Re: Information on a Specific Race Required

Apparently Harwell Lad had already something similar in points but at the time it wasn’t obvious whether he had pulled himself up or the jockey (who had an unusual style as well) had not realised they had to go round again.

For all of Rupert Nuttall’s idiosyncracies in the saddle, a check of the pointing bible lays the blame for the antic you mention firmly at the door of the gelding. The race in question was division two of the Restricted at New Forest Buckhounds meeting, Larkhill, March 18th 1995 (a card which, incidentally, also saw wins for See More Business in division one of the same race, Cool Dawn and Grimley Gale. Harwell Lad’s race itself went to a pre-fame Hanakham). The comments in running read;

"Trckd ldrs; 11 1/2l 4th aft 5; 1 1/2l 4th aft 12; v reluct & nt r.o. aft; drp back to poor 6th 15; r.o. agn aft nxt; went 2nd app last; no ch w wnr

"

…and his write-up in

Hunter Chasers and Point-to-Pointers 1996

;

"

HARWELL LAD .. 10-8 $

2211. A strange character who can be obstreperous, and virtually pulled himself up after two miles before continuing for second once, but distinctly talented when he decides to go, and three wins (all on sound surfaces) have been gained impressively. Very speedy, and has the potential to be a star if he continues to channel his abilities in the right direction".

Incidentally, at the two mile stage of any 3m point at Larkhill you are about as far away from home as it’s possible to get (it’s an incredibly long, 13-fence circuit well in excess of 2m and probably nearer 2m2f), so Harwell Lad’s antics would not have been predicated on wanting to nap to the horse boxes – not this time, at least!

That write-up actually constituted something of a more favourable summary than the year before, given he’d managed to attain the dreaded double squiggle on his first season of racing, viz (from

Hunter Chasers and Point-to-Pointers 1995

);

"

HARWELL LAD .. 9-8 $$

U1. Most reluctant and dumped the rider at the start (to the groans of suppporters) who had hammered from 14s to 5-2 at Lockinge, but surprisingly civilised when scoring cosily on firm at Cotley Farm. Beat very little, but obviously fairly useful when he can be persuaded to start – something that may never figure very high on his list of priorities".

HTH,

gc