Monthly Archives: November 2017

2017-18 Season, Cornwall Hunt Club, Devon & Cornwall Point to Point Association, Linda Matthews, Point-To-Point, Update, Wadebridge

Update: Cornwall Club Point-To-Point, Wadebridge, Sunday 10th November 2017

Sunday 10th December 2017

Published by Linda Matthews at 08:06

Wadebridge is going ahead. Rain has stopped. Windy but the wings are still up. Rained in the night so now good to soft, soft in places. Wind should ease by afternoon.

Saturday 9th December 2017

The Clerk of the Course at WADEBRIDGE has just reported that the GOING is still GOOD TO SOFT & SOFT IN PLACES. It’s dry and calm today but rain is forecast tonight. Tomorrow’s forecast is sunshine and showers but windy. The course is generally well drained.

Please note that horseboxes must park on the tarmac roads. They are wide and there is plenty of room, with easy access to the paddock.

Friday 8th December 2017

The going is still good to soft, soft in places. There is a really good covering of grass and no sign of snow or frost. Some wintry showers today but nothing has settled.

Friday 1st December 2017

The Clerk of the Course, Nick Phillips, has reported that the going is “good to soft, soft in places”.

Wednesday 29th November 2017
The Course Inspector was happy with the course yesterday and reported that the going jowas Good to Soft, Soft in Places.

2017-18 Season, betting, Bishops Court, Bishops Court Racing Club, Devon & Cornwall Point to Point Association, Granville Taylor, Point-To-Point, Reports

GRANVILLE’S BETTING GOSSIP: BISHOPS COURT RACING CLUB AT BISHOPS COURT, OTTERY ST MARY 20TH NOVEMBER 2017

 Written by Granville Taylor

I cannot remember an earlier start to a British pointing season. Old timers will recall the days we had to wait until February, but the autumn weather did its best to welcome us to the excellent venue of Ottery St Mary.

So pleasant weather, lovely surroundings and softish ground put a smile on most peoples’ faces, not to mention four out of six winning favourites.

They went 7-2 the field as the flag went down for the 12-runner opener over two and a half miles with the eventual jolly having been cut from an opening show of 5’s. This was the well made six-year-old The Kings Writ, sweating a little but immaculately turned out as usual by Kayley Woollacott. The gelding’s hurdling experience, coupled with fitness saw Josh Newman’s mount pulling away from his rivals in the home straight to score by six lengths. Runner up Danseur du Large (steady ay 5’s) and third placed It Has To Be ( 6’s out to 8’s) look sure to atone before long. Two gambles came unstuck here; Gundahar (20’s to 10’) looked fit but faded to finish seventh and Mystic Court (10’s to 5’s) hit the deck at the fourth when leading.

Colorado Doc landed odds of 4-5 in the Conditions race (touched 4-6 and evens in a place). The six-year-old was given a positive front running ride by Bradley Gibbs and never looked like being caught. War Path (8’s touched 9’s) stayed on well to get within shouting distance of the winner. Mic’s Delight (4’s to 5’s) will be better for the race and Silver Token (14’s touched 16’s) gave a splendid introduction to point-to-pointing to 16-year-old Connor Brace in finishing fourth.

Doc Cody (13-8 out to 9-4) completed a double for David Brace and Bradley Gibbs in the Restricted. The relative generosity of the winner’s SP was due to substantial support for fellow Welsh traveller Champione (3’ to evens), a come back ride after three years absence for top point-to-point jockey Nick Williams. After taking the lead approaching the spinney, Nick’s mount stopped quickly before the second last and was pulled up. Minella Mojo (7’s out to 10’s) chased the winner home and can find a Restricted before long. The triple bumper winner Ghost River (solid 3’s) was well beaten when pulled up at the last but is surely capable of better.

The Mixed Open looked a decent race which went to the heavily backed Rutland based favourite Top Wood. “Our first bet was £600-100”, a leading layer told me before the useful ex-chaser was forced down to 2-1 at the off. Kelly Morgan’s charge, who escaped all the penalties for this race, was given a good ride by Sam Davies-Thomas to skate home by eight lengths. William Money (7-2 from 6’s) chased the winner home (what price his young jockey Connor Brace for the Novices title?). The Wealerdealer ( 3’s from 7-2’s) came from off the pace to finish third whilst fourth home The Dapper Fox (12’s to 10’s) came from the next parish to finish with a flourish (probably looking for Black Forest Lodge). He can score again with more positive handling.  Of the unplaced horses, the ex-Paul Nicholls trained Keltus couldn’t find a friend in the market (2-1 out to 6-1), and Warwick hunter chase winner Poole Master (5’s out to 10’s) couldn’t get in the race after a bad mistake at half way.

By this time the punters were baying for more blood and duly got it as the bold jumping Pointview Gale (9-4 fav from opening 7-4) sailed home in the three miles Maiden to give Josh Newman and trainer Kayley Woollacott their double. He can win again when upped in class. Druid Spitfire (5’s to 4’s) was chasing the winner when coming down at the penultimate and should find a Maiden this season.

The Welsh faces got it wrong in the last. They went for Desert Roe (9-4 to 6-4 fav). but it was the consistent Moreece (9-2 out to 11-2) who took the prize back over the bridge in the hands of Will Biddick.  Runner up Creative Inerta (4’s out to 11-2) will be better for this run. He weakened from two out to finish 20 lengths second.

One of the most heartening sights of the day was to see leading bookie Mike Smith at Ottery after his recovery from serious illness. He will soon be counting his money again.

2017-18 Season, Bishops Court, Bishops Court Racing Club, Devon & Cornwall Point to Point Association, Granville Taylor, Point-To-Point, Reports

REPORT: BISHOPS COURT RACING CLUB POINT-TO-POINT AT BISHOPS COURT, OTTERY ST MARY 19TH NOVEMBER 2017

WRITTEN BY GRANVILLE TAYLOR

“Dull November brings the blast, when the leaves are whirling fast” – from the poem The Garden Year by Sara Coleridge 1802 – 1852: She was the only daughter of one of the most famous English poets Samuel Taylor Coleridge, who was born at Ottery St Mary in 1772. He died in 1834 so didn’t get to watch any point-to-points at Bishops Court just outside the town, which opened in 1979.

Actually, very pleasant mild Autumn weather prevailed as the Devon & Cornwall area opened the new British point-to-point season at Ottery on softish ground before a sizeable crowd. The afternoon featured riding doubles for Josh Newman and Bradley Gibbs, plus training doubles for Kayley Woollacott and David Brace.

Newman took the opening two and a half miles Open Maiden for four to six-year-olds with a comfortable win on board ex-hurdler The Kings Writ. This rangy six-year-old is owned by David and Steph Stevens and is now in the yard of trainer Kayley Woollacott. “This is one of the couple I nicked off Richard (Woollacott). He was a bit bouncy but outjumped his rivals,” commented the trainer, who confirmed that 25-year-old Josh Newman, a Cheltenham festival winning rider on Midnight Prayer in the 2014 National Hunt Chase, will have the stable rides this season.

It didn’t take long for the successful trainer/rider combination to follow up, thanks to a sound display of jumping from Pointview Gale in winning the three miles Open Maiden. This sturdy ex-Irish gelding drew right away from his opponents after his nearest pursuer Druid Spitfire fell at the second last fence. The eight-year-old runs in the colours of Kayley’s father Martyn and stepmother Nicky Jones.  “He jumped his way there and all he does is jump and gallop,” remarked the Rose Ash trainer.

Welsh pointers invariably do well at the early season Devon & Cornwall meetings, and the enforced late switch of this traditional opening fixture from Black Forest Lodge to Ottery St Mary, proved no exception. Colorado Doc (Conditions Race) and Doc Cody (Restricted) each rewarded supporters from over the Severn Bridge in the hands of 25-year-old jockey Bradley Gibbs. These promising six-year- olds are owned and trained by their Pyle, Bridgend based breeder David Brace. Colorado Doc was given a positive front running ride to hold off fellow Welsh traveller War Path (Hannah Lewis) in the quickest time of the day. “He ran a bit freely early on but is a nice young horse who could have the Dunraven Bowl at Chepstow as his target.” said David Brace, who stood the sire of the winning pair, the now deceased Dr Massini.  The Dunraven Bowl hunter chase is sponsored by the winning owner who went on to take the Restricted with his equally talented six-year-old Doc Cody.

The well backed favourite Champione proved a disappointing come back ride for Nick Williams in this event, in which four of the seven-strong field held Welsh certificates. Doc Cody was sent on by Bradley Gibbs two out, and readily drew clear of the only other finisher Minella Mojo round the final bend.  “Doc Cody’s dam Brydferth Ddu, which means Black Beauty, won a Maiden for us and has also bred our winning pointer Bob The Butcher,” explained the owner.

Will Biddick has been playing down his chances of adding to his six Men’s National titles, but quickly got on the scoreboard for the new season as Moreece strode clear to take the Exeter racecourse Intermediate qualifier.

This was yet another Welsh success, since the winner hails from the Pyle yard of Jonathan Lean. “He is only 15.2 but is a little dynamite we had out of Tim Vaughan’s yard,” said owner Sherree Lean, who has her eye on one of the Intermediate finals later in the season.

Top Wood was formerly a useful performer having won over hurdles and fences  for David Pipe, and justified strong market support for new connections to win a decent 12–runner Mixed Open. The winner shook off the attentions of runner up William Money, a second ever race ride for 16-year-old Connor Brace, to score convincingly in the end. The Wealerdealer and The Dapper Fox caught the eye here, staying on well from impossible positions in the closing stages.

Ten-year-old Top Wood is now owned by Johny Weatherby, having been purchased for £15,000 at Ascot sales earlier this year. He is now one of four pointers in the care of Kelly Morgan near Oakham, Rutland. “The change of scenery has probably helped. He can be very keen but a bit quirky and he settled and jumped exceptionally today,” reported the East Midlands based trainer. Talented rider 25-year-old Sam Davies-Thomas, pupil assistant to Dan Skelton, had the mount on the winner.

RESULTS

Results of the Bishops Court Racing Club meeting

VIDEO

Westcountry Videos filmed the meeting, order on 01884 840403 or through the website later in the week at www.westcountryvideos.co.uk

PHOTOGRAPHERS

The Official photographer at the meeting was: Cat Down Photography

NEXT FIXTURE

Sunday 10th December 2017, the Cornwall Club Point-To-Point, Royal Cornwall Showground, Wadebridge.

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2017-18 Season, Bishops Court, Bishops Court Racing Club, Devon & Cornwall Point to Point Association, Granville Taylor, Point-To-Point, Results

RESULTS: BISHOPS COURT RACING CLUB POINT-TO-POINT AT OTTERY ST MARY 19TH NOVEMBER 2017

Going; Good to soft, soft in places

 

Open Maiden 4 TO 6 Year olds only;  Two miles and a half (Sponsor; Gingerland Livery Ltd)

1 The Kings Writ (Josh Newman) 7-2 fav disp lead five out, took lead apprg last, ran on well

2 Danseur Du Large (Will Biddick) 5-1 hdwy to 3rd three out, fin well but not reach leader

3 It Has To be (Ed Henderson) 8-1 prom, disp lead five out, every chance til no extra apprg last, promising

12 ran; 6l; short head; 5 m 30s

Owner; David & Steph Stevens; Trainer; Kayley Woollacott

 

Conditions Race (Best Western Tiverton)

1 Colorado Doc (Bradley Gibbs) 4-5 fav made all, 20l clear 14th, held on well

2 War Path (Hannah Lewis) 8-1 chased leaders, went 2nd three out, stayed on strongly

3 Mic’s Delight (Jennifer Davenport) 5-1 midfield, went 3rd two out

11 ran; 3 1/2l; 6l;  6m 20s

Owner; David Brace; Trainer; David Brace

 

Restricted (Ladies of the Hunt)

1 Doc Cody (Bradley Gibbs) 9-4 progress 9th, mstk 13th, effort to slight lead two out, clear last, comf

2 Minella Mojo (Tom Chanin) 10-1 with leaders, led after 13th, every chance til outpaced by winner apprg last, fair effort

7 ran, only two finished; 7l 6m 37s

Owner; David Brace; Trainer; David Brace

 

Mixed Open (Heltor)

1 Top Wood (Sam Davies-Thomas) 2-1 fav good hdwy 13th, led four out, clear two out, easily

2 William Money (Connor Brace) 7-2 prom, led 14th no extra from three out, fair effort

3 The Wealerdealer (Lorcan Williams) 3-1 held up in rear, good late hdwy, not reach leaders

12 ran; 8l; 10l;  6m 21s

Owner; Johny Weatherby; Trainer; Kelly Morgan

 

Open Maiden (A & S Paving. Barnstaple Cross, Crediton)

1 Pointview Gale (Josh Newman) 9-4 fav handy, jumped well, led 13th, left clr two out

2 Ruby Fool (Jake Bament) 6-1 in touch, 3rd four out, left 2nd two out, not reach winner

3 Wilco (Sam Lee) 7-1 in touch til grad wknd three out

9 ran; 25l; 5l;  6m 41s

Owner; Martyn & Nicky Jones; Trainer; Kayley Woollacott

 

Intermediate (Exeter Racecourse)

1 Moreece (Will Biddick) 11-2 alwys prom, drew clr apprg last, comf

2 Creative Inerta (Darren Andrews) 11-2 handy, every chance til wknd apprg last

3 The Lizard King (Darren Edwards) 5-1 prom, mstk two out

5 ran; 20l;10l;  6m 32s

Owner; Sherree Lean; Trainer; Jonathan Lean

 

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2017-18 Season, Bishops Court, Bishops Court Racing Club, Devon & Cornwall Point to Point Association, Entries, Jeff Guyett, Point-To-Point

Entries: Bishops Court Racing Club Point-To-Point, Bishops Court, Ottery St Mary, Sunday 19th November 2017

Race Start time Link to entries and form for race
1st 12:00 noon 4, 5 & 6 yr old Open Maiden Race
2nd 12:35 Club Members Race
3rd 13:10 Restricted Race
4th 13:45 Mixed Open Race
5th 14:20 Open Maiden Race
6th 14:55 Intermediate Race

Going Update

Saturday 18th November 2017

‪Updated going report for the Bishops Court Racing Club Point-To-Point tomorrow. No change still Good to Soft, Soft in Places. Sunshine last 2 days, today overcast but no rain.

Wednesday 15th November 2017

Bishops Court Wednesday going update. Course inspection today and it is still GOOD TO SOFT , SOFT IN PLACES. No reported problems, so see you all on Sunday.

Sunday 12th November 2017

Bishops Court going as of Sunday afternoon: Good to Soft, Soft in places. No problems with course , forecast is for a drying week.

Friday 10th November 2017

Linda Courtney provided the following Bishops Court update. Going is Good to Softtoday Friday 10th November 2017. Linda will provide a further update on Sunday and again next week when Course Inspector has been.

Preview extract:

THE wait is over for Point-to-Point enthusiast as the first meeting of the new season takes place at Bishops Court, Ottery St Mary this coming Sunday 19th November. Owners of the course, Andrew & Delia Carter, came to the rescue in providing their land as an alternative venue to the Black Forest Lodge track, which was sold late this summer. The meeting is hosted by The Bishops Court Racing Club.

This track offers a stunning location, providing a fabulous day out for all the family to enjoy the start of the new season. On course facilities include bar offering cask ale provided by Exe Valley Brewery, homemade food including burgers and sausages from Silverton Butchers, bookies, and many trade stands. Entrance to the course is £10 per person up to a maximum of £30 per car. Pedestrians £10, Children under 16 free.

Location is at Bishops Court, Ottery St Mary (EX11 1RJ).

For a free fixture list send and SAE to Claire Hitch, Barn Lane Farm, Stoke Rivers, Barnstaple, Devon EX32 7LD.

FORM GUIDE

Key:

f = fell u = unseated rider
p = pulled up k = knocked over
b = brought down c = carried out
d = disqualified ? = unreliable form
s = slipped up + = improving rating
r = refused blkd = baulked
ro = ran out t = took no part
© = course winner

Abbreviations:

NH = National Hunt
L = Length
Rest – Restricted
Nov = Novice
RT – Rating
PTP – Point to Point

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 2017/18 form from 2016/17 form. Figures preceded by an oblique (/) represents 2015/16 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.

Produced by Jeff Guyett of Westcountry Videos.

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2017-18 Season, Bishops Court, Bishops Court Racing Club, Devon & Cornwall Point to Point Association, Donna Harris, Point-To-Point, Previews

Preview: Bishops Court Racing Club Point-to-Point, Bishops Court , Ottery St Mary, Sunday 19th November 2017

THE wait is over for Point-to-Point enthusiast as the first meeting of the new season takes place at Bishops Court, Ottery St Mary this coming Sunday 19th November. Owners of the course, Andrew & Delia Carter, came to the rescue in providing their land as an alternative venue to the Black Forest Lodge track, which was sold late this summer. The meeting is hosted by The Bishops Court Racing Club.

Six races are scheduled with a start time of 12 noon. 80 entries have been received. The Gingerland Livery-sponsored Open Maiden race for four, five and six-year-olds kicks off the action, and has attracted 18 entries. These include Danseur du Large for local trainer Ed Walker who has a good record here, added to the booking of champion jockey Will Biddick, they look the ones to catch. They could come up against Kintamini, from the Sam Holdsworth yard, and is another with a light weight who could follow up on decent form last season. No Tommy No could be high in the betting, out of the Fred Hutsby team in Warwickshire, is quietly fancied to do well this season by his owners.

Following on is the The Best Western Tiverton Hotel-sponsored Bishops Court Conditions race, and of the fourteen entries, course specialist Mic’s Delight stands out for owner/ trainer/ jockey Jennifer Davenport. Mic’s Delight won at this course in 2016. He then followed that up with a three-quarter length second to Dicky Bob last season here, when ridden by Millie Wonnacott. He loves the soft going and could fly the flag for the area, although with outside raiders, the David Brace-trained Colorado Doc and Always A Chance from trainer Georgina Howell’s yard based in the South East among the entries, Mic’s Delight will need to produce his best form.

David Brace often makes the trip down from Wales early season, and his entry Doc Cody in the Ladies Of Hunt-sponsored Restricted race should be respected after his second here last season behind Awesome Tunes. Loveyoutothemoon from the Lynn Redman team, and the Robert Chanin-trained Minella Mojo also catch the eye and are likely to be high in the betting arena. Talent young jockey Christopher Barber looks to be taking the ride on the Simon Jones-trained Cardinal Tom who is the highest rated, but the going could be a leading factor with his best form coming on ground described as ‘Good and Good to Firm’.

The Heltor-sponsored Mixed Open race has attracted twenty quality entries including the highly rated The Wealerdealer from the Ian Chanin team. The Wealerdealer ran impressively in the Timico Mixed Open Gold Cup Hunter Chase Final at Cheltenham in May when a short head second. Connections will be hoping he can start his season’s campaign well here. This race is again a qualifier for next years Timico Mixed Open Final at Cheltenham in May and also the Skinners’s Ladies Open Race to be held at Stratford-on-Avon next June. Last season’s leading area trainer Kayley Woollacott has entered Keltus, an ex inmate of 10 times Champion National Hunt trainer Paul Nicholls. This striking grey horse Keltus, could be one to take The Wealerdealer on here.

Druid Spitfire and Ruby Fool catch the eye in the A & S Paving-sponsored Open Maiden race which follows, having both show decent place form previously. Finally up is the Exeter Racecourse-sponsored Intermediate race which has six entered. This could prove a thrilling battle between last season’s National Champion gentleman jockey Will Biddick who looks to have the ride on the Jonathan Lean-trained Moreece, and our area Champion jockey Darren Edwards, who has the ride on the Nicola Martin-trained The Lizard King.

This track offers a stunning location, providing a fabulous day out for all the family to enjoy the start of the new season. On course facilities include bar offering cask ale provided by Exe Valley Brewery, homemade food including burgers and sausages from Silverton Butchers, bookies, and many trade stands. Entrance to the course is £10 per person up to a maximum of £30 per car. Pedestrians £10, Children under 16 free.

Location is at Bishops Court, Ottery St Mary (EX11 1RJ). Check out pointingdc.co.uk website and Facebook page for up to date going and weather.

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2017-18 Season, Bishops Court, Bishops Court Racing Club, Devon & Cornwall Point to Point Association, Point-To-Point, Update

Update: Bishops Court Racing Club Point-To-Point, Sunday 19th November 2017

Saturday 18th November 2017

‪Updated going report for the Bishops Court Racing Club Point-To-Point tomorrow. No change still Good to Soft, Soft in Places. Sunshine last 2 days, today overcast but no rain.

Wednesday 15th November 2017

Bishops Court Wednesday going update. Course inspection today and it is still GOOD TO SOFT , SOFT IN PLACES. No reported problems, so see you all on Sunday.

Sunday 12th November 2017

Bishops Court going as of Sunday afternoon: Good to Soft, Soft in places. No problems with course , forecast is for a drying week.

Friday 10th November 2017

Linda Courtney provided the following Bishops Court update. Going is Good to Softtoday Friday 10th November 2017. Linda will provide a further update on Sunday and again next week when Course Inspector has been.

Email completed entry forms Linda at paulandlinda@live.co.uk or online via Weatherbys.

Remember those important SAEs when you send your cheque off.