An up to date form guide and synopsis of the horses entered at this meeting. Form figures for up to 6 outings appear. A dash(-) is used to separate 2014/15 form from 2013/14 form. Figures preceded by an oblique (/) represents 2012/13 form or earlier. Horses marked with an asterisk (*) indicates National Hunt form. The higher the rating the better the form.
No responsibility can be accepted for any errors which may be considered to have occurred.
Two fantastic pony races kick off the card at the Mid Devon Point to Point at Black Forest Lodge, Sunday Feb 1st at 11am. There is a full line up, 10 strong field in the 138cm and under, and nine entered in the 148cm and under.
The main card starts at 12 noon, with seven races scheduled and 100 entries received. In the Farmers-sponsored Confined race the Keith Cumings-trained Whenharrymetsally is entered, is unbeaten in four runs, including a win at this track in December, until slipping up at Wadebridge on her last run. Sweet My Lord from the Robert Chanin team is another to stand out among the entries, having won at Wadebridge earlier this month under jockey Tom Chanin. Also entered is Thinkaboutthat who has shown some decent form and ran well at Larkhill before fading two out.
Bovey Castle sponsor the Men’s Open in which the highly rated, Alan Hill-trained Harbour Court also holds entries at Horseheath and Milborn St Andrew this weekend. Double Bank from the Emma Oliver team took the Men’s Open at Wadebridge in December and followed that win up with a close second in a Hunter Chase at Taunton earlier this month, he looks the likely favourite having been a previous course winner here. Welstonedruid is another who could step up to the challenge having won here at the last meeting.
Tozers sponsor the Ladies Open, in which the prolific winning gelding Byerley Bear is entered, as is his stable mate Ned White. The ground could be a deciding factor as to which one runs, with Ned White preferring the dryer ground, having made all here last January, to destroy his field by twenty lengths for owner Jacqui Elliott. Iron Chancellor from the Sue Popham yard could be a challenger here, another previous course winner, but may need the run.
The Connolly’s Red Mills Intermediate race has attracted a good strong entry of 13. The progressive ICTHEC won his Maiden here in November and then took the Restricted race at Larkhill when dead heating with Jepeck. Based on that form ICTHEC could run well again for trainer/jockey Peter Mason. Full Throttle found top gear here when taking the Restricted at the last meeting, for trainer Laura Thomas. The Kayley Woollacott entry Devon General cannot be left out of the equation, with the yard sending out winners thick and fast. This race is sponsored by Denese Molyneaux Financial Planning.
In the Subaru-sponsored Restricted series race, the Nicola Martin-trained Sonoftheking won well at Wadebridge under jockey Darren Edwards. Another entry Johnny No Cash, trained by Nikki Frost, ran well last season and looked to have needed the run when held at Wadebridge under jockey Hannah Welch. This race is a qualifier for the £10,000 Subaru final to be held at Stratford racecourse on 29th May.
Two divisions of the Open Maiden follow, in the first division suggestion could be Miss Weld, The Mystro and Stop The Press. In the second division, Love The Leader catches the eye, having run fourth in Ireland, and is owned/trained by Bloodstock Agent Tom Malone. Stony Road ran second here at the January meeting behind Genermouse, and looks promising. These races are sponsored by Mr R Stuart Jervis and Mr & Mrs M Eldridge.
On course facilities include hot refreshments, bar, bookies and trade stands. Location is Kenton, nr Exeter of A380. EX6 8HR.
Entrance is £10 per person up to £30 per car. Pedestrians £10.
Useful Information:
Met Office 5 day forecast: Exe Estuary, 2.7 miles from EX6 8HR at the same altitude
Much drier ground than last year at this meeting when the betting ring turned into a mudbath after a few races. Ground mainly good to soft with soft patches halfway down the back straight and in the home straight from the bottom of the hill to the last, and a few good patches. There was a fairly big crowd on a pleasant winter day.
Hunt Members
6 runners went to post for the hunt members including Weston Lodge with 52 year old Alex Muirhead having his first ride in a race. Donpierre still had a fair lead with half a circuit to go but the gap was gradually closed by the pursuers and Robin Will and Blinding Light looked the dangers turning in. Robin Will looked to be going best after 2 out but didn’t find as much as looked likely and it was Blinding Light who stayed on best to win at 5-2 (touched 4-1). Robin Will (evens into 10-11) and Donpierre (4-1 out to 9-1) 2nd and 3rd respectively.
Restricted
Only 2 of the 17 entries didn’t line up and there was a gamble on Bien Connu, absent from the track since winning a Tweseldown maiden in 2011. Backed from 6-1 into 5-2, he was one of five in contention turning in and fitness proved to be no issue for him as he stayed on well to win. Mangans Turn had to be pushed along at various stages and finished 2nd, with Definitely Rosie in 3rd. Vilja, a faller at Black Forest Lodge, ran a promising race just in behind.
Mens Open
There seemed to be some confusion initially over the entries for this race as Parkam Jack was only added to the bookmakers’ boards after all of the others had been written up. Ridden by John Mathias, there was no confusion over the result as he found more under pressure than Certain Flight to win at 12-1. Certain Flight, sent off the 1-2 favourite, just held on to 2nd from Blazing Whale.
Intermediate
Jepeck racked up a 3rd win of the season in the Intermediate. King Kash had the field stretched out behind him going down the back for the final time and still had a fair margin over the chasing pack turning in. Soul Native went to the front over 2 out but Jepeck started to run on well under Jamie Thomas and went on to win at 11-4.
PPORA Club Members Novice Riders
A bright prospect to come through the pony racing ranks, Harry Cobden registered a first success in the pointing sphere when guiding Silver Token to victory at 2-1. He gradually got closer on the final circuit and delivered the 10yo with a perfectly timed run to beat Ladyvie, with Talab back in 3rd.
TBA Club Members for Fillies and Mares
Lucette Annie drifted slightly from 1-3 to 2-5 but she was never in much danger here, leading throughout to win with a fair bit in hand. Darren Edwards controlled a slow pace from the front and gradually wound it up with half a circuit to go. Romney Marsh tried to challenge after 3 out but Lucette Annie had more left to offer and pulled away again before being eased close home. Romney Marsh ran well in 2nd at 16-1 with Knight Blaze in 3rd at 7-2.
Open Maiden Div 1
Casino Boy was a well backed outsider from 20-1 into 8-1 in div 1 of the maiden but he wasn’t one of the three in with a realistic chance turning out of the back straight. General Girling (2-1 out to 11-4) had a gap over Just Imagine It (6-4 into 10-11) after the latter pitched badly on landing after 6 out and Will Biddick did well to survive the error. It soon became a duel between the two as they dropped Ziggerson Hill turning in, with each taking turns to just edge ahead of the other. Just Imagine It had edged ahead shortly after the last before General Girling rallied with a strong run on the inside to get back up in a very tight finish. Ziggerson Hill (20-1) showed some promise back in 3rd.
Open Maiden Div 2
Porlock Bay was backed from 6-4 into 4-5 in the closing race but had to settle for 2nd behind Midnights’Mischief under James Jeavons. Ballyhilty Bridge had taken them along for much of the race and there were five in with a chance turning into the straight. Midnights’Mischief got to the front over 2 out but made a mistake at the last and handed Porlock Bay another chance. However, he soon picked up again for driving on the run in to win at 8-1 from Porlock Bay, with Follow The Paint (7-4) in 3rd.
Two odds-on favourites were beaten at a mercifully dry Chipley Park. I always take my wellys and leggings there and expect a mud bath but not this time.
It was about a score draw between bookies and punters in the end as one or two nicely backed horses took some cash out of the ring,
There was a bit of a shock in the opener. I thought Robin Will was a knocker at 10-11 but he came up a bit short when push came to shove. We should have known that Mary Sanderson’s familiar orange colours should not be opposed in the Members’ and her Blinding Lights duly obliged backed from 4’s to 3’s. The sporting venture of 52-year-old Alex Muirhead in getting his mount round to finish 5th on his first ride on Weston Lodge (8-1) in this event was a brilliant advert for ground roots pointing. He is sponsored by the City of Exeter Pipes and Drums, wears tartan colours, and I could swear I could hear loud cheers from the band on each circuit
Despite an advance of three years, Bien Connu was all the rage for the Restricted, being cut from 4-1 to 5-2 joint favourite. He was on his toes in the preliminaries and battled on gamely in a tight finish between the first five which had your race reader tearing his grey hair out. The other joint fav, Shanks A Bunch (3’s to 5-2) was in contention until fading in the home straight and blundering over the last two jumps. Cecile De Volanges was also involved in the driving finish (10’s to 6’s) and looks sure to take a Restricted.
Certain Flight was heavily supported to follow up last year’s win in the Mixed Open (4-6 to 1-2) with “G and T” holding out at 4-7 for the longest. Will Biddick’s mount would have been 1-20 on Betfair when swinging along after the third last, but Parkam Jack (easy to back at 10’s and 12’s) was having none of it and just outstayed his rival. I’m The Article (from Jack Barber’s Bien Connu yard) attracted late support from 14’s to 10’s but ran as if he needed the race (absent since 2013).
Jepeck may have been fibbing about his age in the race card, but this son of Westerner looked outstanding in the paddock and duly stepped up to Intermediate class with little fuss. Backed from 11-4 to 5-2 fav, he already looks hunter chase material.
Lucette Annie could not be opposed in the Mares race and 2-5 and 4-9 just about summed up her superiority over four rivals. Lady Annabel was backed into 12’s and this well bred mare may give her owner/trainer Mark Shears a come back winner before the season is out.
Only two horses were seriously backed in the first Maiden and they fought out the finish. Just Imagine It was having only the second run of his career and was the subject of substantial support from 7-4 to evens. This Kayf Tara six-year-old is still green and had to give best to the street wise General Girling ( 2’s to 5-2) as they locked horns on the run in. The form looks decent as they drew away from their rivals.
* Follow The Paint (2’s to 7-4) had started favourite on both her runs at Wadebridge and again had to settle for a placing in the concluding Maiden. Porlock Bay traded at odds-on on the strength of his good Larkhill run, but could not cope with a very game effort from 8-1 chance Midnights’mischief (yes funny spelling ).
It was a dry, overcast afternoon at Chipley Park, where panoramic views of the Quantock and Blackdown Hills provide a scenic backcloth.
A total of 82 runners contested the eight races on good to soft going for the Tiverton Foxhouds point-to-point at Chipley Park on Sunday (25 Jan).
The former hunter chase winner Parkam Jack had been off the course for 18 months, but that did not stop the nine-year-old from getting the better of odds-on favourite Certain Flight in the featured Mixed Open. Welsh jockey John Mathias was partnering his sixth winner of the season on Parkam Jack, who is owned by John and Floss Symes and trained by Kayley Woollacott at Rose Ash near Tiverton.
The Woollacott yard quickly went on to score a double as six-year-old Jepeck landed the Exeter Racecourse Intermediate under a confident ride from Jamie Thomas. Owned by John Pike, this progressive gelding was scoring for the third time this season having won on the opening day at Black Forest Lodge before dead heating in the Larkhill Racing Club Restricted earlier this month. “He will have a little break now. He really needs a right handed track and a bit of give in the ground,” reported the trainer.
It was almost a hat trick for Kayley Woollacott, but odds-on favourite Robin Will found Blinding Lights (Matt Hampton) just too good in the Hunt race. Calverleigh based owner/trainer Mary Sanderson has now won this race eight times over the years. She described her ten-year-old as a “lovely genuine horse who wasn’t right last year, mainly with pulled muscles .He is fine now and I thought I had him back to his best. I nearly sold him as a schoolmaster but he didn’t pass the vet so I was quite relieved in a way,” said Mary
Champion point to point rider Will Biddick is already setting the pace for this campaign and notched up his eighth winner of the season when Bien Connu got home in a tight finish from stable companion Mangans Turn (Josh Newman) for the 15 runner Restricted. This was also a fine training performance from Jack Barber since the nine-year-old winner had been off the track for three years. “He had a leg and has had plenty of rest. He was scanned before last season but we decided to give him more time and he came in last September.” reported Jack, who is following in the footsteps of his grandfather Richard Barber who retired at the end of last season. He has 40 point-to-pointers in his care at Henley near Crewkerne, and currently heads the trainers championship having saddled eight winners so far.
Jockey Darren Edwards is also in top form and followed up his four winners last weekend with a comfortable success on board that game mare Lucette Annie who repeated last year’s success in the Club Members’ Mares race. The mare is the star of the three horse Poundsgate yard of Simon Partridge and runs in the colours of joint owners Janet Humphrey and Clare West. “She needs cut in the ground and will probably go to Buckfastleigh in three weeks time,” said Simon.
It was a first ever taste of success for 16-year-old rider Harry Cobden who steered Silver Token home just ahead of Ladyvie (Hannah Welch) in the Novice Riders’ event. “This was my third point to point ride. I had 33 pony race wins and now ride out each day for Anthony Honeyball,” said the young jockey.
General Girling and Just Imagine It battled all the way up the home straight in the first Maiden. Will Biddick’s strength on the latter looked like settling it, but Philip Thomas squeezed General Girling through on the rails after the last to win by a neck. The 30-year-old rider works for the Caroline Keevil yard and was partnering his third career winner.
Luke Harvey’s Porlock Bay (Darren Edwards) was sent off odds-on for the concluding Maiden, but just failed to cope with the game Ludlow qualified mare Midnights’mischief. Owned by Julie Batho and trained by Alastair Ralph on the Downton estate, Shropshire, the winner was providing 24-year-old James Jeavons with his second career success.
The Subaru Restricted Point-to-Point horse race series makes its first visit to the South-West on Sunday 1 February for the Mid Devon fixture at Black Forest Lodge, near Exeter. The new series, for horses that have not won any race other than a Maiden or Hunt Members race, culminates in a grand final at c on 29 May 2015. With an attractive prize-fund of £10,000 up for grabs, it’s sure to have a popular following amongst West Country owners and trainers keen to qualify.
Newton Abbott based Subaru dealership, Ashburton Motor Works Ltd, will display vehicles from the current range at the event, including the new Outback model that will be made available to the UK market this Spring – one of only a handful of public exposures of the new vehicle.
It is the only visit to Black Forest Lodge this season for the Subaru series but one of three in the locality. The Subaru Restricted Race is the fifth race on a card of eight that commences at 11.00am. Black Forest Lodge is located 5 miles south of Exeter, only 6 miles from the M5. Entry costs £10 per person, up to a maximum of £30 per car.
The pony racing season in the Devon and Cornwall area kicks off on February 1 at the Mid Devon point to point at Black Forest Lodge. Bumper entries have been received and both races look likely to be fascinating contests.
The 138 race is off at 11am and there are 10 entries. Local riders who spectators will already know include Chad Bament, Walter Fisher-Barnett and national Racetech 138 points champion Tamby Welch, the latter on a new pony, Churchill. Hamish Clarke from the Wessex area has Talponciau Perfect Print entered and there are plenty of visiting ponies and riders to ensure a fast and furious pace.
The 148s are off at 11.20am and riders there include William Cox on Shotgun Minnie, Conor Brace on Don’t Tell Dai, Thomasina Eyston on Springs. James Armstrong and Tamby Welch have their first 148 rides on Igo Zuminov and Vadlawalkover respectively. Nine go to post.
Lots of jockeys have now come through the pony racing ranks and it is a great opportunity to see some stars of the future hone their skills.
If you are interested in having a go, come along and watch and, be assured, you do not need a speedy racing pony to get started. A fit hunting pony is fine and all the riders started out on their pony club ponies. If you get together with your friends, you would be able to have a race within a race at your local hunt meeting. For more details of the first time rider scheme, contact area organiser Kelvin Heard on 07595 651700.
CONFIRMED ENTRIES FOR THE MID DEVON AT BLACK FOREST LODGE Sunday 1st February 2015
Please remember tomorrow we have pony racing at 11am . 2 races with pointers starting at 12noon. Please come and support the kids! Looks like a dry day !
27 January 2015
The Course Inspector and Clerk Of Course walked today and gave the going as Good to Soft.
26 January 2015
Clare Stanton, the Mid Devon secretary reports that the Black Forest Lodge course is looking very good and official report is ‘Good to soft’. The Clerk of the course Norman Chanin has said that the course is all ready to go.
23 January 2015
Course worked on again yesterday. It has been rolled again and all bends/markers moved to provide better ground.
The going is Soft ,Good to Soft in places.(Thursday 22nd Jan).
Please also remember we have pony racing at 11am. Please come and support them!
20 January 2015
Thank you to all the volunteers who have been treading in today also a big thanks to our clerk of course Norman for spending many hours rolling the course ,paddock and car parks! And has reported tonight he is very happy at the way its gone back .
Useful Information:
Met Office 5 day forecast: Exe Estuary, 2.7 miles from EX6 8HR at the same altitude
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