The rearranged meeting at South Hill was almost a case of deja vu on arrival as the Exmoor mist loomed large across the course but a light breeze kept that part of the weather away only to be replaced by rain which was heavy at times and made conditions testing for horses and riders. Full credit should go to the organisers however for rescheduling this fixture and for racegoers who were determined to support the meeting.
In the opener, the Hunt race, all three stood their ground with last year’s winner Dr Rhythm just sent off favourite from Lucky So and So, although as the two market rivals set off smartly, outsider My Keepsake decided that a perambulate around a soggy field on a Bank Holiday Monday was not high on her wish list and opted out by the second. It was then a game of cat and mouse and although the runner-up valiantly tried to bridge the gap, Dr Rhythm’s superior jumping proved decisive. This was a fourth win of the season for Tina Dunsford's game gelding and he is now likely to head to Bratton Down for the second meeting to repeat his win there.
Eight horses went to post for the Maiden with the unraced Bel Mercy from the Chris Barber yard sent off favourite. For much of the race he looked as though he may win on this, his debut, but the stamina sapping ground found him out as the tempo increased and when Flaming Henry didn’t secure a good jump at the last, it was left to 28-1 shot Eastern Promises to sweep past under Honor Weatherlake to give her a first winner as jockey/trainer/owner. There were loud celebrations from Honor’s friends and family as she unsaddled and they explained that her parents were on holiday in France so the proceedings had been relayed by some iffy phone reception. Honor, who is 20, previously worked for Philip Hobbs but had decided to train her own and purchased the mare who used to be trained by neighbours Claire and Ed Hitch from her breeder in Salisbury. Her family own the now defunct Treborough Point to Point and Eventing course and it is here that she trains her horses for eventing as well.
The Open was a match between the veteran Sykes, who had claimed the scalp of Southfield Theatre here last year and young pretender, Macklin who had looked impressive in three wins this season. With Will Biddick expressing concerns over the ground suitability for his mount, it was left to Darren Edwards to adopt different tactics to last year and make the running. Although Macklin joined him over the last, the testing ground made the winner drift across the runner-up and a lengthy Stewards Enquiry was held. Although the placings remained unaltered, they fined the winning jockey £75 for not taking corrective action. A relieved Nicky Martin remarked “Oh how I wish I had an entire stable of horses like him – he’s just so game. How can I possibly retire him when he loves it so much!”
Four horses faced the starter for the Novice Riders race and it was no surprise to see Ed the Red made odds-on favourite. Only beaten once in five starts this season, he travelled nicely in behind the leader Beau du Brizais who himself didn’t look as happy on this much softer ground than when winning at Holnicote. With six fences left to jump, Callum Pritchard sent Ed the Red into a lead and it was a case of game over as the remainder found the worsening conditions too much leaving Callum to come home in splendid isolation. This was a sixth winner of the season for the young jockey who is based with the Philip Hobbs and Johnson White yard and has shot to the front of the National Mens’ Novice Riders Championship. For someone who had only ridden his first winner less than a month ago, this is a considerable achievement.
Fiston des Issards had looked potentially useful when he won at the start of the season at Dunsmore but then repeatedly kept bumping into a certain Dr Rhythm. With that horse having already run, he was left to face an equal threat in Luke Price’s Captain Mc who was seeking to notch a seasonal treble after wins at Cotley and Lydstep. However Chris Barber felt his runner may benefit from the addition of cheek-pieces and together with a slower, more even pace, this good looking son of Buck’s Boum was able to take advantage of Captain Mc as he wandered around going into the last and pass him to win by a length. He is jointly owned by Phil Fry and Ben and Abbie Roussell who are also owners or joint owners of two of Chris’ other stable stars, The Big Sting, who is currently out for the season but will hopefully return next and also Aintree Foxhunter hero, Famous Clermont.
It was fitting that the finale went to a horse that looked at home in the conditions when Exmoor-based Arv Way There built on his good win at Holnicote to take the Restricted by a distance from Coolattitude. The only other runner, Twist About, decided that the lorry park beckoned and ran out in that direction after half a circuit when leading leaving the two remaining to slog it out in the driving rain. Arv Way There pulled further clear rounding the home turn while Coolattitude was eased down clearly hating the ground. Trainer Hugh Thomas thought he would probably go to Bratton although it would depend on how he recovered from this as jockey Heidi Stephens confirmed it had taken plenty out of him.