The first of 3 meetings at Bratton Down takes place on Sunday. A lovely course with the most beautiful backdrop of Exmoor! A track that can post some of the quickest times in the country, with Top Chief holding one of the fastest at 5 minutes 33 seconds! Gates open at 10.30 am with the Tom Malone Bloodstock Pony Racing kick starting the card off at 1pm and the first Point to Point race due off at 2pm. £15 per person. Accompanied under 16’s free. Postcode EX31 4SG.
James Pryce Tractors Restricted
The biggest field of the day could come from the Restricted, which has received a healthy 12 entries with plenty having been placed or in the winner’s enclosure this season. All Walks of Life (Jonathan Phillips) was an impressive winner on debut for his new stable at Stafford Cross. Boys Will Be Boys seems to enjoy the quicker ground and is rarely out of the placings. He won his Restricted here last season so therefore carries a 5lb penalty. Elen Wylie’s Jullou de Grissay will be another to carry a penalty after winning at Cocklebarrow. The ground on this occasion was Soft, Heavy in places however. Luke Price does very well with his string at the latter part of the season and has Satellite Receiver and Fifty Shades Of Bay entered. Satellite Receiver won a Maiden for Christopher Barber back in January 2022 and will have to overcome a three year layoff. Fifty Shades of Bay was no match for Jewel In The Park at Holnicote on Saturday but that was over 2m4f. One Tree Hill (Louise Kittow) kick started a brilliant weekend for Jack Stenhouse a couple weekends ago to take the Maiden at Flete and it will be his first go in this company. Share A Moment deserves a mention after two decent performances and is improving with every run.
North Devon Tyres Maiden
Out Out and Skiffle Man both look interesting recruits to the Point-to-Point field, having both been given good ratings since leaving Dan Skelton’s yard. They have joined Luke Price, who has already done well with Elle Est Beau, who was purchased out of the same yard. The Josh Newman pair will both be looking to take a step forward from their Vauterhill runs. Queen Record ran a promising race to finish 3rd and Western Vision was an unfortunate victim at the 1st fence. Miss Ghillie for Tim and Ed Vaughan has been slightly disappointing this season so far and it would be rewarding for connections if she was to come home in front. Heidi McCreesh has an unraced 5yo by the up-and-coming stallion, Frontiersman, entered. He comes from a good family and is half-brother to 4 times winner, Malina Ocarina.
PJ Hobbs and Johnson White Racing Conditions (Level 1)
Inchidaly Robin is the standout performer in this race having won all 6 races this season and remains unbeaten for Luke Price. These 6 runs however, will have come within the last 7 weeks and the busy campaign could catch up with him soon. James Shaw has got a great tune out of Skilful Lord and it would be lovely for Brian Palfrey to see him win at his local track. He is a course winner and has already beaten Peacocks Secret, who he could come up against here. Peacocks Secret found one too good for him at Vauterhill but still displayed a decent performance but may find a weaker race before the end of season. Holiday Fund's inconsistent form makes it very hard to work out how he is going to run and the Joshua Newman team will be hoping he is on a going day to try and help them clinch the Trainer’s title. Dorrells Pierji was not suited to the slowly run race at South Hill and was done for speed when turning for home so a more truly run race will suit him to try and give Emma Summersby another winner after a great day at Upcott Cross.
The Brends Hotel Mixed Open 4m1f
5 hold entries for the annual 4m1f test around Bratton Down. On Springs joined ex jockey Luca Morgan this season and remains unbeaten for him and James King but has not ever ventured further than 3 miles. Teresa Clark was screaming Ninth Wave home at Holnicote on Saturday when he made a late lunge at Famous Clermont and is another to really shine at this course having already won here 5 times. Sizing Cusimano has tried the step up to 4 miles a couple seasons ago at Flete Park but that would be a much tougher 4 miles. He has been in good form this season and would be looking to give Darren McAlinden a first training success.
Earth Inspired (Heating The Future) PPORA Conditions (Level 3) 8yo & up
Another race where both the Luke Price runners are the standouts! Inchidaly Robin could favour this race over Conditions Level 1 but would have to lump a hefty 6lb penalty in this. Lavorante gave James King his only winner at Kingston Blount on Sunday but is unbeaten in his last 5 runs. Designer Destiny (Tim Vaughan) bumped into the classy Clondaw Drake at Wadebridge in January but won a Restricted at Howick on his next outing. Ecco ran very well at Vauterhill to finish just behind Grangeclare Glory and it would be no surprise to see him run well again here for John Smith-Maxwell and Jessica Nevin.
Totnes and Bridgetown Conditions (Level 2) for Grassroots Riders
A hot race to finish the card, where many of the main contenders are burdened with big penalties. Caspers Court seems to be thriving off his switch to Points and has come home unchallenged in his last two races under Hannah Morgan. He would have to carry an extra 6lb for his efforts. On Springs would have the disadvantage of 10lbs which is a lot of weight, so connections may opt for the 4 mile race. Skilful Lord goes well at this track and could give another winner to James Shaw, who has had an impressive season. Peacocks Secret (Gordon Chambers) got the better of Caspers Court in a match at Cherrybrook but placings could certainly be reversed here. Walk In The Wild’s form is hard to access having won two match races and holds multiple entries at Cothelstone, where Ed Walker could be swayed to run instead.