Clonusker's Plumpton win earlier in the week.

Many of them then went out to watch three horses on the gallops, splitting into groups to be with their horse while they had a pick of grass afterwards.

Better By Far

Owner Tony Betteridge enjoyed his day at Fontwell today when both of his runners got him into the unsaddling enclosure and earned their first prize money.  Mab Dab ran in the National Hunt novices hurdle.  Ridden by Tom Cannon in the five runner field they followed the leading pair for the first half of the race.  Rounding the bottom turn for the final time Mab Dab made third place his own and although he could not get in a blow on the leaders he kept on to keep his third place, 17 lengths behind the winner.
Hab Sab ran a very similar sort of race under Jack Sherwood, this time finishing 4th of the 7 runners in the concluding bumper.

Mab Dab          

 Katie introducing Hab Sab to Tony's daughter and grandchildren.