A welcome sunny day greeted a large crowd that gathered on Exmoor to attend the Devon & Somerset fixture at South Hill in stark contrast to previous meetings there where racegoers battled rain and fog and rearrangements. A respectable 28 runners faced the starter no doubt courtesy of some hard graft by an excellent team on the ground. The formidable trainer-jockey combo that is Luke Price and James King notched a double while Jack Stenhouse narrowly denied his girlfriend’s younger sister her first winner in a thrilling Novice Riders contest.
Jockey Jack Stenhouse may have had mixed emotions after capitalising on the runner up’s one mistake at the last to drive home Teescomponentsfly to take the Novice Riders race by a head. Prior to that the David Pipe trained Sidi Ismael under 16 year old Mia Holmes had given an exhibition round of jumping and looked certain to record her first winner. Given that Jack is dating Mia’s sister, Shannon, this result will probably be forgiven and this competent riding performance by Mia should be rewarded soon enough. Jack said afterwards “I thought I was beaten but he’s so game and sticks his head down to battle. That’s my 6th winner now so it takes me out of the novice ranks but I couldn’t not ride this fella!” Trainer Mike Vanstone quipped “It was a case of Teescomponentsfly – flew!”
The racing started with a newly formed take on the Members race which was opened to all the local staghound packs and it was owner Brian Palfrey, chairman and former Master of the Tiverton Staghounds for whom Skilful Lord prevailed despite a late challenge from Sizing Cusimano. With the field of four swopping and changing the lead throughout the race, it meant the pace was strong and while James Shaw wanted to sit quietly on Skilful Lord, he was forced into the lead earlier than intended. A good jump at the last sealed victory for them and despite Sizing Cusimano trying to close, they were just over two lengths clear at the line. Joe Tickle representing trainer Danielle Kenealy said “We nearly didn’t get here as he had a foot abscess earlier in the week and even my farrier wasn’t convinced we’d be able to run. But I said never say never and after some intense treatment, we were able to use a special pad under the shoe which has worked well.”
Josh Newman has been having a tremendous season both riding and training winners and his The Kings Writ defied his 14 years to skip around the course to record an easy 8 length win over Mulberry Hill and take the Mixed Open. Josh explained afterwards “I just need to stress how hard it was to take the ride back from Hannah Morgan who has won twice on him this year. Had I not been chasing the title, she would have been on him for sure.” This win put Josh briefly one ahead of his rival James King. Kayley Woollacott said of her horse “Pointing has brought him a new lease of life and he just loves racing. It would be impossible to retire him so as long as he’s fit and healthy, we will keep going.” Retirement was announced however for Itacare who has been instrumental in jockey Rian Corcoran’s rapid rise and he will now take on his role full-time as “Pony Club pony” ridden by Rian’s ten year old sister Niamh much to her delight.
Chris Barber invariably improves horses in his care and his eye-catching chestnut Chief O’Hara gleamed in the sunshine while walking around the paddock. Moved by owners Andrew and Sally Mutch from trainer John McConnell in Ireland where he’d run unsuccessfully under Rules, apart from a sticky jump at the first, Ed Doggrell managed to get the son of Doyen to relax and he coasted home by 15 lengths from favourite River Story after his nearest rival Blazing Litten unseated at the last. Owner Andrew, who lives near Worcester, credited Chris with teaching the gelding to jump properly and although he’d bought 4 store horses with the thought of selling them on, he might have a rethink after this easy win.
James King continued his ruthless quest to retain his riding title and he partnered the last two winners both for his regular patron, Luke Price. The Conditions race went to Inchidaly Robin who was recording his fifth straight win when cruising home by 10 lengths from rival Josh Newman on Whitsand Bay. Inchidaly Robin has now won on all of his starts for Luke who describes him as a “proper horse” and it will take a decent one to lower his colours. He looks sure to pick up more races before the season is out. Their second winner was less expected as All Thumbs Up took the finale, a Restricted having had over two years off the track. Just under a length separated the winner and runner-up Drumlee Spud who ran a much improved race for trainer Chris Barber. Sadly, the winner was found to have sustained an injury whilst in the winner’s enclosure which marred the victory for joint owner David Van-Pouke, whose Lavorante also took this race here last year.