Once again the point-to-point meeting hosted by the Totnes & Bridgetown Races Co Ltd. At Flete Park, Ermington, put on another record crowd enjoying a day out in the countryside, full of entertainment. Not only the pony and horse racing on offer, but many side events and stands offering a perfect countryside family day out. The committee and assisting team had worked hard all week leading up to the event, ensuring safe ground conditions, having watered every day up until the day.
It was also a memorable event with the Restricted race, sponsored by friends of the late Granville Taylor, who had himself been the main reporter for the Devon & Cornwall area for many years. It was a competitive race with five entries, What’s Up Harry under jockey Rian Cocoran for trainer Ed Rees, was sent off favourite after his win here at the last meeting. Progressing well, and Rian keeping him handy throughout the race, fighting off close opposition from entry Miltown Bridge under Josh Newman, but the winner, What's Up Harry, going onto win by eight lengths. Before the presentation, there was a very moving tribute read out emotionally by Vicky Robinson, in memory of Granville. Having worked alongside Granville personally for about ten years, I am humbled to be asked to help support in the reporting role that Granville was passionate about.
After winning the race, young trainer Ed Rees quoted “He’s nice big and strong, I was worried about upping him to 3 miles, but advised Rian to crawl, and be bang there at the end. We will hopefully head to Stratford Hunter Chase evening next.” Mike Rees, a beef and arable farmer, and father of the trainer added “We bred Harry, all credit goes to Ed, I don’t know what the secret is, he is a big horse though.”
The first race on the card was the SW Law & Finance Members race with only two runners. Barnaby Treneer was sent off the odds-on favourite on Do Whatever, and having run a sensible race, he stretched his lead further over the final ditch, with opposition Jenny Edworthy on Another Emotion pulling up tired, leaving Do Whatever to finish over the line alone. Barnaby now lives in London, his father Mark, who lives locally, rides the horse out at home. “He did have pus in his foot earlier in the week which was sorted by the vets and farrier,” quoted Barnaby adding “Plans are to enter a restricted race next.”
Next up was the Olympus Plant & Tool Hire & Sales Maiden race with three runners. One Tree Hill under Jack Stenhouse was sent off the odds on favourite and didn’t disappoint his followers. It was a closely run race between them all, but having been running well all season One Tree Hill stayed on the better and scored by 10 lengths for trainer Louise Kittow. who quoted “He’s a really lovely horse, unlucky the last couple of times unseating the jockey at Cherrybrook. We may go to Bratton Down next.” It was an emotional moment, as Louise added “We had bought him from Lee Glanville and the horse is now in a syndicate The Plainsfield racing club, which Lee is a member of, and Lee Glanville enjoyed the win too.
The following three-mile Ladies race, sponsored by The Totnes & Bridgetown Races Co Ltd, had four runners, with Jubertilee sent off favourite. However, it was the Francesca Poste-trained Kilfilum Woods under jockey Clara Brewitt, who battled on over the last to win by one and three-quarter lengths. The Delighted trainer, who currently has 25 pointers in training at her yard in Warwickshire stated “It was a bit of a gamble to run soon after his win last weekend, he has always shown ability, but his owners have houses locally and we took the chance.” with joint owner David Doolittle thrilled stating “Just to win two weeks in a row is outstanding, and to hold onto his form, all credit to the team.”
Following on was the Marchand Petit Flete Park Conditions race, which attracted six runners. There was some bookie market support for St Patricks Bridge, but it was odds on favourite El Capitaine maintaining his awesome strike rate, and achieving six wins in a row, for trainer and jockey Josh Newman. Owner Ian Thompson, who has his Sausage Shed business, “I bought him a year ago privately in Ireland, where he had shown some decent place form. We plan to go to the Stratford Hunter Chase evening.” With Kayley, Josh’s wife adding “We were on our way to Doncaster sales, I was on the phone to the owner and had the phone on hands free, with Ivan in the car too, who piped up, I will buy him and the deal was done.”
It was a good day for the yard, with another Josh Newman-trained winner taking the Gun Room-sponsored Veterans Conditions race with Caspers Court, under yard jockey Hannah Morgan. Entry Clever Des Assence put up a good attempt until the final circuit, when Caspers Court ran on impressively winning by 25 lengths. Hannah who is 25 years old, works for the Newman’s quoted “He belongs to my boyfriend Ben Godfrey’s Mum, I am so grateful of the support that Josh and Kayley have given me this year.”
Finally up was the Charles Eyston Memorial Maiden race, which had the bookies juggling as to who to send off favourite. However, this went the way of Gino Drummer Boy for jockey James King. Up until this race both Josh Newman and James King were neck and neck in the men’s championship with 39 winners each. With Gino Drummer Boy being produced by James over the second last, and going onto win by one and three-quarter lengths, with Bright Focus in second. The owner/ trainer Luke Price has 20 horses in training at his yard in South Wales. “We are struggling for meetings in Wales this season, there has only been one and one more to go. I bought him for £500 and our plan was to win a maiden which he has done.”
The pony racing had started the day’s event with three pony races. These were sponsored by landowner Anthony Mildmay White who stated “It’s really encouraging to see so many young people to ride in pony races. They are the stars of the future.” Winners of the races were Ashfordcleave Secret Snuffles under Poppy Cornish, Two The Manor Born ridden by Harry Neale and Hold Me Back ridden by Rosie Twiston Davies.