Barbury Racecourse point-to-point’s flying start with a spirited charity race
Charity winner First Mohican & Liz AmpaireeThe six races of Barbury Racecourse’s first point-to-point of the season were just a little bit upstaged by a morning charity race to raise funds for the Injured Jockeys Fund (IJF.)
One of the fund’s founders fifty years ago was the intrepid amateur jockey, racing journalist and television presenter the late Lord Oaksey – and the IJF’s first residential treatment centre is named after him. He would certainly have enjoyed the racing and the crowds at this point-to-point.
The charity race was sponsored by the Barbury Castle Estate (Penny and Nigel Bunter), Alan King, Paul Nicholls and the Valley Equine Hospital. The once round the course flat race was enlivened by the presence of an entry from Alan King’s yard – a few dozen yards away from the racecourse.
First Mohican is owned by Henry Ponsonby of Shefford Bloodstock Services in Newbury.
The handsome six year-old chestnut gelding first raced with Sir Henry Cecil in 2012 – and he won his first three races on the flat.
L to R: Alan King, race commentator, Henry Ponsonby & Liz AmpaireeAnd he won his first race after he moved to King’s Barbury yard – that was over hurdles at Doncaster in February, but he has somewhat disappointed in his seven subsequent outings.
Among the veterans and youngsters riding in this charity race was Last Mohican’s jockey Liz Ampairee. She has her own press relations and marketing business and has the Racing Post and the IJF as long term clients – she also rides out for Alan King every Saturday and in 2011 she rode in the Cheltenham Festival St Patrick’s day Derby charity race.
So, totting up the experience of horse and jockey, there was no surprise that First Mohican was favourite for the race. And after a hectic gallop, Liz Ampairee brought him home in first place.
And Liz Ampairee seemed well pleased with her ride.
Gina Andrews with Berties Dream's connectionsThe Point-to-Point Owners’ and Riders’ Club card of six races saw some big entries, close races and one heavy fall. One of the event’s highlights was the Aga Ladies Open Race.
This was won by the 11-year-old Berties Dream ridden by Georgina Andrews in a storming finish. In March the pair had run in Cheltenham’s CGA Foxhunter Chase Challenge Cup but had only made twelfth place out of the field of 24 runners – coming in 95 lengths behind the winner – as the form book says “virtually pulled up on the run in.”
Times change and Georgina was given a great ride to lead the ten entries home. Tinelyra (Miss A. Stirling) was second and Latest Trend (Miss B. Andrews) was third
Pateese & Tom Humphries lead Cottage Oak & Sivola de Sivola home in the Novice Riders raceThe Dodson and Horrell Novice Riders’ Race was won by the Penny Lownds-trained Pateese ridden by 21-year-old Tom Humphries – giving him his first ever winner.
Tom stayed close to the leader Cottage Oak and brought Pateese to lead two fences out and kept him in front till the finish. Cottage Oak (C.Hammond) was second and Sivola de Sivola (B. Brackenbury) was third.
Pateese was formerly a hurdle and steeplechase winner at Philip Hobbs’ yard and he was Tom’s tenth point-to-point ride. [Click on photos to enlarge them.]
FULL RESULTS:
Intermediate
1st MINELLA FOR PARTY Miss H. Watson 3-1
2nd RYE CROSS
3rd DUNLOUGHIN (IRE)
10 ran
Mares Maiden
1st ROSE OF MILAN D. Mansell 5-1
2nd BRIDS CLASSIC
3RD WHAT ABOUT MOLLY
13 ran
AGA Ladies Open
1st BERTIES DREAM Miss G Andrews 2-1 Fav
2nd TINELYRA
3RD LATEST TREND
10 ran
Mens Open
1st EXECUTIVE BENEFIT G Crow 5-2 jt fav
2nd BRACKLOON HIGH
3RD HI VIC
14 ran
Novice Riders
1st. PATEESE T Humphries 8-1
2nd COTTAGE OAK
3RD SIVOLA DE SIVOLA
17 ran
2-1/2 Mile Maiden
1st. BRAKE HILL P Mann 16-1
2nd KELSEY
3RD ROYALZARO
11 ran