Point-to-point
Temple Grandin scores his fifth win of the campaign, while Namako confirms his status as leading novice
Bratton Down
‘Temple Grandin doesn’t know how to run a bad race’
JOINT-OWNER GEOFF BOWER
Tiverton Staghounds, Bratton Down A LONG journey proved worthwhile for Bridgnorth-based trainer Phil Rowley when he achieved a double at the final Bratton Down meeting of the season. The trainer scored in the men’s open with Temple Grandin (Alex Edwards) denying There’s No Panic (Will Biddick) a hattrick of wins at the Bratton Down meetings.
“We have had the horse for three years and he has been brilliant. He has won five times this year — he just doesn’t know how to run a bad race,” said Geoff Bower, who co-owns the horse with David Maddocks.
The other win for the trainerjockey combination came in the intermediate race courtesy of Namako, who fought strongly to hold off Air Glider and eventual runner-up Winter Garden.
The winning horse’s owner Cynthia Bibbey said: “It took just under four hours to get here but the trip was worth it.”
Namako has also won the leading novice horse award for the West Midlands area.
The ladies’ open again rewarded those who had travelled from afar with Lough Inch and Tabitha Worsley dominating.
“We were a bit worried that the ground is softer than we’d have liked but he’s just great,” said owner Lizzie Harris after the horse’s eighth win of the season.
Worsley will graduate from Birmingham University this year having studied sports science and has ridden 14 winners this season.
OVERFLOW’S SCALP IN the open maiden division one The Overflow and Jake Bament finished ahead of odds-on favourite Quick N’ Easy (Rob Stoneman). The favourite gave away over 20 lengths to the field at the start of the race — meaning he was consistently on the back foot — yet finished strongly up the hill to challenge for the win.
“I am shocked,” said winning trainer Pippa Moorhouse. “This is only his second run and he’s totally green so this is brilliant.”
Division two of the open maiden went to the Camilla Scott-trained Tree Sparrow,
ridden by Vicky Wade. The trainer purchased the gelding from Ascot Sales last year for Cullomptonbased owner Johny Pengelly.
Wade said of her fifth win of the season: “This horse is brilliant and gutsy. Johny has always wanted to own a horse to run at Bratton Down, so winning here is a bonus.”
A maximum field went to post in the restricted, where The Lizard King and Darren Edwards pulled clear to deny Vicky Wade a double aboard Guerrilla Tactics.
The hunt members’ race went to previous winner Whenharrymetsally, ridden by Matt Hampton for trainer Keith Cumings.
“She’s a lovely mare who never gives up — we are very lucky to have her,” said the trainer.