DIARY – STRATFORD UPON AVON – SUNDAY 12 JULY 2009
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When it became apparent that Choc
would be riding at Stratford on this day (provided he returned safe and sound
from his Stag-Do in Hamburg!) and that he and a number of other participants
in his German excursion would be having their moustaches shaved off in public
at some point during the afternoon (more about the background to this later),
I knew that I just had to be there! Besides, he had 4 riding engagements
on the day, and I hadn’t attended a fixture for 6 weeks … and Stratford is my
favourite racecourse after Cheltenham and Aintree, because I’ve had some
fabulous Choc related ‘experiences’ during my visits to the racecourse! So here is an account of my day
... As my car was low on petrol, at just
before 08:00 I set off for the local supermarket to fill up my Fiesta’s
tank. Having returned, showered and
applied make-up and sun-block, I set off for Stratford at just after 10:00. My route took me via Hemel Hempstead
to reach the A41 by-pass road, and I noticed the herd of Belted Galloway
cattle were in their field at Boxmoor.
It is at this point that I shall put in a reference to Robert Snooks,
the last man to be executed in England for Highway robbery - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Snooks,
for it is within this field that his grave and memorial stone lie! There is also a legend that if you dance
around the grave three times at midnight and shout ‘Snooks’ the robber will
obligingly join you in a danse macabre.
I wouldn’t be keen to put this legend to the test, not because I
believe it to be true, but because I understand Belted Galloways can be more
unpredictable than a number of other breeds of cattle! Anyway, returning to my journey to
Stratford. My route took me to
Aylesbury, then westwards along the A41 to Bicester (it’s always a pleasure
to drive this section of my journey – provided I don’t get stuck behind any
slow moving vehicles!), then southwards along the A34 to join the M40
northbound carriageway. It was whilst
driving along the motorway that I encountered the only rain shower of the
day. Upon reaching Junction 15, I turned
westwards towards Stratford and took the route along the bypass, encountering
a traffic queue as I approached the Bishopton roundabout on the A3400, where
traffic is directed to turn left if wishing to reach the town centre and the
racecourse too. As I pulled into the
outside lane in order to continue my journey via Shottery, I noticed JG
Portman’s horsebox in the inside lane waiting to turn left – and onboard
would be Minder, Choc’s first mount of the day! It amazes me how contrasting the
routes into Stratford can be – the Bishopton turning tails back for over a
mile during the Sunday lunchtime period, but the route via Shottery is clear
all the way, the only delay being the wait to exit onto the sometimes busy
B439. Having travelled via my ‘quiet’
route, I arrived at the gates just after midday, leaving my car in the £3
parking area. I changed into my
‘heels’ and took my coral-coloured jacket with me just in case there were any
further rain showers or the day turned chilly. Having bought my ticket and gone
through the turnstiles, I went to sit by the Parade Ring, having purchased my
race-card en-route. At around 13:00
there was an announcement that Choc and a number of his weighing room
colleagues (ones which had attended his Hamburg Stag-Do AND had grown facial
hair as part of a fundraising effort on behalf of the Midlands Air Ambulance
and Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool - Jockeys Grow
Moustaches.htm) would shortly be appearing in the
Winners’ Enclosure to have their whiskers shaved off. I therefore made my way to the enclosure,
where Sam Thomas, William Kennedy, AN Other (sorry I didn’t recognise him and
can’t recall his name) plus the lovely Choc had already arrived in
preparation for the ‘shave-off’. Having been briefly ‘prepared’ with a
battery shaver, the cut-throat razors were put into action on the
jockeys. Sam, being more facially
hirsute than Choc, took the longer to be shaved. Although, as mentioned in my blogs during
late June/early July 2009, Choc had done remarkably well at growing a goatee,
which presumably meant he would not have needed to perform a forfeit as one
of the ‘non-triers’! Whilst the
shaving was being completed, William Kennedy, by now clean-shaven, came round
with the bucket to collect our donations.
Clean-shaven once more, Choc was
interviewed firstly by a newspaper hack and then by Tim Peters, the Race Day
presenter, where he gave details of his 8th August wedding. Finally, Choc signed autographs for a
number of the spectators before returning to the Weighing Room. And if you’d like to see my ‘shaving’
montages of Choc (looking extremely cute … although when doesn’t he?) please
click here: The jockey shearing completed, I
decided to position myself between the Parade Ring and the course-side rails
in preparation for the first race of the day, in which Choc’s mount would be
Minder. Today’s going was good, good
to firm in places. Soon the horses arrived to parade,
then the jockeys came out to join the connections and to mount their
horses. Choc was first out onto the
course, cantering down past the spectators to view the final hurdle before
turning and cantering to the start in the far corner of the track. AP McCoy had just one ride at the track
today, before heading off to Southwell.
The punters were reading a lot into this, as his mount Barizan’s price
shortened to become favourite. Choc’s
mount was 4th favourite of the 8 runners, and was sweating noticeably.
After the horses’ girths had been
checked, they were off. The blinkered
mare, Fongoli led them off. Choc held
Minder up near the back of the field, taking a mid to inner line. He didn’t jump the first too cleanly. Then into the straight for the first time,
Forty Thirty slipping and falling when jumping the 4th flight (the final
flight next time around). Despite
being AP’s only riding engagement here, Barizan was not jumping fluently, and
received reminders. Minder also
received a reminder or two as they set off down the back straight for the
final time, but he did take closer order, there appearing to be just 3 horses
in with a chance by this stage – Fongoli still leading, then Barizan and
Minder. By the time they had reached the ‘mound’, AP’s
mount had dropped away, leaving Minder to closely pursue Fongoli around the
final bend into the straight. However
the latter was still going the best and, despite making an error at the
second last flight, Fongoli held on to win, although Minder was only beaten
one length at the line. In 3rd, a
distance behind, was AP’s mount, with
Niceonefrankie a further distance behind in 4th. Only 5 finished.
I set off for the Winners’ Enclosure,
crossing the sandy Parade Ring exit track with care – I was wearing a pair of
high-heeled sandals – positioning myself by the 2nd place spot to see Choc
come back in, unsaddle, speak with connections and return to the Weighing
Room. As Choc didn’t have a ride in the second event, I
remained beside the Winners’ Enclosure, watching the next race on the big
screen.
Again, the start of this race was in
the far corner of the track. Lethal
Gun was so keen to start that he broke the tape and galloped off down the
course until Derek Laverty got control of him and trotted back to rejoin the
other competitors. When the race was properly underway, Lethal Gun
took up the running and led until the 2nd, remaining prominent. In mid-division, Harry May blundered and
unseated his rider. Rookery Lad then
took over and led until the 4th fence, before No Greater Love took over.
Gazump was the next to lead, before No Greater Love took over again. Kenwyn
fell at the 7th obstacle, hampering Lethal Gun, who was then pulled up. The Walnut Tree was pulled up before the
7th. Rookery Lad had retaken the lead
by the 8th obstacle. Having been held up in rear, Cloonavery came
through to lead after 2 out, and was first into the home straight. However, Classic Shot joined him at the
last and went on the win by 2¾ lengths.
Billyandi was 14 lengths behind in 3rd and Past Heritage a further 9
lengths away in 4th.
Martin Keighley http://www.martinkeighleyracing.com had a runner in
the next event, Mr Newton, the horse sporting first-time blinkers. The horse was proving a handful and needed
both his handler (Dave Cull) and Martin to restrain him as he walked around
the Parade Ring. Once the horses had
exited onto the course, and Martin had returned, I called across to say hello
to him. We had a brief chat about Mr
Newton’s chances – evidently it is always difficult to tell whether the horse
will be having a ‘going’ day or not!
Initially, Brigadore, Sagredo and Mr Newton were
hanging back behind the other runners at the start. When the field finally set off, Deadline,
Dovedale, and Mr Newton were slowly away.
Calgary Jack took up the running, followed by
Bathwick Man, Nawamees, and Segal.
Calgary Jack was less than fluent at the 6th and was soon headed. Bathwick Man took over the running and,
although making a mistake at the 2nd last, stayed on to win by 3½ lengths
from the JP McManus owned Sagredo. Mr
Newton was pulled up before the 3rd last flight, having always been in rear.
It was now time for Choc’s second ride of the
day, his mount being Mango Catcher. As
always, once mounted, Choc exited onto the course early, and cantered down to
the start alongside Ruby Walsh, chatting as they went. The start of this race was over in the far
corner of the track.
Then they were off. Nudge and Nurdle, wearing first-time
blinkers, led them off, followed by Gaelic Flight and Lord Ryeford. Choc travelled on the inside in
mid-division aboard Mango Catcher. The
horses soon appeared in the straight for the first time. Having found a good vantage point (my
usual spot in fact) to see the horses clear the water jump, I was just
preparing to take a photograph when the commentator announced that Mango
Catcher had fallen at the previous fence (the first in the straight, and the
last fence next time around). I
glanced down the course, and saw Choc lying on his back with his legs in the
air! Having now watched the recording
of the race, Choc rolled up into a ball like a hedgehog as the horse fell,
but gradually became ‘unfurled’ and failed to complete his final roll, thus
the strange position he found himself in! I am very pleased to report that
both horse and jockey were fine following this incident. Histoire de Moeurs joined Nudge and
Nurdle at the 6th fence, the latter becoming tired and dropping back by 4
fences out. Having been held up
towards the rear of the field, it was time for Ruby’s mount, Jubilant Note to
make a challenge as the race entered its final stages, but he couldn’t catch
Histoire de Moeurs which, having taken the lead 4 fences out, stayed on well
to win (carrying 2lbs overweight) and at 9-1.
Having made his way back up the
course whilst the race continued, Choc arrived at the lower Parade Ring
entrance as the horses galloped up the final straight towards the line. Slightly muddied, he made his way through
the Winners’ Enclosure to the Weighing Room.
It was now time for Choc’s third ride
of the day, aboard Miss Phoebe, who had run up a sequence of 3 wins prior to
this race. I noticed that Anita
Cusack, former Travelling Head Lad to Alan King, was helping with Ferdy
Murphy’s runner, Pillar of Hercules.
Next to me, there was a lady taking photos and I heard her say to her
companion “Didn’t that girl formerly work for Alan King?” I enlightened her, mentioning that I
thought Anita had left Barbury Castle in March this year. This time Choc cantered to the start
with Noel Fehily (aboard Is It Me), chatting as they went.
Then they were off. The field was led off by the keen Rampant
Ronnie, with Is It Me taking up the running at the 2nd flight. Treaty Flyer was in third, Miss Phoebe was
held up near the rear of the field, with Pillar of Hercules at the back. Treaty Flyer took up the running at the 4th, and
then the hard pulling Pillar of Hercules went into the lead, before being
headed again by the former at the 5th.
Miss Phoebe was being pushed along at this stage. Treaty Flyer didn’t jump the 3rd last very
well, which enabled Is It Me to re-take the lead, Choc being in 4th at this
stage. Despite making a bad blunder
at the last, through tiredness, Is It Me won by 3 lengths from Bedizan, 3rd
was Treaty Flyer, Miss Phoebe 4th.
I returned to the Winners’ Enclosure to see Choc
come back in. The 4th placed horse,
being unsaddled at the corner of the Winners’ Enclosure, allows a good view
to take photos. Once Choc had
unsaddled, spoken with connections and returned to the Weighing Room, I
walked back alongside the course-side rails to return to my usual vantage
point in preparation for Choc’s final ride of the day in the next. Choc’s mount in this event was the chestnut, Alan
King trained, Porters War. I didn’t
recognise the training yard’s representative, as it wasn’t Alan or Noel.
Although I’ve now been to Stratford
races on 4 occasions, I cannot recall watching any race which has started
immediately in front of the stands (or at least not one which Choc has ridden
in) but, as the distance was just in excess of 2 miles 5 furlongs, this one
did. It was fabulous to see the jockeys
and horses up close, seeing their girths being tightened, and hearing their
discussion as to who would make the running, etc. The field was led off my Glenn An Saggart, closely followed by
Donaldson, with Choc aboard Porters War in 3rd. Spirit Wind, having hit the 7th, was pulled
up before the water jump. Glenn An
Saggart put up a front running display, until hitting the 11th obstacle,
Donaldson then taking up the running.
Porters War was ridden to chase Donaldson from 4 out, but hit 3 out
(an open-ditch) and he tired quickly, losing 2nd position to Glenn An Saggart
before 2 out. The ex-Alan King trained Evelith Echo, having been held up at
the back, had made headway to take 4th position approaching 4 out. As those in front of him tired, he went 2nd
approaching the last. I had decided that I would take a photograph as
Choc passed the winning post, which I was expecting him to do in 4th
position. However, the chestnut
Porters War didn’t appear until after a delay, and he was rider-less! Choc had departed at the final fence, his
mount clearing the obstacle but coming down having stumbled a stride or two
afterwards. Once again Choc had to
walk back in, hopefully with just his pride a little bruised! He appeared fine as he progressed through
the Winners’ Enclosure and returned to the Weighing Room.
It was now time for the final race of the day,
which I watched from the course-side rails just past the winning post. The start of this event, was over in the
far corner of the track.
That Man Fox was very keen to begin
and went into the lead. In 2nd was
Moon Bear, followed by Quell the Storm, and Cootehill. That Man Fox retained the lead until after
the 5th flight, when Ruby’s mount took over (Quell the Storm). Cootehill improved to take 2nd place. Outsider Turbo Shandy was in 3rd, running
better than his starting price would suggest.
Cootehill then overtook Quell The Storm before
the 2nd last flight and went on to win.
Turbo Shandy came to grief at the last when a close 3rd. William Kennedy, the rider of Turbo Shandy,
walked back to the lower Parade Ring entrance, pausing to watch the replay of
his fall and the finish on the big screen, before passing through the
Winners’ Enclosure and returning to the Weighing Room.
Once
the horses had returned to the Winners’ Enclosure following the final race, I
set off for the exit, although for Health and Safety reasons the way was
barred for a few moments following the ‘Horses Away’ call as the animals
returned to the stables. Before
leaving, I visited the little girls’ room as it would be at least 2 hours
before I reached home. Considering
the attendance numbers at this fixture had been large, I was surprised that
the queues out of the car park were quite short. So, instead of feeding and watering as is
usually my habit before I set off for home, I decided to leave immediately. As I drove to the exit I noticed that Alan
King’s horsebox (with Porters War aboard) was just a couple of vehicles in
front of me. There were police on hand
to help control the traffic, and on the two occasions I encountered them I
was the last car to be let through! I
decided to retrace my route through Shottery to rejoin the A46 by-pass. However, upon reaching the roundabout
where the A439 comes out of Stratford town centre, it became apparent that
there was a traffic jam all the way down to join the M40. Snap decision time ... I decided to return
to Stratford along the aforementioned A439 and then took the A422 to
Banbury. I am very impressed by
Stratford Upon Avon, it has what appear to be some very pleasant residential
areas! Anyway,
after a very pleasing drive through the Warwickshire countryside, and up Edge
Hill, I reached the Oxfordshire boundary and Banbury. I then joined the M40 to travel south to
Bicester, and back along the A41 to Aylesbury, then to Hemel Hempstead and on
to my home City. I arrived back just
after 19:45. |
