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I hope someone can help.
The race in question was three or four years ago and a three runner chase at Newton Abbot or Wincanton.
During the race one of the runners continually attempted to run out which he finally succeeded in doing so. Then iirc one of the horses started jumping badly and ended up a fence behind the leader. So, the leader stopped, despite the urgings of his jockey and waited for his mate to catch up
It was and I’m hoping still is available on ATR as I want to show my mate it.
Any help in identifying the race much appreciated.
You’ll have to be more specific than that. Sounds like just about every small field heat I’ve ever seen at The Abbott.
7th August 2006
3.10 Schweppes Sprite 3g Novices’ Chase – 3m 2.5 f1 Alikat – Led to 8th, led 9th, left well clear when very reluctant to race and headed approaching 14th, led 16th to 4 out, led 3 out, kidded home
2 Allow Dancer – Jumped right, lost touch 9th, left poor 2nd after 13th, left in lead approaching 14th, headed 16th, led 4 out until mistake 3 out (water), mistake 2 out, soon beaten
Ran Out – Blue Sovereign – Hung right throughout, with winner, hit 3rd, reminders after 7th, led 8th to 9th, close 2nd when hung badly right and ran out bend after 13th
I did manage to back Alikat when she won in more orthodox circumstances at Ludlow in October 2005.
Rob
Brought back memories of a similar race that frighteningly was as long ago as 1995 on the first day I ever called at Wincanton
1 Harwell Lad (IRE) Evs 6 11-12 R H Alner — * * »
b g Over The River (FR) – Gayles Approach (Strong Gale) Mr R Nuttall
Prominent, led 3rd, left alone 11th, reluctant to race and ran wide on bend after next, headed approaching 14th, soon well behind, rapid headway to regain lead 3 out, soon clear« 2 15 Ottowa (IRE) 5/6F 5 10-12 P F Nicholls — * * »
b g Roselier (FR) – Queenie Kelly (The Parson) A P McCoy
Not fluent, led until headed 3rd, chased winner after until fell 11th, remounted, regained lead approaching 14th, soon clear, weakened and headed 3 out« UR Kingsley Singer 50/1 7 11-0 R J Baker — * * »
b g Chief Singer – Yelming (Thatch) B Powell
Mistakes, behind until blundered and unseated rider 5th3 ran TIME 7m 2.20s (slow by 45.20s) Total SP 106%
1st OWNER: H Wellstead BRED: N J Connors TRAINER: R H Alner
2nd OWNER: Paul K BarberBasically old Harwell Lad refused to race once left alone and had to wait for Ottawa to remount who then charged past the stationary Harwell Lad who then consented to race but was about 40 lengths down before regaining the lead just before three out. He won the Whitbread a bit after that.
Richard,
I was there, remember it well – I think Harwell Lad was one of those that wouldn’t go past the stables in front, but once he was racing towards the stables, he looked world class.
Wasn’t he the same at Sandown, reluctant up the hill past the stands, but rocket propelled once they turned for home after the railway fences.
AP
I was at Wincanton that day as well. Seem to remember thowing my HL ticket to the ground, but did retrieve it
Maybe the race was mentioned on this old thread?
Apparently Harwell Lad had already something similar in points but at the time it wasn’t obvious whether he had pulled himself up or the jockey (who had an unusual style as well) had not realised they had to go round again.
P.S Nice to see your books getting such widespread recognition AP. Especially from such a tough bunch of critics !!
while you anoraks are on site, try this one ,please.
mid 1960’s, horse carry on, jockey fred winter.
what happened next?
Apparently Harwell Lad had already something similar in points but at the time it wasn’t obvious whether he had pulled himself up or the jockey (who had an unusual style as well) had not realised they had to go round again.
For all of Rupert Nuttall’s idiosyncracies in the saddle, a check of the pointing bible lays the blame for the antic you mention firmly at the door of the gelding. The race in question was division two of the Restricted at New Forest Buckhounds meeting, Larkhill, March 18th 1995 (a card which, incidentally, also saw wins for See More Business in division one of the same race, Cool Dawn and Grimley Gale. Harwell Lad’s race itself went to a pre-fame Hanakham). The comments in running read;
"Trckd ldrs; 11 1/2l 4th aft 5; 1 1/2l 4th aft 12; v reluct & nt r.o. aft; drp back to poor 6th 15; r.o. agn aft nxt; went 2nd app last; no ch w wnr
"
…and his write-up in
Hunter Chasers and Point-to-Pointers 1996
;
"
HARWELL LAD .. 10-8 $
2211. A strange character who can be obstreperous, and virtually pulled himself up after two miles before continuing for second once, but distinctly talented when he decides to go, and three wins (all on sound surfaces) have been gained impressively. Very speedy, and has the potential to be a star if he continues to channel his abilities in the right direction".
Incidentally, at the two mile stage of any 3m point at Larkhill you are about as far away from home as it’s possible to get (it’s an incredibly long, 13-fence circuit well in excess of 2m and probably nearer 2m2f), so Harwell Lad’s antics would not have been predicated on wanting to nap to the horse boxes – not this time, at least!
That write-up actually constituted something of a more favourable summary than the year before, given he’d managed to attain the dreaded double squiggle on his first season of racing, viz (from
Hunter Chasers and Point-to-Pointers 1995
);
"
HARWELL LAD .. 9-8 $$
U1. Most reluctant and dumped the rider at the start (to the groans of suppporters) who had hammered from 14s to 5-2 at Lockinge, but surprisingly civilised when scoring cosily on firm at Cotley Farm. Beat very little, but obviously fairly useful when he can be persuaded to start – something that may never figure very high on his list of priorities".
HTH,
gc
Adoptive father of two. The patron saint of lower-grade fare. A gently critical friend of point-to-pointing. Kindness is a political act.
GraysOC quoted……..
" and has the potential to be a star if he continues to channel his abilities in the right direction".
Definitely written by someone from a teaching background.
If I didn’t know better I’d swear it had been lifted from my old school report.
A similar remark applicable to the other quote also…..
"but obviously fairly useful when he can be persuaded to start – something that may never figure very high on his list of priorities".
I could tell you which turned out to be the more accurate prediction.
Ken
…..
mid 1960’s, horse carry on, jockey fred winter.what happened next?
don’t know a horse of that name, but there was a "carry on" about Catapult II (ridden by Fred) being beaten in the 1964 Schweppes by Capt Ryan Price’s "other horse", Rosyth (ridden by Josh Gifford), and that effectively led to Fred retiring earlier than otherwise from the saddle a few weeks later:
=================
The Findon trainer was obviously delighted and naturally entered into the usual post-race discussion with acquaintances on the course. He appeared very pleased with himself when the press gathered around him in the unsaddling enclosure.
Then a chain of terrible events began.
Suddenly there was general confusion as the Stewards’ Secretary tapped the Captain on the shoulder. He had been called before the Stewards because in their estimation, Rosyth had made abnormal progress between his last race (where he had ended up ten lengths behind the winner), and the 1964 Schweppes Gold Trophy.
The Stewards did not accept the Captain’s reasoning that Rosyth had been brought on. They even queried why the trainer had actually led Rosyth out of the paddock before the race and had not led the more fancied, Catapult II, ridden by his first jockey, champion Fred Winter.
When this was heard back in Findon, doubts began to nibble.
The Captain conceded that Rosyth had come on leaps and bounds — but chiefly because the horse had improved. In public the Findon trainer maintained he had not transgressed any rules and did not think he had anything to answer for. In private, I guess he realised his livelihood in Findon was in a real cliff-hanger situation.
The Captain and Josh thought they had nothing really to answer for when they were summoned before the National Hunt Stewards in London on 20th February 1964.
Unfortunately, the Captain decided to conduct his own defence. As he faced the interview and saw how it was progressing, he realised that he and Josh were heading for real trouble. They waited outside the Inquiry Room to be informed of the verdict from the giants of jumping.
As the judgement was read out, the Captain was heard to mutter something like "Kangaroo court" under his breath — he was declared a disqualified person and his licence to train had been withdrawn until the end of the season. Josh Gifford’s licence was withdrawn until 31st March 1964.
Rumour was rife in the village that Fred Winter would take over The Downs Stables temporarily. Fred Winter rather reluctantly agreed to help out and to run the yard — even though it meant he had to retire early to do so.
At the Downs Stables, the thoroughbreds peered inquiringly over their box doors and there were few whinnies as they awaited the outcome.
It was then decided by the Captain and all concerned that if the Stewards’ intention of dismantling the yard was flouted in any way, he might not get his licence back — ever.
======================
http://www.findonvillage.com/0555_rosyt … findon.htm
even so, Fred’s last NH placing was in April 1964, in the Clive Graham Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham, as Peter O’Sullevan recalls in his autobiography.
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