REVIEW |
A large crowd attended the Blackmore & Sparkford Vale
point-to-point at Charlton Horethorne on Sunday. The watered course
produced good going and 74 horses contested the eight races. There was a
dramatic finish to the Men’s Open and Rilly Goschen received the Jane
Dufosee Trophy for the day’s leading rider from the late Jane’s
six-year-old grandson, Henry. Beadnell Bay led two out to take the opening Hunt Members
race under Rilly Goschen. The horse was a present from breeder John
Dufosee to son Sean and daughter-in-law Allison to celebrate their 1997
wedding and is named after the Northumberland fishing village where
Allison was brought up. The Ladies’ Open resulted in a smooth success for the
Richard Barber-trained Mister Benjamin who forged well clear from four out
under Chloe Roddick, 20, from Shoscombe, near Radstock. Owner Paul
Nicholls reported that the horse will continue to be aimed at Ladies’
races. The horse is now unbeaten in four races and must be followed to
maintain the sequence. There was a dramatic finish to the Men’s Open when clear
leader Rimpton Boy missed the last fence, whereupon second place Woodlands
Beau refused and unshipped Nick Mitchell. This left Sir William to win by
a distance from Woodlands Beau, who was remounted for second place. Sir
William was ridden by Wheddon Cross A’Level student Darren Edwards, 18,
and is trained at Bishops Nympton by Keith Cumings. The owner, retired
South Molton farmer Richard Westacott, bought the horse from breeder Len
Bond after seeing him run in a Mounsey Hill Gate point-to-point three
years ago. Rimpton Boy’s rider, Christian Williams, was fined £450 for
negligent riding under Rule 126 for taking the wrong course. The Open Maiden race was divided on the day. Division One
went to Kerstino Two and James Diment from Up To The Minute, the only
other finisher. Kerstino Two, from the family of 1958 Cheltenham Gold Cup
winner Kerstin, is trained by Caroline Keevil at Charterhouse and was a
first ever winner for Chew Stoke farmer Lindsey Sverson-Taylor, who bought
the horse and half-brother Cruisewell from Hereford breeder David Powell.
Division Two went to Beachtime and Nick Mitchell who led three out and
held only other finisher Kenzo III by a length. Beachtime was home-bred by
South Molton owners Sarah and Nigel Faulks and is a half brother to their
Tony’s Time, winner of his last three races. Division One of the Restricted race resulted in an easy win
for Mister Rf, who forged a distance clear to give 17-year-old Watchfield
rider, Cathy Salway, a second career win from just three rides. Cathy has
ridden out since the age of six for Highbridge owner-trainer, Kim Tripp,
who was bequeathed Mister Rf as a 4-year-old by Ron Fear. In Division Two Caspers Case maintained his unbeaten record
with a comfortable success under Nick Williams. The horse was home bred by
Chedington owner Sir Richard Cooper from his good race mare, Casket. The closing Confined Maiden race went to Mister Deep and Kathryn Griffin who were left in front three out and forged well clear of Maenad and A Second Sloe. This was a first-ever winner for Kathryn, 18, who owns and trains the horse at her Stoke Wake home. Kathryn works Mister Deep before and after school at Gillingham and rides out at weekends for Robert Alner. |