SAM’S THE MAN

After a major misunderstanding, Davies-Thomas was the star at Charing says Scrapper

lead in the Restricted, with four of the six runners wanting to race handy.They paid a heavy price. Rise To It came home best, the rest looked as if they were wading through treacle up the straight.

After riding the winner,Scorpion Star,in the curtain raiser Davies-Thomas completed his double in the Mixed Open making all on Little Chip.His connections will not care a jot but the feature race took very little winning. The even money favourite Never Complain disappointed, capitulating tamely. A summer purchase by the Marshall family,his Irish rules form suggested he might struggle to stay the standard point distance, today it looked as if he was lacking in enthusiasm rather than stamina.Crazy Eyes (5/2) never went a yard andWor Rom (9/2) departed early.

There was a smooth success for Rob Conti in the Conditions race under owner/rider David Maxwell.

Undoubtedly the cleverest ride of the day came in the finale, the Members. Shane Roche sat and watched the two leaders battle it out over the last mile, biding his time just behind them on Iheardu. Approaching the last Come On You and Duke Of Kentford were spent and Roche and his mount pootled by with smiles on their faces.

HACKWOOD PARK EASTER MONDAY

At Charing I paid my entrance fee,bought a racecard, treated myself to a cup of tea and still had change from a tenner. Hackwood’s prices were car parks £50,£40 and £30, single occupancy £25 and pedestrians £20.Come racing!

The card just survived a visit from Storm Katie after the angry lady swept aside four of today’s other meetings.The combination of the terrible morning weather and the ludicrous pricing policy meant there was a pretty poor imitation of a bank holiday crowd.Those that chose to stay away will not rue their decision, there were just 31 runners and four of the races had long odds-on winners.

The star of the show was Carruthers, now 13,the former top class handicapper bounded away from his rivals in the Novice Riders race ridden by young Lily Bradstock.

Working Title, a year older at 14, made all for a clear-cut victory in the Men’s Open.The veteran had been partnered in his two previous races byVictoria Pendleton, these resulted in him allegedly attempting to pull himself up and an unseat. Her publicity team seemed more than willing to infer the old boy wasn’t totally reliable. Either side of that pair of outings he has chalked up seven wins and two seconds in his last nine runs. Some rogue.

Minerfortyniner again impressed when running away with the Conditions race, he remains progressive and keeps his place on my list.

HIGHAM APRIL 2

The warm morning sun enticed a massive crowd, 45 minutes before the off the car park was very nearly full, and the Hunt were frantically seeking to commandeer an adjacent field to deal with the overflow.

Of the two pony races that were down to precede the grown-up card here,one had just five runners and the other was called off due to the lack of entries. It must be a concern that the field sizes for the ponies have fallen dramatically over the last couple of years.

Not too long ago the contests bore the resemblance of a Thelwellian scene, barrel shaped hairy ponies ridden by plump,red-cheeked boys and girls.Lately the races seem, to this casual observer, far more serious and competitive, there doesn’t appear to be nearly as many smiles as there used to be. The winners nowadays look like sleek mini racehorses and are costing up to £20,000. They are honed on all-weather gallops and steered by youngsters who regularly ride out two lots before school.Parents are being put off by the expense and their kids disillusioned after getting constantly beaten by a furlong.Horse racing needs pony racing to thrive. It’s where it should be looking for tomorrow’s jockeys.

They raced on genuinely quick ground for the first time this season,15 lined up for the opener, a Restricted. Our Milly Acres ran out a really game winner,headed at the cross fence she battled her way back past Hill Of Gold on the run-in.

The presence of Broken Eagle (1/8) scared off most of the opposition for the Men’s Open, just three took him on. On form, only Never Complain could be remotely considered a threat, and he was hampered by the loss of both of his rear shoes on the way round. The favourite cantered to victory without breaking sweat,which can be more than said of the brave punters who supported him, he gave a couple hefty clouts.

Sa Kaldoun came from out of the clouds to land the Ladies Open,the 5/4 favourite Conkies Lad never looked to get seriously involved after an early mistake.

The Novice Riders race was a thriller. Done A Runner (4/6) and Superior Fire (3/1) joined battle at the head of affairs five from home and they continued to trade blows all the way to the line. There the waiting judge gave the nod to the market leader. I heard no announcement but I do hope the stewards invited both young riders into their tent for a chat about future whip use.

The Maiden was split; both divisions went to horses who have featured in former columns. I fell in love with Iskrabob on his debut towards the end of last season,this year he has looked in desperate need of a bloke to ride him. Oz Wedmore was given the leg-up today, replacing the gelding’s trainer Rose Gris-