SALSIFY WINS CLASH OF THE TITANS

Go Go Go Horserace: SALSIFY WINS CLASH OF THE TITANS. A trip across the Irish ocean once more proved worthwhile for the Sweeney Family's Salsify because the competition winner landed Stratford's Foxhunters Champion Hunters' Chase.

The race was one thing of a clash between Cheltenham titans; the 2011 Foxhunter victor Zemsky was amongst the fourteen contenders lining up to require on the reigning champ, who was once more partnered by Colman Sweeney, whose folks own and train the useful gelding.

Looking an image within the paddock it absolutely was no surprise to envision Salsify sent off the 6/4F, though as at Prestbury Park, his backers were created to sweat because the try once more played out most of the race at the rear.

Sweeney remained assured throughout but, and once taking the lead at the last, proved not possible to peg back by runner-up that is Rhythm underneath Nick Wakefield. Oca De Thaix gave his connections lots of cause for celebration when third at 100/1, seven lengths earlier than Postmaster.

While the result was a preferred one for punters and absolutely deserved by Salsify, for those whose heart was ruling their heads a win by Southwestern would have brought the house down.

Twice a winner within the race, as well as last year, and having conjointly claimed the Champion Novices' Hunters' Chase on this card in 2007, Stratford has been a contented searching ground for the 13-year-old, who since March 2010 has never finished out of the primary 2 between the flags.

Five wins from six starts this season have ensured The Exmoor Partners' runner are going to be remembered at his highest, and his seventh place at Stratford on Friday behind succeeding generation of hunter chasers may be a fitting approach for Southwestern to bow out and hand over the baton.

Earlier within the evening the pointtopoint.co.uk Champion Novices' Hunters' Chase showcased those lining up able to battle Salsify and company in years to come back, and such is that the quality and amount of young Hunter Chasers this season a ballot was required to cut back the sphere once the twenty one declarations exceeded the protection issue.

Impressive Warwick Hunter Chase winner Monkerty Tunkerty earned 5/4 favouritism, though was while not his rider from that day Jessica Westwood, following her career-ending fall in March. Westwood was available to envision her charge but, as she conjointly owns and trains the nine-year-old from her Minehead base.

Josh Guerriero took the ride on her behalf, and though 2 out the try looked well-placed to require the title, the Steve Flook-trained Rumbury gray finished the stronger horse once difficult for the lead turning for home.

Rob Jarrett sat tight because the Overbury gelding pecked on landing once the last, driving him home to win by eleven lengths. Last year's leading horse noticelay's Find finished an additional four lengths back in third, his rider Nick Williams within the colors additional frequently carried by stablemate girl Myfanwy, who had earlier finished a decent fifth within the Weekender-sponsored Ladies' Hunters' Chase, won by the terribly promising Leanda Tickle on board Oslot.

As the weekend commenced and Diamond Jubilee celebrations got underway across the country, Point-to-Pointing created the foremost of its last Bank vacation weekend with conferences held over 3 of the four days.

Fresh from her Stratford victory, Tickle came to the winners' enclosure but twenty four hours later when booked as emergency pilot for Chesnut Annie, once the mare's regular partner Sally Randell was held up in traffic on route to Bratton Down.

Making a rare trip outside of Wales, Beth Roberts's prolific winner lined up alongside light-weight bit and Kilrogan within the Exmoor women Open race, unsurprisingly sent off at 1-5F. Having little doubt received directions from Randell, the new partnership created all to simply draw clear 3 from home to win unchallenged. The victory takes her to the highest once more within the National leading horse standings, this season's seven wins one earlier than My previous Piano, who the subsequent day missed his probability to draw level at the Cheshire meeting.

Tabley was the venue for the North West Area's final fixture, and it absolutely was the Mixed Open during which Tom Bannister's Dr Massini gelding was unable to match the performance of Glidewell, the odds-on favorite finishing twenty lengths adrift of Neale Dalton's charge.

The winner was partnered by Jane Williams, with whom Jacqueline Coward is currently locked in battle for the National women championship. Williams had simply 2 rides on the Sunday, having posted a 3rd within the preceding Club Members event on the South African-bred Lagosta behind Time Gentlemen and Broken Reed in initial and second respectively.

A double at Chaddesley Corbett's Albrighton Woodland fixture the subsequent day but took her tally to twenty one with simply 3 conferences to travel. A walk over within the Hunt race provided the primary leg, her mount Murphys Fusilier conjointly reappearing within the Club Members conditions race where the try proved no match for Midnight King and Peter Mann, though went down by simply a head to runners-up Nobby Kivambo and Mark Wall.

It was the rejuvenated Surenaga who provided the second win, whose recent pick up to make has happy trainer Phillip Rowley. once creating headway from the seventh, the ten-year-old led from four out to simply account for runner-up Hazeymm and third-placed Porters War within the seven robust women Open contest.

Her friend and rival Coward had a less successful weekend in her bid for the title, punctuated by the frustration of disqualification once winning the Haydon's Mixed Open at Hexham on Sunday.

Pairing up with AGA women Final Champion Amicelli, Coward created all within the race to win by a length and a [*fr1] from fellow joint favorite Buckstruther, however once weighing out at simply 12st rather than 12st5lb, the try were disqualified and also the race awarded to Jamie Hamilton and his mount, with See You There and Victor promoted to second and third respectively.

Coward's initial ride of the afternoon, Alforone, was pulled up when tailed off within the 3m Maiden, whereas a fourth place on Once Before within the Intermediate conjointly did not boost her tally.

Heading to Chaddesley Corbett succeeding day alongside Williams, Coward's 3 rides once more drew a blank; Chancery Lad and Roko Dancer did not complete within the Club Members Conditions and Restricted respectively, whereas Laertes posted an area behind Maletton and Iochtaran within the Club Members, Maletton giving Henry Phillips his second career success.

At the shut of play on Monday Williams held a 5 win lead, however with a robust team behind each, this championship appearance guaranteed to play out right right down to the wire.

The Berks & greenbacks Draghounds meeting at Kingston Blount, famous for its mid-afternoon hound race that this year visited Treason, heralded the shut of the South Midlands season, and with it, the realm championships.

Despite missing out on the ultimate day when his Intermediate mount Viel Gluck did not peg back Medic once staying on well, Joe Hill had already secured the Novice Riders' prize following his 9 wins up to now, whereas Fly Direct secured his father Alan the owners' prize, the latter conjointly recipient of the realm Trainer's award.

More poignant but was the winner of the woman Riders' championship; Heather Kemp, totalling six victories between the flags this season, had twenty four hours earlier hung up her boots for the last time once an eight length triumph within the Fernie Four Miler Mixed Open at Dingley, a fitting thanks to bring her twenty one year career to a detailed. Her mount, Gidam

Gidam, has been answerable for 2 of her tally this season, matched by stablemates Or Bleu and Ungaro.

Two places on the day for Johnny Bailey, on board Legendtino behind Millarky within the Confined Maiden, and woman Barack second to Hansom Prophet within the Restricted, earned him enough points to secure a final minute victory over Richard Armson within the space Men's title.

Back at Kingston Blount, Clare Wills created a winning come back to the saddle once breaking her wrist and ankle in a very schooling fall earlier this season, partnering Steven Astaire's Cutlass Silver to victory within the women Open. Leading owner Alan Hill's Balladeer was sent off a heat favorite, however did not catch the leaders before finishing third, 3 lengths adrift of Network Oscar.

Popular Hunter Chaser Whizzaar came to the pointing scene with a bang at Upcott Cross, holding the favorite Special Account by [*fr1] a length. The winner, partnered by Richard Woollacott, created all within the South Tetcott Mens Open, repelling the robust challenge of Neil Harris and his mount.

The Ladies event saw a equally shut end as Doof secured back to back wins within the race, though this point it absolutely was Vicky Wade, not former partner Jo Buck, who was on board to secure the victory. Havenstone was unable to produce Leanda Tickle with another winner for the weekend in second, with women specialist Rainbow Tree back in third.

The weekend's final meeting, the Countryside Alliance Club (Wales), was treated to raised weather than most for the Area's closing fixture. girl Dudley Cup winner Rosies Peacock came to prime kind within the Mixed Open once defeat last month at the hands, or rather hooves, of noticelay's Find.

Six lined for the competition, however simply 2 crossed the road, Midnight Diamond eight lengths adrift of the winner and John Mathias. The nine-year-old had originally been meant as a runner at Stratford on Friday, however was one in every of the 5 balloted out of the Champion Novices' Hunters' Chase.

The aforementioned Fly Direct had created the journey west for this meeting, however found the regionally trained Oakfield Legend 5 lengths too robust within the Club Members race, leaving Joe Hill still tied with Harry Bannister within the National Novice standings because the Jubilee weekend drew to a detailed.

Two conferences are thanks to be held this weekend, Saturday's Pembrokeshire fixture followed by the Tiverton Staghounds on Sunday. Following that, the season's ancient closing fixture, the Torrington Farmers, run at Umberleigh.

Saturday ninth June

Pembrokeshire at Trecoed (Pembrokeshire): first race - a pair of.00pm; half-dozen races - eighty nine entries.

Sunday tenth June

Tiverton Staghounds at Bratton Down (Devon): first race - a pair of.00pm; half-dozen races - 102 entries.