Lough Ennel’s 11th career win a highlight at Llanvapley
3:01pm Friday 11th April 2008
THE 11th career win in the Men’s Open race for the consistent Lough Ennel was a highlight of the Monmouthshire Hunt point to point meeting at Llanvapley.
Ridden by usual pilot Liam Payter for owner Rae Lones and Eastnor-based trainer Nicky Sheppard, Lough Ennel was sent off the 2/5 odds-on favourite in the seven-runner field and his supporters never had any doubts as the 12-year-old took over from the long time leader Titchfield approaching the third-last fence. And they won, easing up, by an easy two lengths from Hope Sound who took second place.
This was a repeat of last year’s success in the race and a follow up to Lough Ennel’s win at Whitwick Manor for the North Hereford meeting.
The husband-and-wife team of Hannah Lewis and Adrian Wintle also recorded successes at the meeting when Lewis took the Intermediate race aboard Waddon Hill, whom she trains at their Westbury base, while Wintle scored on Sparklingspirit in the restricted Open race.
Sparklingspirit, trained at Hanley Swan by Andy Hobbs, had unseated last time out and was made second favourite to the odds-on No Virtue. But the Wintle-partnered winner was always too strong for his rivals, recording a six-length win over Another Alliance with No Virtue a further four lengths back in third place.
The mother-and-daughter partnership of Lady Sue Brooke and Lorna Brooke also scored on the card when they sent out the giant Another Flint to win the first division of the Maiden race.
Bought last year at Ascot, the 17.2 hands Another Flint galloped on strongly for Lorna Brooke after leading at the third-last fence and they scored by an easy six lengths.
The partnership almost followed up with a double in the concluding Maiden race when they saddled Drive on Driver but they had to give best to the all the way winner L’Homme Sauvage and jockey James Price who scored by 10 lengths.
RESULTS.
Members: 1. Here To Eternity (D Devereux) 6/1, 2. One for the Lads 1/3 Fav, 2. Pink Harbour 8/1, 4 ran.
Intermediate: 1. Waddon Hill (H Lewis) 9/1, 2. Grey Kid 14/1, 3. Future Sovereign 14/1, 12 ran.
Open: 1. Lough Ennel (L Payter) 2/5 Fav, 2. Hope Sound 5/1, 3. Titchfield 6/1. 7 ran.
Ladies: 1. Lunar Crystal (L Pearce-Rowsell) 2/1, 2. Fantastic Champion 5/1, 3. Ballyalbert 5/1. 8 ran.
Restricted: 10. Sparklingspirit (A Wintle) 2/1, 2. Another Alliance 20/1, 3. No Virtue 4/5 Fav. 16 ran.
Maiden (Div 1): 1. Another Flint (L Brooke) 12/1, 2. Bag of Bulletts 10/1, 3. Howgreenismyvalley 14/1. 15 ran.
Maiden (Div 2): 1. L’Homme Sauv-age (J Price) 12/1, 2. Drive on Driver 10/1, 3. Chestnut Eddy 9/1. 11 ran.
THE Ludlow Hunt point-to-point scheduled for Saturday at Bitterley, is set to be the usual bumper day ‘between the flags’. Entries secretary Belinda Edwards reports a healthy entry and there will be a minimum of seven races on the card, starting at 1.30pm, though divisions may well make more.
Early arrival is recommended and there will be plenty to see and do. The course can be found four miles north east of Ludlow, just off the A4117.