DIARY – PLUMPTON – SUNDAY 21 SEPTEMBER 2008

Having missed Stratford on 14 September 2008 where Choc had two rides, due to my minor foot operation, I was desperate to go racing by Sunday 21 September.

As the weekend approached, it became apparent that Choc was more likely to ride at Plumpton than Uttoxeter as Alan King had an entry in the first race at Plumpton, although he was double-booked for Uttoxeter earlier in the week. Unfortunately there was no National Hunt racing during the 6 days from 15 September to 20 September for me to watch whilst recuperating, and I wasn’t the only one needing to get ‘back in the saddle’ as, by Saturday, Choc had 6 rides booked in the 7 scheduled races at Plumpton.

On Thursday evening I tentatively asked Mark if he would be interested in going to Plumpton, as I knew he wished to attend a race meeting at that particular course, having travelled by there on various football related trips to, amongst other places, Lewes. His reply was affirmative, so we researched the train times and route on Friday in preparation for the weekend. We needed to get to Victoria, where the train to Ore in East Sussex, via Clapham Junction, East Croydon, Gatwick, Haywards Heath and Wivelsfield, left 47 minutes past the hour, once an hour.

Mark was adamant that the earliest train we needed to catch was the 11:47, which meant catching the 10:28 from our local station. It was Ladies Day at Plumpton, and ladies wearing a hat got free entry, doors opened at 11:30. Mark went to Newport in South Wales by coach for the football on Saturday, and later texted to let me know that his mate had told him the Victoria Line would be out of action all day Sunday, which made our journey a little more difficult across London. The First Capital Connect (ex-Thameslink) service being out of action at the weekends most of the summer (and for the foreseeable future), meant that trains were terminating at St Pancras. I went onto panic mode late Saturday at this news, but Mark assured me the best route to take would be via West Hampstead and the Jubilee Line across London, so stood by his agreement to meet at the train station by 10:10 to catch a train to London.

I was having difficulty deciding what to wear – my first thought was my grey knitted M & S dress and navy/black tied Next linen jacket, but that didn’t feel right as my choice of footwear would be seriously affected by the size of the bandage around my right foot! My next idea was blue M & S trousers with black Next tie-around top, superseded by a pink Per Una top. As with all operations, I took my first shower for a week on Saturday afternoon, resulting in a damp bandage despite the three plastic bags secured around my foot. However, this meant that I had to use a new bandage, and it was slightly less bulky than before. Having discovered that I could now wear my bronze Romanesque sandals, this became an option. On Sunday morning my final choice remained the blue trousers, with my turquoise Per Una shirt (as worn to Stratford races on 13 July), and the navy/black tied linen jacket. I decided to take my orthopaedic shoe, plus one pink deck-shoe just in case I needed to change from the bronze sandals which, although slightly platform, had heels of 2 – 3 inches! My jewellery also went through many changes – black dichroic agogo, to pink butterfly, to silver/blue heart, to small turquoise glass tongue.

I arrived at the local station at 09:50, although Mark still arrived at the agreed time of 10:10 – he just doesn’t do ‘panic’ mode! After purchasing the tickets, for a mere £13.85 each once the railcard discount had been applied, we caught the 10:28 to St Pancras. Although I did limp slightly, walking in my sandals was fine, with little or no pain, and we alighted at West Hampstead to walk along the road to the Jubilee Line underground station. We caught the first train, which was due to terminate at Green Park and, as such, alighted at Baker Street to transfer to the following train which went all the way to Canary Wharf, calling at Westminster underground station, where we changed to the District/Circle line for two stops to Victoria.

Our train to Ore was listed on the board but with no platform as yet so, as Mark hadn’t eaten yet today, he bought a snack in M & S Simply Food, before we returned to the arrivals/departures board to watch for the platform details to appear. Finally platform 11 came up and we headed through the barriers as the train came in and easily got seats in carriage ‘6 of 8’. The journey was uneventful, although we were held on a red light for a few minutes down the line. When we reached Haywards Heath a number of passengers boarded dressed in their Sunday best, going to Plumpton Ladies Day no doubt. Anyway, we finally arrived at Plumpton station and climbed over the pedestrian bridge, walking up along the path between the car park and racecourse to the kiosk, where we purchased £18 premier badge tickets (which included a race card each too).

Having looked at the course map in the front of the race card we walked up past the Weighing Room to the Parade Ring. Horses soon began to walk around it, the first race being at 14:00. Choc’s mount, Tuanku trained by Alan King, was a flashy bay with a blaze and four white socks. Choc was using his tiny, lightweight saddle. Mark texted another mate, who was knowledgeable about betting on the horses, he suggested an each way bet on Tuanku, although did say it was a lottery as none of the horses had jumped hurdles in public before. Mark put his money on to win. Anyway, the jockeys duly came into the paddock, including Choc, they mounted and headed down to the start at the beginning of the back straight. 10 runners, 1 non-runner.

Then they were off. Santa Clara launched her jockey into space at the second hurdle, but luckily he got up very quickly. I think the loose horse may have collided slightly with Choc’s mount at the hurdle after the winning post at the start of the final circuit. Unfortunately Rich Kid broke down badly as they entered the final turn out of the back straight and was swiftly pulled up. As they entered the final straight, Tayarat and Tuanku disputed the lead, but the former jumped too high, nearly unseating Christian Williams, but he made a miraculous recovery. So Choc’s mount went into a clear lead, and as Tayarat also missed the last, Tuanku stayed on to win. Tayarat did finish second, with Harlequinn Danseur third (the less fancied of the two Gary Moore runners). Mark was pleased, his first ‘racecourse’ winner. I walked around to the Winners’ Enclosure to see Choc come back and unsaddle.

The next race was a Novices’ Handicap Steeplechase. Choc’s mount, Monzon, although reputed to be a safe conveyance, had failed to win in 28 attempts, but had been placed in 6 steeplechases and 3 hurdle races. When the jockeys entered the paddock, a mum who was stood behind me said to her young son ‘here are the little men again’. Bless. 10 runners, 1 non-runner. Choc was using his larger saddle this time, as he was near the top of the handicap at number 3. After mounting, the jockeys headed down to the start, which was at the beginning of the home straight, by the train station.

The race was won by Tempting Paradise, ridden by Christian Williams, but not before the majority of the field had fallen, literally, by the wayside. The first to go was the grey Something Cristal, who unseated Eamon Dehdashti at the first down the back straight. Let’s Get Busy went, and then the field had to bypass the fence at the start of the back straight where Eamon still lay on the ground following his fall on the previous circuit, then A Sea Commander fell when lying in second, bringing down She’s Humble, then Lowe Go went when trapped in a sandwich between Monzon and Lady Roania at the following fence. A nasty incident was avoided as Let’s Get Busy turned around and headed back down the course as the horses came into the home straight, but luckily he veered off to the side. Then the final fence caught out Lady Roania as she was trying to hold off Monzon for third place. Only four finishers, Easy Dancer finished second, Monzon third, and fourth and last was Lansdowne Princess. I believe Let’s Get Busy was Mark’s pick, so a loss there. Back to the Winners’ Enclosure to see Choc unsaddle in the 3rd place position. Eamon was okay, although at one point possible concussion was suspected, and Donal Devereux, the rider of Lady Roania, appeared to sustain a broken collarbone (or perhaps worse) as his arm was placed in a sling.

The third race was a Novices’ Hurdle. Choc was using his small saddle again. 10 runners, 1 non-runner again I believe. Mid Valley looked nice, ridden by Timmy Murphy, so I recommend him to Mark, but he was unplaced. Four horses were in with a chance coming in to the final straight, but Choc’s mount, Northern Spy, faded into fourth place. The race was won by Wyeth ridden by Jamie Moore. Second was Apache Dawn, third Royal Rationale. Again, another visit to the Winners’ Enclosure for Choc in fourth place.

The fourth race was a Handicap Hurdle, where Choc was riding his old friend, Iffy, for Richard Lee. No luck at all this time, as he finished unplaced, but he did walk back along the path in front of the saddling boxes and through the Winners’ Enclosure. The winner was King’s Head ridden by Jamie Moore, second Winsley Hill, third Postmaster, and fourth Alrafid. That’s numbers 6, 10, 11 and 9 – no luck for the top weights.

Finally I had time for a visit to the bar for refreshments – ‘fat’ coke with ice.

Choc didn’t have a ride in the 5th race, a Selling Handicap Hurdle, which was won close to the line by Brigadore, who overtook the long time leader, Mad Professor, who held on for second. Third place went to Patsy Bee. The winner failed to sell for his reserve when put up for auction.

The sixth race was a Handicap Steeplechase. Choc’s ride was Keltic Lord (another horse I’ve seen him ride live three times – the other being Iffy). At number 10, Choc’s smaller saddle was used again. After leaving the paddock, the horses galloped around to the top corner of the course to take a look at the fence, then jogged back across the course through a railed ride. The race started just past the winning post, so I decided to cross over the paddock exit chute to get a better view of the horses milling around on the in-field before the race. Then they were off.

I couldn’t see the screen properly from my position so didn’t notice that Choc’s saddle had slipped back even before he’d reached the end of the back straight on the first circuit. Thank goodness Keltic Lord was wearing a breast girth, as it prevented his saddle slipping back any further, although he only just retained his number cloth. Again there were a number of fallers, and Choc finished third. After the race I headed for the unsaddling enclosure. When Choc walked towards the Weighing Room, Luke Harvey spoke to him, saying “You were lucky there”. Choc replied he’d been lucky about four times! Phew! I noticed the base of Choc’s smaller saddle is labelled ‘Choc 1’. The race was won by Earcomesannie ridden by Jack Doyle, with Amazing Valour second. Mark backed the winner.

When I viewed the video of the race the next day, the four doses of luck seemed to be avoiding being brought down when a horse fell alongside him at the final fence in the straight with one circuit to go, then side stepping Classic Clover when it fell at the first down the back, a mistake at the middle down the back 2nd time around, and not losing the saddle cloth/falling off because the saddle had slipped back.

Choc’s sixth and final ride was Domenico in the last race of the day, a Handicap Hurdle race. Choc had ridden this horse at Huntingdon on Bank Holiday Monday to finish fourth. As they were walking around the paddock and I was taking photos of Choc on the horse, the lady next to me asked if he was my favourite. I explained that I liked the jockey, not specifically the horse. And that I couldn’t bet on Choc as it might be unlucky, and that it was disloyal to bet against him.

Everything appeared to be fine with his mount until he reached the start at the beginning of the home straight. Choc was concerned that the horse was lame, so having trotted up for the vet, Domenico was withdrawn under starter’s orders. A deduction of 10p in the pound on all winning bets. Choc walked his mount around at the start whilst the race was completed, won by Urban Warrior. He then started walking up the straight, with the stable-girl leading the horse back. He had taken the saddle off, so nipped under the rails to take a shorter route back to the Weighing Room. As it was time to leave, I walked around via the back of the Premier Grandstand and Weighing Room, and was fortunate enough to walk past Choc as he returned with Domenico’s trainer.

Having seen Choc for a final time, we headed for the station to catch the 17:24 train to Victoria. It was imperative that we caught it, as they only ran once an hour. Mark enjoyed the day, having had three winning bets, and enjoyed the food, although he had definitely drunk too much!

The train arrived on time, but nearly all the seats were occupied, so we stood. By this time my foot was feeling a little tired, so I changed into my pink moccasin, and my orthopaedic shoe, which was very comfortable and a welcome relief. We couldn’t find empty seats until we reached Clapham Junction, which is only one stop from Victoria. Once at Victoria, Mark had a quick look in M & S Simply Food for supplies but, as the queue was very long, he decided we would make tracks for home. We returned via the District/Circle line to Westminster underground station (which looks like something out of Blade Runner – I’ve admired the station on previous visits), changed onto the Jubilee Line and headed for West Hampstead.

At FCC West Hampstead we had to wait for 20 minutes for the fast train to arrive on platform 4, so Mark popped across the road to the local supermarket (without success). I was hoping Mark would give me a lift home from the City station but, as he had drunk too much during the day, I was obliged to walk the mile home alone. Luckily my orthopaedic shoe proved to be very comfortable, far more so than my moccasin in fact, and I arrived home safely, having walked quite quickly. It’s definitely time to return to work, which hopefully I can do on Wednesday following my outpatients’ appointment.

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