A Herculean effort prevails
DRY, windy conditions in the runup to the Berkeley necessitated a Herculean effort by the grounds team to produce suitable footing. It was rewarded with a hugely competitive open qualifier, course-builder Simon Vatcher’s newest twist proving influential.
An in-and-out section at the top of the course added last year is now followed by a tight corner of hedges, before teams open out again over a substantial tree trunk and the infamous open ditch hedge, also with a fearsome drop.
Fox Grant Dot Com meant business from the off, Will Grant leading on Chefe, with Anna
Stone (Boyce) and two recruits from the racing world, Jack Quinlan (Easter Meteor) and Zack Davidson (Remarkable Man), in hot pursuit. Then Anna and Jack had to take a turn at the corner of hedges, before Will survived a huge leap at the drop.
Anna and Jack made up huge amounts of ground on the switchback of hedges to get back to the leading pair and were neatly through the pen and galloping up the final hill to victory.
“The new corner is a good test,” said Will. “The others were nowhere to be seen before the switchbacks, but came back well.”
Boring Gorings were the only team to get all four horses straight across the corner of hedges. Under a great lead from Joe Stevenson on Warhorse, they always looked to have the measure of the track for the runner-up slot.
“My new horse, Didn’t I Tell Ya, came side-on to the second part of the corner and still jumped it, so he’s passed the test,” said captain Fred French.
Berkeley Balls, a trio of mother Judith Baker and sons Hector and Connor, saw Judith have a hairy ride out the back on Marmite –
“He was side-on to the second part of the corner, but still jumped it”
FRED FRENCH ABOUT NEW HORSE DIDN’T I TELL YA
glancing off at the corner – but they all got great leaps over the drop. The boys anchored back to get three in the pen together, coming home well for third.
“Our horses are quite green. Mum’s is a bit naughty – he’s so busy throwing his head around, he gets left behind,” said Connor.