A decent crowd enjoyed a full day’s racing at the Cattistock point to point where the weather was dry and pleasantly warm. Despite the continuing dry spell, the efforts of Robert Atkinson and his team to produce a good safe racing surface were rewarded following continuous watering for over a week and there was much praise from owners, trainers and jockeys over the time that had been spent in preparing the course. James King continues in a rich vein of form and secured another riding treble with one of his leading supporters, Luke Price training two of those winners and a winner each for two of our best leading young riders in the South West namely Rian Corcoran and James Shaw.
The opening Conditions race was run at a crawl with neither of the two runners Move With The Beat ridden by James King and Scoresby partnered by Josh Newman wanting to play their hand until the latest moment. As a result when James asked his mount to quicken from the second last his pace was decisive and his rival never got within challenging distance. James described him as ‘a speedy sort with an excellent turn of foot in these conditions’ Owned by James Drummond and trained by Chris Barber he was winning his fourth point to point in total after a difficult spell under Rules. Bought by James and his wife Ferelith after his Maiden success at Ston Easton in 2022 he is showing a much higher level of confidence and is likely to remain in the point-to-point circuit.
Rian Corcoran secured another winner on his quest to be the leading Novice rider in the country when putting up an impressive victory aboard Up Killoughey in the Restricted race. Owned by Mike Tozer and trained by Rian’s father Liam he was following up his win at MIlborne St Andrew but then disappointed at Badbury Rings. Explaining that run Liam said ‘we found that he had a virus after that race so have given him time to recover and we thought we had him back to his best form’ Liam’s wife Clare had been schooling him in the week and reported that he had been working well. Rian sat quietly at the rear of the field until making his move after the third last and drew away with Boys Will Be Boys ridden by Will Biddick chasing him vainly. Explaining his tactics Rian said that ‘once he starts passing horses he does get lit up and wants to race so it is a matter of trying to restrain him for as long as possible’ He does look a real progressive sort to follow.
James recorded his second victory of the day aboard Callaghy trained by Luke Price in the Maiden Conditions race. Part owned by Luke and Mike Lovell for whom this was a first winner as an owner James took up the running at the third last and was soon in command. Found by Luke and James in Ireland the five-year-old Elusive Pimpernel gelding boasted some useful form in Irish pointing and was unlucky on his UK debut when his saddle slipped at Howick. Luke added that ‘he appreciated the staying nature of Chilfrome as he found the bends at Kilworthy too sharp’ Explaining his involvement with Luke, Mike who hails from Exbury in the New Forest, he said that he contacted Luke via a Welsh friend living in the New Forest and was thrilled with his first winner. Mike explained that ‘I am an agister in the New Forest responsible for looking after the welfare of livestock there and am also involved with the New Forest traditional point to point run over natural country on Boxing Day.’ James’s comment was ‘ another piece of excellent training from the Welsh Wizard!’
The closest finish of the day came in Conditions race for Grass Roots Riders. After Acey Milan had slipped up on the bend after the twelfth fence the race appeared to be heading for another victory for Dorrells Pierji ridden by Rian Corcoran who took up the running approaching the last. However James Shaw on board Punches Cross, who had been hard at work from the fourth last, had a willing partner and in the shadow of the post led in the final strides and won by a short head. Owned by Michael and Heather Sweetland and trained by Danielle Kenealy he was recording his third success this season and was providing James with his fifth winner this term. James who works for Sue and Lucy Gardner recorded his first double at KIlworthy last month and then added another at Dunsmore on Sunday.
The Mixed Open race was won by Another Furlough ridden by his usual pilot Robbie David. Setting off in front and jumping left he was never headed and despite idling on the flat he still had a length in hand over main rival Joly Maker ridden by Will Biddick. Recording his seventh career win for his proud trainer Harry Ryall he explained that ‘he is not a natural front runner and would be much happier in a larger field when he could be held up’. Future plans have yet to be decided but he is unlikely to go to Cheltenham but might be given an entry at Stratford.
Scoro brought up James’s treble and Luke’s double when comfortably winning the closing Maiden race. Tracking the front running Gig In The Park ridden by Fionn Summers, James took up the running from the second last and had five lengths in hand at the winning post. Another sourced by Luke and James from Ireland Luke commented that ‘ he is one paced but does stay all day and we thought he would outstay the runner up’ James added that ‘ he has his own way of jumping but all credit must go to Luke for his training of this gelding’