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2000  Race 5 The Tintern Abbey Novices Steeple Chase ( Class D ) 
We had another Non- runner in this race in the form of Three FarthingsIn the race was the winning French pair from the 3rd race, jockey J Ricou and the trainer G Macaire who had the horse Imperial De Thaix entered and who was fancied a little and was backed in from 10/1 to 7/1 at the off. As they set off for the first fence the Favourite Harasarah led Imperial De Thaix . Onto the second fence which is the open ditch and all jump it well. Over the next three and past the winning post and nothing changes and the pace is quite moderate. The horses start to head around the bent and start to climb up to the first in the back The order is Harasarah then Castle Lynch then Frantic Tan, Imperial De Thaix, Asparagus then decent dividend and then Quainton hills. At the first in the back all jump it but decent dividend makes a mistake but get away with it. At the next Castle Lynch makes a mistake but the other go on to the next. All clear the next two but before the next Castle Lynch is pulled up. At the last in the back Harasarah still leads Frantic Tan and Imperial De Thaix and the three of them are going well. They head towards the bottom bent and go into the first in the home straight. As they get to the first in the home straight Imperial De Thaix jumps very well and the jockey pushes him on and steals 2 lengths from the other two. On to the next the open ditch the leader jumps it very well but Frantic tan who is 2 lengths ahead of the third horse jumps off too early and lands on the fence unseating J.Goldstien. And leaves the leader 5 lengths in front. 
At the next the leader is a clear 15 lengths in front and jumps it well and goes to the last He has only one to jump and extends his lead to 40 lengths and Harasarah who is now a distant second makes a bad mistake and falls at the last. So Imperial De Thaix wins and once again his jockey J.Ricou is jubilant at his win and pushes the air on his way past the post, then a distance behind 2nd is Quainton Hills followed 25 lengths behind by Asparagus. 
However one of the biggest cheers was still to come and that was long after the winner had pulled up and was on his way to be unsaddled. It was when the "Jolly" Favourite Harasarah walked passed the line jockeyless! Finishing Order:- 1st Imperial De Thaix 4 10 5 : G.Macaire : Jacques Ricou 2nd Quainton Hills 6 11 2 : N.A.Gaslee : P.Flynn 3rd Asparagus 6 11 2 : M.Sheppard : L.Aspell 4th Decent Dividend 9 10 11 : Miss V.Williams : B.J.Crowley FELL Harasarah 5 12 0 : M.Pipe : A.P.McCoy U/R Frantic Tan 8 11 2 : N.A.Twiston Davies : J.Goldstien PU Castel Lynch 8 11 9 : C.Tizzard : J.Tizzard. |
