Persistent rain causes tough going for the teams, but the
Wishful Thinkers Too hold on for a two-second victory
WISHFUL THINKERS TOO
took the Skinner’s Pet Food open
qualifier at the Pytchley team
chase, in a tight contest where
horses and riders were pitted
against testing conditions as much
as each other.
With events cancelling either
side of them due to hard ground,
the Pytchley were determined to
hold their team chase as usual,
putting a plan in place to agri-vate
the running lines. Ironically,
Storm Callum intervened and, by
the end of a day of persistent rain,
the going had gone from firm to
decidedly soft.
However, Wishful Thinkers
Too were determined not to hang
around, Simon Coady cutting
inside the intermediate log after
coming out of the spinney and
his team-mates following him.
Maurice Linehan, Dom Gwyn-
Jones and Prudence Bradley rode
hard to keep up with their captain,
getting great leaps over the big
drop hedge in the centre of the
course and running fast along
the bottom.
Maurice was somewhat adrift
by the bottom of the hill, but they
all galloped on well up the steep
slope for a 2sec victory.
“It felt pretty steady as I lost
my quick horse, Charlie, at the
Berkeley, and Jericho had to take
his place,” said Simon. “But this is
a good line-up with lots more to
come — Prudence was doing her
first open and Maurice’s horse is
inexperienced.”
Maurice added: “The turn
after the spinney looked tight but
rode really well. I think my horse
Bobbie lost a bit of confidence
falling last time out and glanced
of at the hedge in the bottom, but
then turned back and jumped it
well, so he’ll come on for this run.”
‘MORE OF A COB THAN
A RACEHORSE’
BERKELEY BALLS had a real
crack at the time, riding boldly
despite starting as a three. Hector
Baker gave them a strong lead on
Cutie, with his brother Connor’s
Marmite putting in some big
leaps. Lucas Lingham and Storm
gave them a great tow up the final
hill and they finished strongly.
“I’ve borrowed Marmite from
my sister and he’s more of a cob
than a racehorse, but he has a
huge jump.” said Connor. “It rode
a bit sticky, so we’re pleased with
how they’ve come home.”
Just over a tenth of a second
separated them from Relentless
in third. Anne Mackley led them
on Mo, and they powered over
the drop palisade and through
the spinney. Rowan Cope, Matt
Mackley and Dickie Barratt
followed in close formation
through the switchback of hedges
and they swung wide to get the
best line for the big drop.
Anne, Rowan and Matt, on
their three chestnuts, vied for the
lead up the final hill and, seeing
they were safe home, Dickie
pulled up his ride, Dan, before
the climb.
“We’re getting it together
again,” explained Rowan. “I was
riding Breeze Along, who has
come out of Dan Skelton’s yard for
Matt to produce, and we thought
we’d try Anne in the lead as she’s
forming a good partnership with
Mo. My best horse Arthur is
having a break after team chasing,
hunt rides and running in a
point-to-point this year, but he’s
coming back out in the spring.”
GREAT HORSEMANSHIP
FOX GRANT DOT COM had
their game faces on, getting big
jumps over the drop palisade
with Heather Moodie at the helm
on Primo. They also took the
tight line out of the spinney and,
having lost Connor Baker at the
switchback, Clare Shuckburgh
and Will Grant kicked on behind
their pilot. Upsides at the last,
Will and Clare showed great
horsemanship to pop the final
upright rather than wing it on
tired horses. They were still
within 5sec of the winner and
earned a qualifying ticket for the
Skinner’s Pet Foods National
Championship.
“We had a great run and I’m
pleased with the way my horse
came home up the hill — he
actually really liked the ground,”
said Heather.
Boring Gorings took fifth with
another polished round, never flat
out but taking the sharpest of lines
between fences. The only hairy
moment came when Foxy took on
the second-last, Katie Richards
having to sit tight.
Team Ride Away III were going
great guns until Stephen Clark
was ejected at the drop hedge (see
box, above right). Amber Cartlidge
then took up the lead on the
speedy Dave’s Dream to get Joe
Stevenson and Roddy Stanning up
the hill for sixth place.
Cunning Stunts took the
second championship qualifying
ticket with a good performance
from a new line-up, Sue Tideswell
surviving a blunder at the drop
palisade to lead them home.
The Wishful Thinkers squad
sealed a good day at the oice with
a one-two in the intermediate
from Hope Springs Eternal and
Eternal Optimists — the two
teams split by less than a second.
Sharon Robbins, who rode
in both teams, said: “That was
great. I have two new horses for
this season and they both love
team chasing already. We also
have some exciting new blood in
Hope Springs Eternal with Harry
Twinberrow and Ellie Burt.”