The impending Coronation meant that the original date of the Minehead and West Somerset point to point needed to be brought forward to last Saturday but a decent crowd turned out to see some good racing with more runners than in previous years. Highlights included a double for jockeys Will Biddick and Callum Pritchard and a training double for Teresa Clark as well as a competitive charity race which raised over £3250.
Jockey Callum Pritchard was all smiles after registering a double on the day having only ridden his first winner last week at the Seavington meeting. Riding Ninth Wave for trainer Teresa Clark and owners Peter and Kathy Musgrave, he easily saw off his sole rival, Aheadfullofdreams in the Novice Riders race to coast home by 25 lengths. With the two horses level pegging for most of the race, Callum pressed the button on Ninth Wave shortly after the open ditch and quickly put several lengths between himself and his opponent. Owner Peter Musgrave explained afterwards “he is technically Will Biddick’s ride as we had the horse with him last season but after he spent the summer with Teresa, he seemed so happy there, we decided to leave him there and let her train him.” He went on to say “We weren’t sure we would be able to get Will to ride as he was jocked up in other races we were entered in but we were pleased to support Callum in any case.”
Callum’s second winner came in the Restricted when Champion’s Hill held off a determined Move With the Beat under Will Biddick to deny him by a length on the line after leading for most of the race. Trainer George Bielby was thrilled as on his wife’s advice had decided to swerve the previous evening’s hunter chase at Exeter to come here instead feeling the race there was likely to be stronger. Callum who works for Philip Hobbs, took over the ride this season from Conor Houlihan who was responsible for finding the horse for George but although they had been placed three times this season he had yet to win.
There were jubilant scenes in the winner’s enclosure after Arv Way There comfortably took the Maiden under Heidi Stevens for the Thomas family who are based on Exmoor. Settling well for Heidi in third, she was happy to bide her time before asserting two out and when the favourite Campsie Linn pulled up, it was left to Millstone and Daisy Yeats to follow her home. Trainer Hugh Thomas explained afterwards “we nearly thought about going for a Restricted race as these maidens nowadays are just so hard to win.” He added of the homebred son of Arvico, “he should have won before now but was a late starter due to Covid.”
The Mixed Open went to Rolling Dylan under Ella Herbison as they held off Fauburg Rosetgri to win by 2 lengths after eyeballing each other for most of the race. The game 12 year old mixes pointing with Military races and hunting and is a credit to the Hobbs’ yard. He was gifted to the trainer by his owner Daphne du Pre for the staff to ride in points and she also owned the winner of the earlier charity race, Cotswolds Way ridden by Louisa Zeale who also led up and looks after Rolling Dylan. Louisa looked after Cotswolds Way when he was in training there and now has him in his retirement. Although she had had a few rides pointing, this was her first “winner” as she took the notable scalp of former useful pointer and 15 time winner Whenharrymetsally, under Ellie Scott, with well-backed New Millennium ridden by jockey’s valet Dave Luff back in third.
The consistent Dr Rhythm has been in great form this season and was winning for the third time after taking the Conditions Race under Martin McIntyre from old rival Fiston des Issards for owner Tina Dunsford and trainer Keith Cumings. Martin who had won on the horse when he initially broke his maiden at the course in 2017 remarked “he just jumps so well now and he was almost looking around as he was winning so easily – there was probably quite a lot left in the tank,” which prompted Janet Cumings to say she thought he would probably reappear quite quickly and go for the Hunt race at South Hill next week.
Will Biddick topped and tailed the meeting by taking the Hunt race on Beau du Brizais for trainer Teresa Clark and the Notre Cheval Partnership as well as the finale, the Intermediate on the Warwickshire trained Lagan Valley for Julie and Charlie Wadland. Beau du Brizais has given connections a lot of fun since arriving at Teresa’s yard and lifted the Greenslade Taylor Hunt trophy for them last season. He was far too good for his 5 rivals in the Hunt race and toyed with them, jumping superbly leading syndicate member Diana Scott to muse about a possible future career as an eventer. Will’s second winner was equally impressive when he renewed an earlier partnership with Lagan Valley who he had won on at Chipley to take the Intermediate by 10 lengths from Steel Express with Between You And Me back in third. Will explained to trainer Julie afterwards how much the horse had improved since his maiden win while a delighted Julie said “we got him from Richard Curran in Ireland and he’s a really nice horse. We will probably put him away now for the season.”