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Making Allowances
Chapter 15 Part 2
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Loch Naver Lad jumped off very steadily, and going past the stands with a circuit to go, he was going easily, on a tight rein, one from the back. One of the leaders made a bad mistake, which interfered with a co-leader and effectively put them out of contention, another poor horse lost touch quickly from five out and was soon pulled up. With another outsider tiring quickly, there were basically four horses left in the running at the home turn. Still, Kellett sat tight. At the third last, Loch Naver Lad, who had moved into third, jumped clearly the best of the leading trio, So Square was leading, with King Larry in second, but Loch Naver Lad’s fluent leap swept him past King Larry and up neck and neck with So Square.
They met the second last together and landed in unison. A roar rose like in a great crescendo from the crowd. My family jumped up and down like bubbles of water on the boil, screaming, punching the air, urging Lad on. Like a frightened child in a dream, I wanted to yell, but couldn’t. I held my breath.
At the last, Lad was foot perfect again, rising beautifully, brushing the top of the jump and landing with barely a break in stride. So Square, however, when asked for a last big effort, decided to put in a quick stride before the fence. As a result, the horse got it all wrong and lost a lot of ground in having to rise and fall steeply to negotiate the obstacle. The difference in jumping was decisive, Lad made several lengths and from then on, was never going to be beaten. To roars and generous applause, he surged on up the run in to win by some six lengths, with So Square just managing to hold off a rejuvenated King Larry for second place.
There was mayhem all around, Ellie was shrieking, Mum was crying, Tim was leaping on me, Clare and Jenny laughed uncontrollably. Dad beamed a broad grin and shook his fists in triumph. Various strangers came over and offered polite words of congratulations. I did my best to soak up all of this new feeling. I quietly thought, just for a moment, about all the heartache and tears. And I thought about Granddad.
Dennis met us in the unsaddling enclosure.
“Told you,” he boomed with an emphatic nod of the head, “Little beauty!”
Ryan Kellett rode Lad into the winner’s circle, touching his cap in acknowledgement of the applause and smoothing Lad’s ears.
“Went like a dream, sir,” he smiled as he slid down. “Never in any trouble.”
“Likes the top of the ground, I think, even though he’s getting older,” mused Dennis.
The little presentation was something new to me, I felt a little unworthy as I shuffled up to receive the winner’s cheque and mementoes from the race’s sponsors. After all, I had just been lucky enough to be in a position to have been “given” the horse, and that was all. But as Dad pointed out that night, when we had a little party back at the house, this sport was all about profile, and mine had been done no harm at all by the day’s events.
It took a couple of days to come down from the heady experience of owning a winning chaser, it was the fulfillment of a great dream of mine, after all. Friends, family, workmates, many of whom had enjoyed a return on their speculations, all helped to keep the embers glowing. Perhaps the nicest thing of all was a congratulatory card, which we received in Wednesday morning’s post. It read: Congratulations! Here’s wishing you many more, Dupre. Dennis rang me on the Friday night. “What do you want to do now?” he asked.
“How about something with a bit of prestige?” I suggested, “if you think he’s still good enough.”
“OK,” said Dennis, “What did you have in mind?”
“The Hennessy?”
“Hmmmm,” Dennis considered, “Might be a bit hot for him, but we can give it a whirl, if you like.”
“Would he have a chance?” I asked, “honestly now, what d’you reckon?”
“Look,” replied Dennis, “on his day, and of the ground is right, he can still give anyone a run for their money, you mark my words, lad. Any of them.”
“Well, let’s have a go then.” I said, trying to sound decisive.
“OK. That’s what we’ll do.” Agreed Dennis.
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If you would like to contact Richie, please email him at: richie@baylands.fsnet.co.uk
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