DIARY – KEMPTON PARK
– MONDAY 02 NOVEMBER 2009
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I’d booked 02
November as holiday because I expected that I might need to put aside time to
complete my racing diaries following weekend fixtures at Ascot and
Huntingdon. However, I didn’t go to
Ascot as Choc was at Wetherby, nor did I go to Huntingdon as Choc had just 2
rides on Sunday. This left me with a
free Monday with no diaries to complete and with Choc scheduled to ride 5
horses at Kempton Park. Thus Monday
became a racing day ... As the first race
was due off at 12:50, with gates opening at 10:50; I decided I’d set off from
home at around 10:20. I’d heard
rumours about roadworks on the M25 at Chorleywood, but I’d not driven on the
motorway since last April so knew nothing about the extent of these. Having reached the M25 I journeyed around the anti-clockwise
carriageway, only to encounter a traffic jam just before the Kings Langley
turning. So I decided to leave the
motorway and travel into Watford, through Croxley Green and Rickmansworth to
rejoin the motorway at Maple Cross.
Luckily traffic was moving at this point, despite it still being
within the road widening scheme.
Traffic speed was restricted to 50 mph, but there were no holdups on
the M25 after this point and traffic was sparse on the M3 London-bound
carriageway too. Having reached Kempton Park racecourse, I drove around to the
far entrance and up the driveway to park in the free car park. It was 11:45. Having left my car, I walked around to the
main entrance to purchase an entry ticket (£18) plus a programme (£2.50). I then went to sit on one of the benches
situated between the Parade Ring and the grandstand. Ruby Walsh was on the sidelines today, having suffered severe
bruising to his foot following a fall at Ascot on Saturday when he was pinned
beneath a fatally injured horse. He
was replaced by Christian Williams aboard two of the Paul Nicholls trained
runners, with Sam Thomas taking the ride on the third. It was soon time for the first race of the day. Choc’s mount in this event was the Richard
Phillips trained Departed. Once the
jockeys were aboard their mounts and had set off down the horse-walk it was
time for me to find a spot to view the proceedings. Today it was impossible to walk around the side of the
grandstand to reach the course-side rails, as a marquee had been erected
there and the steps cordoned off. This
meant that I had to walk through the betting hall to reach the area in front
of the stands. I was to view the races
from beside the course-side rails. The start of this race was at the far end of the home straight,
so all the runners cantered down past the stands to reach it.
The
runners broke the tapes as the starter called them in, but at the second
attempt they were off. The field was
led off by Sarando, followed closely by Hellfire Club and Contrada. Binfield set off in last place, having
appeared reluctant to start. Choc was
on the inside near the back of the field.
Hellfire Club took up the running as they approached the 3rd
flight. Departed made slight jumping
errors at the 3rd and 5th flights, receiving reminders to keep his mind on his
work. Rock
‘n’ Roller fell at the 3rd last flight, hampering Departed a little. As they approached the final turn, the lead
was disputed by Hellfire Club and Sarando, the favourite Slip just behind
them in 3rd position. Choc had already
eased his mount by this stage of the race.
Hellfire Club led over the final flight, but was caught on the run in
by Mr Plod, now trained by Michael Scudamore and fit from a campaign on the
flat. Choc
and Departed finished in 12th position.
The
jockeys arrived early for the next race, some of the horses and trainers not
having reached the Parade Ring yet.
Choc stood and chatted with Andrew Tinkler until Richard Phillips
appeared. Choc’s mount in this event
was Pak Jack. Once
the bell had rung for the jockeys to mount, Choc and Richard Phillips walked
across the grass towards me, and Choc was legged up into the saddle. As he set off down the walkway, I went
through the betting hall to reach the course-side rails. The start of this event was at the
beginning of the long back straight, so the horses cantered away from the
stands to reach it.
Then
they were off. The Jolly Spoofer led
the field off, followed by Henry Hook, and Like Minded in the ‘Aston Villa’
colours of co-owner Jim Lewis. Choc
aboard Pak Jack travelled next to the inside rail in 4th. By
the 2nd obstacle The Jolly Spoofer had a clear advantage, although he had
come back to the field by the 5th flight.
Silver Phoenix lost touch and was pulled up before 2 out. Like
Minded was sent into the lead before the 8th flight. Choc was pushing his mount along as they
turned into the final straight. Like
Minded went on to win easily despite an error at the 2nd last, Aim for the
Stars making progress behind Pak Jack, until he was almost on terms by the
time they reached the final flight.
However, the former didn’t clear the obstacle as fluently as Choc’s
mount, and they fought all the way to the line, Pak Jack prevailing by a
nose.
I
returned to the Winners’ Enclosure to see Choc return and unsaddle his mount
before he set off for the Weighing Room.
Oli Bell of Racing UK interviewed Jim Lewis (who owned Cheltenham hero
Best Mate) and now part owner of Like Minded.
It
was now time for the third race of the day.
Choc didn’t have a riding engagement in this event. I thought the Kim Bailey trained runner,
Midnight Haze, looked the most ‘intelligent’ of the runners. Once the horses had begun to leave the
Parade Ring, again I set off for the course-side rails to view the
proceedings. The start of the event
was at the beginning of the long back straight (the course being triangular
in shape).
Then
they were off. Midnight Haze went immediately
into the lead, followed by Prince des Marais, She’s Humble and Dawn
Silk. Ouragan Lagrange unseated its
rider, Eamon Dehdashti, at the first.
At this stage, Sidney Sling was in rear. As
the race progressed, Sidney Sling started to move through the field, although
he’d lost a little ground approaching the 10th obstacle. Dawn Silk fell at the 12th, the final open
ditch. Midnight Haze retained the lead
throughout the race, drawing well clear approaching 3 out and galloping on to
win. The grey, Spanish Cruise, jumped
the last in 2nd place but was overtaken on the run-in by the staying-on
Sidney Sling.
I
returned to the Parade Ring in preparation for the next race, in which Choc
would be riding the Alan King trained Lake Legend. Conditional jockey, Charlie Huxley, claimed
3lbs off of the other Alan King runner, top weight Trenchant. Amusingly,
Special Occasion’s tongue was hanging out as he walked around the Parade
Ring! Choc and Charlie Huxley arrived
to speak with Alan King and the horses’ respective owners. Soon it was time for the jockeys to be
legged-up, so Charlie and Choc went to find their mounts, Trenchant
immediately preceding Lake Legend around the ring. Alan legged-up Charlie first, then
Choc. Once
the horses were exiting onto the course, I set off for the course-side
rails. The start of this race, yet
again, was at the beginning of the long back straight.
Then
they were off. The field was led off
by Raslan, followed closely by Very Cool, then Rajeh. Choc held an inside line, in around 7th
position, with Trenchant a length behind.
As
they completed the first circuit, Raslan was still in charge, followed by
Kawagino, Very Cool, Bouggler and Lake Legend. Special Occasion soon dropped out. Raslan led into the home straight, with
Lake Legend and Fairyland close behind.
Trenchant having made good progress on the outside was now in 4th. Alderluck was also putting in a
challenge. Raslan
held the lead until just before the last flight, when Trenchant took over, with
Fairyland and Alderluck in close contention.
Trenchant, although drifting to the stand-side rails, battled on to
win from the closing Alderluck, with Fairyland in 3rd and the long-time
leader Raslan in 4th. Lake
Legend had tired quickly in the home straight, and Choc pulled him up before
the last flight, cantering up beside the stand-side rails. Trenchant
appears to like Kempton Park, having won a valuable race at the course last
February.
I
returned to the Winners’ Enclosure to see Trenchant arrive back. Shortly afterwards, it was time for Alan King
to be interviewed by Oli Bell of Racing UK.
The
next event was a Graduation Chase, in which Choc would be riding the Alan
King trained Sir Harry Ormesher. Having
an excitable temperament, Choc’s mount was jig jogging around the Parade
Ring. Choc was wearing the yellow with
red spotted colours of David Sewell – who also owns Oh Crick and
Araldur. When it was time for the
horses to exit onto the course, both Alan and Choc set off down the
horse-walk on foot, with Sir Harry Ormesher being led behind them by the
stable lad. Choc was legged up when he
reached the course and was the last to canter to the start.
Then
they were off. Battlecry led the field
away, followed by the grey Pasco, then Duc de Regniere with Choc aboard Sir
Harry Ormesher bringing up the rear. It
soon became apparent that Sir Harry was jumping to his left (a disadvantage
on a right-handed track like Kempton Park) and thus losing ground at many of the
fences. Battlecry
retained the lead until the 12th fence, when Pasco took over, the former
weakening into last very quickly. Sir
Harry, now in 3rd place, received a reminder as they entered the home
straight. Pasco cleared the 3rd last,
but capsized on landing, leaving Choc in 2nd, behind Duc de Regniere. However, the latter drew away from Choc’s
mount, which was still jumping to his left.
Barry Geraghty’s mount cleared the last and went on to win. Sir
Harry Ormesher was very tired and, having jumped the final fence in an
awkward manner, lost his footing and deposited Choc on the turf. Within seconds a medic ran across to check
that Choc was okay, the rider-less horse having regained its feet and
cantered away. Once Choc was on his
feet, the medic accompanied him up towards the winning post, taking his leave
as Alan King reached them. Battlecry
had cleared the final obstacle to finish a distant 2nd. Sam Thomas caught Pascoe following their
departure, and walked the grey up the course until met by the stable
lass.
Having
unsaddled and de-briefed the horse’s connections, Barry returned from the
Weighing Room to mount the podium where he was presented with a bottle of
champagne to celebrate riding his 1,000th winner. As only two horses completed the course,
the prize money of the winner was boosted by that put aside for the 3rd and 4th
placed horses. The jockeys were not
permitted to re-mount following their falls due to the safety ruling which
came into effect today. The
new safety ruling not only takes into account the health of any horses which might
fall, but that of the jockeys too. As,
having taken a fall, all riders must pass a medical check before being
permitted to take their next ride. It
was now time for Choc’s final ride of the day, aboard the Richard Phillips
trained Stop The Show. The start of
this steeplechase was at the beginning of the straight heading away from the
stands. This meant that the
competitors cantered down past the stands to inspect what would be the final
fence, before making their way back up the home straight to the starting gate.
Then
they were off. The field was led away
by the grey Job One. The race
favourite, Shillingstone, was in rear.
Choc held his preferred position, alongside the inside rail, and was
in mid-field. At the 4th obstacle, Job
One still held the lead, followed by South Bank and Majic Moments,
Shillingstone had improved his position, with By George now bringing up the
rear. Majic
Moments was disputing the lead with Job One when the latter fell at the 12th
obstacle, leaving the former in front.
Good Harvest soon took over, with Stop the Show disputing 3rd as they
turned into the home straight.
Finally Shillingstone assumed the lead and went on to win by ½ a
length from By George who had pursued him up the home straight. Choc’s mount had weakened into 5th by the
line.
I
returned to the Winners’ Enclosure briefly to see the horses come back
in. As Choc had completed his final
ride of the day, I decided it was time to leave as I wanted to make tracks
for home before the rush hour traffic built up on the M25. However, I will mention the result for the
final race of the day.
I
left the car park at around 16:00 and drove down the M3 to reach the M25, wondering
if I’d made the correct decision as to my return route, due to the road-works
between junctions 16 to 18. The
traffic flow was fine until just before the M40 junction (junction 16) where
it slowed down considerably as the road works signs and cones came into view! The main cause was traffic filtering in
from the M40 onto the clockwise carriageway of the M25. The outside lane of the M25 soon became
part of a contra-flow system, with the two inside lanes following the
original carriageway. The M25 is being
widened to 4 lanes between junction 16 and 18 (Chorleywood) and work was
still being carried out despite darkness having fallen. Having negotiated the initial
hold-up, the traffic then moved quite freely again, within the 50 mile an
hour limit. The motorway restrictions
having ended, I continued around to junction 21A where I left the motorway
and headed for home. I pulled into my
drive at around 17:20. |
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