A lower than usual crowd attended the annual running of the point to point due mainly to the poor weather forecast but the rain stayed away until the fifth race and some competitive racing was the feature of the day. Leading male jockey Josh Newman rode another double and there were winners for two trainers with a single horse in training plus two close finishes with the judge needing a close scrutiny of his iPad.
The meeting began with a dramatic conclusion to the Bryanston School Countryside Alliance Clun Members Conditions race. The favourite Scoresby ridden by Robbie David had travelled well behind the long-time leader Southfield Lily ridden by Lily Bradstock and having taken up the lead at the third last he was in command approaching the last. However, this fence proved the partnership’s undoing with a blunder sending Robbie out of the saddle leaving Southfield Lily to score comfortably. Sara Bradstock, Lily’s mother, acknowledged that it was a fortunate victory but ‘ all the fences have to be jumped’. She added that ‘ my mare loves this perfect ground and really enjoys her jumping from the front’ This was her third course victory and she has become calmer than when she first started. She still wears a hood and is usually kept away from her rivals at the start.
The feature race , the Howden Insurance Wessex National Mens Open, gave Josh the first leg of his double when he steered Dr Rhythm to a two lengths victory over Trevada ridden by Zac Baker. Repeating his victory in this race from 2024 and his fourth course winner he is the only horse trained by Janet Cumings who has taken over the training from her husband Keith and is ably assisted by her daughter Nicky Boundy. Nicky reported that ‘ he loves this better ground and we hoped he would run well as he had been showing all his enthusiasm in his two previous outgoings’ Josh took up the running at the cross fence and reported that ‘ I was very happy how he was going and did not believe that any one would pass him’ This was the gelding 15th career victory and is the apple of the eye of his joint owners Peter Clarke and Tina Dunsford.
The closest finish of the day came in the Hendy Land Rover Conditions Race for Grass Roots Riders. The favourite Llandinabo Lad ridden by William Badlan had looked the winner after taking up the lead approaching the last from Russian Diamond but Rian Corcoran aboard Punches Cross who had made much of the running conjured a revival from his mount and his willing partner battled back well to snatch the victory on the line by a short head. Owned by Michael and Heather Sweetland and trained by Danielle Kenealy he was recording his second victory this season. Joe Tickle, Danielle’s partner, said that ‘ Rian has ridden twice for us and both have won and this was a really good ride’ This was Rian’s sixth victory this season and keeps him in a strong position to be champion novice male rider.
The Savills Ladies Open race was won by the front running Walkin Out ridden by Anna Johnston. Settling off in front of her three rivals she was being pressed at the third last when Sixteen Letters fell and the mare maintained her lead to the line. Owned by John Dorse and trained by Leslie Jefford this was her seasonal debut on the back of four victories at the end of last season. Anna who was winning her fifth race on the mare described her as ‘ such a game mare and a pleasure to ride’. There was a very sad postscript to this race when it was reported that Sixteen Letters had been fatally injured. A real stalwart of Wessex pointing since his first victory in 2018 and the winner of fourteen point to points and two Hunter Chases in his career when in the ownership of John and Floss Symes and much loved by all at Blackmore Farm. Sincere condolences to all connected with this very popular gelding.
The Milton Abbey School Restricted race provided another close finish with Talimar Pearl ridden by Josh Newman just prevailing by a neck over Hurricane Deal ridden by Sam Lee. Josh had taken up the lead at the fifteenth fence and looked to be in trouble until Hurricane Deal blundered at the last. Already the winner of a Maiden at Wadebridge his owner David Churches was sadly not able to present with his friend Liz Dorse reporting with a smile that ‘ David has the plague and is confined to his home’ He did have the race relayed to him and was delighted with the outcome of the race.
As the rain continued to fall the Injured Jockeys Fund Maiden race proved more testing and after tracking the leaders Jack Veysey produced A Force to Reckin to lead at the fourth last and drew away to record a five lengths victory over Frogman ridden by Charlie Sprake. Bought by Jack at Doncaster last year after two non-finishes in Irish points he was sent into training with Chris Honour but after an underwhelming run at Warwick Jack decided to run him in points himself. A farrier from Cullompton this is his only horse which he trains himself and is one of the few owner/trainer/rider that used to be a common feature of pointing 20 years ago.
