REPORT: THE OAKLEY AT BRAFIELD

SUNDAY MARCH 25TH 2012

By Andrew Norman

Another fine watering effort for the Oakley at Brafield, producing good ground, resulted in 64 horses turning out for the seven-race card.

Master Wolfe relished dictating the Ladies Open, running out an easy 25 length scorer to clock the fastest time of the day. The ten-year-old reversed the form with Rainbow Tree (2^nd), who held off the winner by a head at last year’s meeting.

The odds-on favourite, Qozak, fell at the second obstacle but would have needed to be at his very best to peg back the winner, who had not previous gone better than a Restricted.

Trainer/rider Claire Hart, extending her lead at the top of the South Midlands Area Lady Rider’s Championship, was stunned by the gelding’s performance: “He was brilliant and surprised me a little bit. The tactics suited him and he jumped as well as ever. Hopefully now he’s got his head in front he can win again!”

After taking a nasty tumble in the Ladies Open, Cedrus Libani gave trainer Angela Rucker some comfort by doing enough to win the Men’s Open, his third of the season. The long odds-on favourite looks to have put his reluctance to start behind him nowadays and Tom Weston pushed the gelding out to win by five lengths.

Owner William Rucker is hoping the eleven-year-old can go one better in the Lady Dudley Cup after finding Surenaga too good last year: “He’ll run in the Lady Dudley Cup. He might go straight to there; we’ll see how he comes out of today. He was well behaved at the start and Tom [Weston] has had a hard act to follow in Richard Burton but he’s riding him very nicely.”

Or Bleu completed a weekend double for Heather Kemp after fighting off Walter’s Laddie by a short-head. The ten-year-old made smooth headway before three out but the runner-up’s persistence made the winner work every inch for victory. Taking off as one at the last, Walter’s Laddie put in the better leap but Kemp’s determination saw her mount home.

The gelding was purchased at the Cheltenham sales after spending five years with Phillip Hobbs but this win was his first in over three years.

“This weekend has been like London Buses!” said Kemp, who also owns and trains Or Bleu. “He lost me a lot of confidence at Barbury when I had a bad fall but today he found a second wind and ran on again. We’ve done a lot of schooling with him so it’s paid off.”

Heather’s husband, Tony, admitted the win came as a surprise: “We weren’t expecting that today but we thought we would be in the places.”

Point Proven, who was bidding for a third success at this meeting, had to settle for third.

Shane O’Keeffe continued his upward curve by winning the Novice Riders race on Chris Loggin-trained High Five. The twelve-year-old made all and although his lead was shrinking up the run-in, he proved a length too good for Mnason. O’Keeffe, 22, who was riding his third winner, cleverly stole a few lengths on his challengers after jumping four out which proved pivotal.

The rider was paying his second visit to the course after breaking his jaw in two places after a bad fall in 2010. After gaining experience from professional jockeys when spending two years with Alex Hales, O’Keefee has now gone freelance. “I work for Melissa Chesterman [a pre-trainer based near Burford] in the afternoon which enables me to ride out in the morning. I’m just trying to get more rides and continue my progression,” he commented.

Owner Steven Astaire had seen his gelding fill out the places on seven occasions but it was finally his day: “The horse deserved a win and he’s been given a great ride. He’s always found one too good this season. Clare [Wills], who usually rides him, was badly injured and Shane has been schooling for Chris [Loggin] so we entered in the Novice Riders as an afterthought really. I’ll enter him wherever he’s got a chance.”

After a double at the track last year, Dale Peters again rode back into the winner’s enclosure after Edgar Henry made it two from two this season in the Restricted. His Maiden form had been franked the previous day with Sandpipers winning at Garthorpe and he set sail for home four out. He won nicely; going away from his rivals to record an eight length triumph and looks the type to progress.

“He’s a proper horse and there are hopefully better things to come,” said trainer Michael Peters.

Holywell Ryde caught the eye in the first division of the Open Maiden. The nine-year-old was unfancied after not managing to set foot on a racecourse for over two years but travelled sweetly throughout under Tom Ellis. He had the rest of the field in trouble with half a circuit remaining and looks an exciting prospect.

Trainer Fred Hutsby was impressed with his display: “He’s always shown potential and we’re delighted. He’s gone round in a quick time and just kept galloping. Hopefully he’ll go to Guilsborough next. He’s a nine-year-old so we’ll try and push on with him a bit.”

Five-year-old Grumblers Holt broke the heart of Mister Tibbs in the second division. The runner-up hit the front four out but his lead began to diminish after turning for home. Rider Jonny Bailey judged the race perfectly and after putting in a better jump at the last, Gerald Bailey’s charge won going away. It was only the gelding’s second appearance on a racecourse after failing by a short-head on his debut at Brocklesby last month.

“He’s a lovely horse and we’ll probably put him away now,” said the trainer. “He’s very weak still but a super jumper. He’s exciting, our best maiden but he’s next season’s project, a lovely sort for the long term.”