The first of two meetings at the popular course of Upcott Cross, will take place on Sunday. They have received a good number of entries and the first race is due off at 2pm with gates opening at 12pm. The team have been watering and will continue to do so to maintain good ground. Entry is £15 per person with under 16s going free. Postcode EX21 5AE.
The Goffs 4 & 5yo Maiden Race Young Horse Series
Get To The Point (Megan Lawrence) and Henry’s Patch (Tim Dennis) both finished very close to Knock Off Soxs in the 4 & 5yo Maiden at Trebudannon and racecourse experience could play a key part here. There are a handful of newcomers amongst the entries, including Francesca Poste’s Dictatorship, who cost €23,000 at the Arkle Sale back in June 2023. The 4yo Sincerely Me, is another newcomer for Joshua Newman, who receives a healthy age and mares allowance. She was purchased for £17,000 as a foal and is by the popular sire Kapgarde. The Leyshon Family purchased Winter Flight for £30,000 as a store and is trained by Bradley Gibbs. The son of Harzand has technically already had a run this season, when taking part in the void Maiden at Eyton on the 21st April when finishing 4th. The form however doesn’t stand but the race replay is on YouTube for everyone to see!! Richforadaay, for Robert Chanin, took a step in the right direction when finishing 2nd at Dunsmore. The form of that race does not have much depth to it, but he does seem to be improving with every run.
The Ashgrove and Rangemoor Kitchen Intermediate Race
Another race on entries that looks to be extremely competitive. Noble Blue, for Joshua Newman, has been very impressive this season, winning a maiden at Wadebridge and Restricteds at both Buckfastleigh and most recently Flete, when coming home unchallenged by 20 lengths. Lavorante (Luke Price) hasn’t been seen since winning a Members Race at Howick over 8 weeks ago but tallied up three winners at the latter part of last season beating some good horses. Luke Price’s second entry, Elle Est Beau, came from Dan Skelton’s yard and remains unbeaten for Luke in her three runs so far. Holkham Hall dead heated with Dawn Supreme at Trebudannon after possibly hitting the front too soon but retains plenty of ability and won at this course last season and would be looking to supply Aime Treacy with her third training success. Dawn Supreme, Talimar Pearl and Up Killoughey hold entries in this race and also the Restricted later in the day, where they would all have a 5lb penalty.
The Simpson Edwards Eggesford Champion Mixed Open
Duc de Beauchene (Liam Corcoran) has proved himself to be one of the classiest Point to Pointers in the West Country so far this season. He took the Mixed Open at Vauterhill, beating Switch Hitter in good style and got the better of Quintin’s Man at Trebudannon in the Cornish National. He has provided his talented young jockey with four winners this season and Rian looks to have a healthy lead in the National Novice Male Jockey Championship. Quintin‘s Man overcame his defeat at Trebudannon to take the Mixed Open at Stafford Cross in a head bobbing dead heat finish with Lakota Warrior. He would be looking to supply Clerk of the Course, John Heard, with another winner for the season. Dalamoi, for Tim and Ed Vaughan, has been prolific between the flags this season and last finished third in the Dunraven Bowl at Chepstow when coming home four lengths behind Pink Eyed Pedro. He carries a 7lb penalty here but would be capable of giving Duc de Beauchene a good run for his money.
The Waie Inn Maiden
Connections of Jeu Gagnant decided to skip Vauterhill and will be hoping ground conditions will be more to suit here. It was a brilliant training performance from Leslie Jefford to get this gelding to run a superb race on his first start for a couple of years to finish 2nd at Trebudannon and he will no doubt have come on for the run. Bradley Gibbs has a very interesting debutant in Korhogo du Banco entered, who cost €50,000 as a Store two years ago! He has opted for the three mile maiden over the first race, which could suggest he could need the further trip. After four runs on the flat, Breathless Bishop made his Point to Point debut at Chaddesley Corbett, to finish 3rd for trainer and jockey Hugo Hunt. Hugo returned to the saddle in the English Pointing scene after a seven season break with a stint in Ireland in between and a handful of rides over the Irish sea. He could be in with a good chance of making the placings again here. Middleton Fox and Queen Record both ran at Vauterhill finishing 2nd and 3rd respectively and would need to have come out of their race on Monday well to be running here again quickly.
The C & R Construction Restricted Race
There are a lot of horses who have been in the winners enclosure this season bringing forward a hotly contested Restricted race. Up Killoughey won his Maiden at Milborne and was impressive at Chilfrome when winning his Restricted under Rian Corcoran. Dawn Supreme didn’t seem to appreciate two quick runs in succession and was disappointingly pulled up at Stafford Cross, but has been very impressive in his Maiden and Restricted wins and could be one for the future! Echo Of Promise won a Mares Maiden at Kilworthy for James King and Luke Price, but this would be a much stiffer task. Two In Tune (Emma Watson) hasn’t been out of the top three all season and looks like he’ll be suited to the step back up to 3 miles after coming home six lengths 3rd behind the Holkham Hall and Dawn Supreme dead heat at Trebudannon over 2m4f. Josh Newman has Talimar Pearl and Impakt St Georges entered. Talimar Pearl took the Restricted at Badbury Rings and has run very consistently since. Impakt St Georges won his Maiden at Larkhill but was disappointing at Trebudannon and returned to the track quickly after this to win a two runner Members Race at Stafford Cross.
The Totnes & Bridgetown Races Company Conditions Level 2 for Grassroot Riders
The final race of the day has attracted 10 entries, with the improving Inchidaly Robin looking the main danger. It would be interesting to see who would take the ride after the horse has built up a brilliant partnership under James King and comes here unbeaten since joining Luke’s yard. Emma Summersby has the talented Jetsmart entered but he hasn’t been to his best yet this year and I’m sure connections will be hoping he can find the form from last season. He was running well at Trebudannon in the Ladies before briefly losing his action and Jo Supple very sensibly pulled him up. Emma also has Liberty Rock entered who had a hard race at Cheltenham in the Intermediate Final when finishing well behind the field. The classy Paloma Blue hasn’t been seen since the end of March when coming third in a Conditions Race. He is owned by Simon Clare of Coral Bookmakers and a good round of jumping should put him amongst the mix!