Point-to-Point racing is back on the menu

Point-to-Point racing resumed in the Devon & Cornwall area after many meetings had been cancelled due to the dry weather and lack of rain.

A huge crowd made the trip and enjoyed the competitive racing. The chairman of the track, Robert Chanin, had worked hard with colleagues the week prior to this event, spending evenings watering the track to make it race-able and safe.

He was then rewarded with his own trained-winner in the opening Silverton Members race with Midnight Midge, a local syndicate owned horse, under jockey James Shaw. Robert Chanin’s yard is situated locally.

One of the syndicate owners, Ron Hodges, had previously trained almost a thousand winners himself, and jockey James Shaw quoted: “He was always going well, idled in front a bit, but picked up the bridle and won well, he is an older horse and knows his way around here”.

Following on was the Grass Roots Conditions race, sponsored by Heltor Heating. Five were entered with Peacocks Secret heading off favourite for trainer Gordon Chambers, after his previous recent win.

The start to the race was, however, full of incident with entry Lakota Warrior slipping on the first bend, with Skilful Lord under jockey James Shaw scoring a quickfire double having taken the lead, and making all, with Peacocks Secret running a close second.

Trainer of Skilful Lord, Danielle Kenealy, who’s yard is situated at Stoodleigh in Tiverton, said: “Owner Brian Palfrey does most of the work as he hunts him all season before he comes to us and James rides him out here, we have seven pointers in training this season with a few still to come out yet.”

Next up was the Gingerlands Livery-sponsored Intermediate Race, with four entries. This provided another thrilling finish with Holiday Fund, trained and ridden by leading jockey Josh Newman setting the pace. They were taken on by entries Tiger Tobin under jockey Will Biddick, and also Rocky Creek under jockey Anna Johnston, but it was Holiday Fund who stayed the better up the final hill staying on to win with Rocky Creek in second.

Owners of Holiday Fund John and Sonia Gardener, who farm in Bude in Cornwall, were thrilled with the finish, with John saying: “We have had those racing colours for 58 years, Holiday Fund won here in November and our plans are to put him up for sale.”

Trainers Josh and Kayley, who have thirty horses in training and the yard, are based in Crewkerne.

The following Mixed Open race sponsored by Davies Roofing and JP Burnell Roofing was another entertaining thriller on the day. With seven entries, the bookies were torn between Switch Hitter under jockey Olive Nicholls, and Humaniste under jockey Will Biddick for favouritism.

Both horses have been a bit quirky and a handful for their jockeys in previous races, and both headed up the field, with Switch Hitter making the most after a false start, which got the pulses racing before the off. They were close until the final fence when Humaniste stayed on the better up the hill.

This gave trainer Danielle Kenealy her double for the day. Danielle said: “He’s an absolute legend for the yard, owes us nothing,” Owner Keiran Johns added “We bought him at Ascot sales about four years ago, we plan to keep him pointing, and also flat maybe racing in the Summer at Bath.”

Jockey Will Biddick, also delighted with another win, said: “End to end gallop, he’s never won back-to-back before, he is quirky, Danielle and Joe have done a good job with training.“

The following restricted race was void due to lack of declared runners on the day. Following on was the maiden race sponsored by friends of the Silverton Hunt, which provided another thriller. Nelson Criq under Josh Newman was sent off favourite, but it was Cockspur Balla, for owner/trainer Rebecca Vanstone who stayed on well up the final hill and pulled clear under jockey Fion Summers, coming home the 3/1 winner.

After the race his Broadclyst-based owner/trainer Rebecca Vanstone was delighted with training her first winner, she has three pointers in training, having also worked for Grant Cann, and looked to be thrilled with her young horse, saying: “We will see how he comes out of this race, we will possibly send him under rules.”