Foulden comes from out
of the clouds to grab the Grand Prix
Walthamstow Report
04 Sep 2007
Tuesday's card was one of the best night's racing
at Walthamstow in my 20 odd years at the track. It was sponsored by
Victor Chandler and along with several excellent races, the feature
was the Grand Prix final. The conditions were very fast.
It was round one to the layers, as
Tornaroy Title broke well and made all in the opening veterans
open. The favvy,
Wheres Yer Man broke modestly and eased at several bends,
finishing down the field.
Zigzag Dutchman stayed on well for second, going down by 3/4 of
a length. The first race winning time, 28.55, set the tone of what
was to come.
The hurdle open was an eventful race.
Snazzy Time looked as if he would secure a 1st bend lead, but he
slowed running into the bend.
Castledale Lad started well, but eased badly at the 1st bend and
was tailed off. This left a gap that
Snazzy Time dived into. Meanwhile,
Stradeen Ouzo seized a narrow advantage down the back straight.
Snazzy Time outpaced him and led from the 3rd hurdle.
The VC standard was an open looking race, where the jolly was sent
off 10/3. A rare sight at Walthamstow indeed! The Arc finalist
Vipar Totti showed superb early pace and made all.
Noirs Ted came with a strong challenge on the home straight, but
Vipar Totti gamely dug out a bit more on the run in. The
favourite
Fear Becks, was very slow away and never got in the hunt.
Vipar Totti recorded 28.45.
Droopys Darina started well in the VC poker stayers race and set
a strong pace up front.
Big Brett Coal (BBC) ran on well and led from the 5th bend.
Local Knowledge kept on ok and finished second. The time was a
flying 39.28.
The VC bet
standard final was
Kindred Sparky produce a superb burst of early pace and lead
early.
Ronnies Earner ran straight to the rails from trap 3 and put
paid to the chances of
Milldean Flash and
Raging Jack.
Milldean Buster paced up and grabbed the lead from the 2nd bend
and went on to score.
Ronnies Earner travelled as fast as any dog I have ever seen on
the run to the 3rd bend. Unfortunately, he eased at the 3rd bend and
lost valuable momentum. He gallantly kept on to finish 3/4 of a
length second.
The VC invitation marathon was a
thrilling event.
Iceman Brutus paced up well and led off the second bend. He
failed to see out the trip.
Bubbly Kate suffered significant bumps twice before putting in a
power packed finish. As
Spiridon Louis challenged approaching the 7th bend, it looked
like
Bubbly Kate had just joined in! She really quickened up the pace
going down to the 7th bend and ran right away from the field. She
broke the track record, recording 52.19. (Previous record was Star
Of Dromin 52.46)
The VC Invitation standard saw a
superb field assembled. Rumours questioning the well being of
Barnfield On Air before the race look rather silly now. There
was apparently no money for
Barnfield On Air in the shops all day. The money apparently was
for
Venturemore and Peter Meldrums's selection
Debbies Choice.
Barnfield On Air absolutely took off. After a modest break, he
really flew to the bend and he made all to record a stunning 28.15.
Another track record. He reversed previous form in the select stakes
at Nottingham with
Cleenas Lady by several lengths, after the incident after his
trial.
In a
very rare sprint for the Stow, the VC Bet.com sprint gave us a good
race. Tobys
Mate and Green
Jeanie fought it out from trap rise and Green
Jeanie cam home just the better. This was a most surprising
winner, as Peter Rich's Green
Jeanie had been contesting A5 races at the Stow recently.
Ebony
Ocean made all in the VC Bet maxi marathon to record yet another
track record, underlining the lightening quick conditions. I believe
that if Star Of Dromin returned from retirement, he could still lap Ebony
Ocean. En
It showed some pace on the run to the 7th bend, but seemed to be
looking after himself at the bends.
Tiger
Scot made all in the VC puppy stayers race. He pulled out a good
lead and held on as his stride shortened somewhat on the run in. Romford
Carthree was crowded at the 1st bend and stayed on well and only
went down by a neck.
All distances are coming alike to Perceptive
Pacey, as he continued in his rich vein of form in the VC mini
standard (430m). This was his 3rd win on the spin. Emporio
Rapide paced up well and held every chance, going down by 1 3/4
lengths.
Fear
Me made all in the VC novice stayers stakes finale. After
carving out a good lead, he held on desperately as Masterpiece
stayed on very well. Masterpiece
started slowly, sufferd crowding atthe 3rd bend and came home really
well. He was an unlucky loser.