Mendip Farmers Review
A large crowd attended the Mendip Farmers annual point to point despite a grey and chilly day on going described as good to firm but perfectly raceable by the jockeys. Highlights of the day were a riding treble for Will Biddick, a first training victory for Joe Drinkwater and an unusual double for local owner James Drummond.
The opening Ford Fuel Oils PPORA Conditions race provided Abigail Henry with her second career victory aboard her mare For Rita. Setting off in front of her rival Favori De Sivola ridden by 19 year old Loveday Williams the daughter of Nick and Jane Williams she jumped very well with some excellent leaps and had ten lengths in hand at the finish. Abigail, 24, who works for Mark Grant in Lambourn assisting him with his breakers and pre-trainers hopes that ‘I would like to have a chance to run her in a Hunter Chase as she jumps so well’ . The mare has been the model of consistency and was recording her ninth point to point victory.
Mark Grant had hopes that his debutant Silver Fish would win the Alec Jarrett sponsored Four and Five Year old Maiden but had to settle for a second place dead heat behind Sogna In Grande ridden by Will Biddick. Trained and owned by Joe Drinkwater whose first training winner this was he chased early leader Geordies Betty but once he took over the five year old Dartmouth gelding was too good for his rivals. Bought by Joe at Doncaster in May 2023 for 43K he was confirming the promise he had shown at Kingston Blount on his debut. The brother to National Hunt trainer Sam Drinkwater Joe explained that’ I have a small holding close to my brother’s yard in Worcestershire where I keep the gelding and train him in my spare time’ When asked about the name of the gelding Joe said’ it comes from a children’s TV programme’ and is translated as dream big. His future looks bright.
Switch Hitter recorded his third success this season when making all under Olive Nicholls to record an easy victory in the Killens sponsored Ladies Open race. There was no repeat of the problems at the start on his last outing at Charlton Horethorne and he outstayed his four rivals to record a seven lengths victory over Montanna ridden by Chloe Emsley. Olive explained that ‘ he just stays and as no one wanted to make it I thought I would use his stamina’
Harry Billing had declared his Cornish Warrior to run in the opening race but when he realized that the Morris and Perry sponsored Mens Open race was going to be a walk over he withdrew his declaration to run in this race. The sporting decision allowed the two runners of Cornish Warrior and Walk in the Wild to set off together and remained matching strides until Will Biddick decided to set off for home from the third last and soon asserted over his rival. Owned by Reg Hopkins and trained by Edward Walker the winner had been acquired from Gary and Josh Moore’s stable following a visit by Reg to their stable in West Sussex. Reg explained that ‘ the syndicate who owned him had rather lost faith in him but I thought he would make a good pointer’
James Drummond who lives at Dinder close by to the course has had a weekend to remember. On Saturday his Move With The Beat recorded a confidence boosting win at Milborne St Andrew when ridden by James King. In the Tincknell Fuels sponsored Restricted race his gelding Potters Magic scored his second success under Tommie O’Brien . Always prominent he stayed on well to record a five lengths victory over Miltown Bridge ridden by Chloe Emsley. Tommie riding the gelding for the second time recalled his ride on him at Larkhill (where he finished 8th) and said to trainer Chris Barber after the race ‘ I would love to start again and ride him completely differently’. This time different tactics of staying with the pace worked to give Tommie his winner on his first ever visit to Ston Easton.
Will Biddick recorded the final leg of his treble when partnering Far Out West a six year old mare he trains himself for the Hot Toddie Partnership to win the R M Penny sponsored Open Maiden race. Battling with his main rival Priceforlove ridden by Joe Neal for much of the final circuit Will kept the mare going to register a three lengths victory at the winning post. On dismounting he said that ‘ she is not an easy ride ‘ to which one of her owners Andy Pollard retorted ‘ that is why you are riding her’. Bought by Will at Doncaster in May last year for 9K having run in Irish point to points the partnership consists of Andy, Steve Paul, who was recording his first winner as an owner, and Will. This was her sixth race this season having been placed second in three of her previous outings and shows what a tough mare she is.
