Riding doubles for Will Biddick and Darren Andrews plus a training double for Josh Newman were the features of the Bank Holiday card on testing ground at Vauterhill, North Devon.
Biddick took the Mixed Open, sponsored by Hembury Castle Estate & Brewer Harding & Rowe Solicitors by a comfortable four lengths on Sixteen Letters in the colours of John and Floss Symes, giving him his 41st winner of the season. “He is in good form and travelled and jumped well,” said the rider deputising for Josh Newman (who trains the winner). Josh is still sidelined after his fall, ironically from Sixteen Letters in the Aintree Foxhunters.
Will Biddick had earlier taken the Jenkinson Potts Construction Ltd Restricted on Minella Jab who added to his Dunsmore Maiden win when just outstaying Melvyn (Darren Edwards). Danny Kenealy trains the Milan six-year-old for owner Carol Lawrence and said,” He was bought as a riding horse really from John Nallen at the Minella stud. He was just a frame when he came and was still out in the field in January.”
Josh Newman’s training double was initiated as the four-year-old Lean On Me took the Jockey Club Mares Maiden on her second racecourse appearance. Bought privately from Aidan Fitzgerald in Ireland, the Court Cave filly is now on the market.
Darren Andrews was partnering his 18th winner of the season on Lean On Me and added to that total as Maximouse stayed on strongly to win the Maiden sponsored by Fearnley Lott Architects. He reported, “Maximouse is a big, raw type from a good jumping family who settled well and got into a nice rhythm. He is sure to improve further.” Trainer Chloe Newman has done well with her small Woolminsone, Crewkerne yard this year and was saddling her fifth winner from just ten runners. She said, “Unfortunately Maximouse’s owners Michael and Gail Dare are both unwell and couldn’t be here today but this will cheer them up,”
The 14-year-old ex-chaser Sametegal made all the running to win the Hunt Conditions race sponsored by Lomas Helicopters giving his rider, 19-year-old Alice Board her first winner. Alice remarked, “I went to the Paul Nicholls stable during my school holidays when I was 16 and have worked at Ditcheat since then.”
Clever des Assence led from half way to win the Totnes & Bridgetown Races Company Grass Roots Conditions race. Trained by Laura Jones for her mother Tracy Parker, the winner was giving Callum Pritchard his fifth success since he opened his account just 16 days ago. The 22-year-old rider, who works for the Philip Hobbs yard, has now elevated himself into a narrow lead for the National Novice Men’s Championship.