It was a very light betting day at the last Buckfastleigh fixture of the season. Punters are normally a hardy lot, but It may have been a combination of the dodgy weather, small number of entries or the threat of the morning inspection that kept them away.
In any case the ten bookies had the aura of a lonely lot, ready to send out a search party for anybody who looked remotely like placing a bet.
The opener was a non betting event with Minimalistic (1-6 to 1-7) cantering round to beat his sole opponent Tarrytown (4-1) and set up a double for Josh Newman.
They went 2-1 the field in the nine runner Maiden with ex-hurdler Grove Ash heading the market. In lashing mud he started off grey and finished a delicate shade of chocolate brown in fourth place. Stellar Stream (5’s to 4’s) took the prize under Josh Newman, holding on gamely to beat Arv Way There (8-1 ), who is surely nailed on for a Maiden. I backed Ask Alfie (4-1) who had shown promise at Chipley and Badbury Rings but was found wanting in these conditions.
When I found that Martin (Fly) McIntyre was jocked up for the classy Chameron in the Open I nearly fell over myself getting on. The classy nag had got rid of his jockey Ben Sutton at the second fence at Cothelstone on the previous day and his connections decided that he was well enough to run again. Ben was committed to riding at the Pytchley (had a winner) , so the experienced “Fly” took over. Despite amazingly drifting from 4-6 to 5-2 Chameron won easily. Danseur du Large (3’s to 11-10) chased him home.
My winnings vanished into thin air as quickly as they came as Lagonda (6-4) was barged off the track by the loose first fence faller Jabbea (4-1) when leading with half a mile to go in the Intermediate. This left Champion Chase (evens fav) in command.
My next tale of woe was further enhanced in the Ladies Conditions. Jeremy Central (8-11 to 1-2) was the culprit. He had missed a Hunter Chase at Catterick just a few days before and looked the ticket here in a five horse race. Well done though to Zoe Hawkins on Micky Stark (100-6), who came storming through in the home straight to snatch the race. It had been a long time between drinks for Micky – four years since he won here.
The four runner Restricted was too tricky for my little brain so I let Nobodydoesitbetter (3’s to 2-1 fav) get on with it and beat Say About It (5-2 to 9-4).
The desperation stakes ended the card. I like these point to point flat races for four and five-year-olds, but they are not really betting mediums. Black of the Glade (2’s to 7-4 fav) skated up. He hails from a shrewd, in form yard and had run well in a similar contest at Barbury Castle before Christmas. Tom’s Terrace (2-1) couldn’t get his breeding right on the race card but ran well under Alice Stevens on his debut for a top yard in the colours of the late Trevor Hemmings.
So I went home with the betting tail between my legs but still well up on the season. Sorry my bookie friends, I did my best to make your Buckfastleigh visit worthwhile.
Cover Photo Credit: Athwenna Irons/WMN
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