THE second of three successive Sunday fixtures at Bratton Down saw some ease in the ground after overnight rain came just in time for the Exmoor fixture.
Course winner Humaniste was sent off 8-13 favourite for the three runner Bray Leino sponsored Ladie’s Open, but failed to sparkle and was no match for the Jemma Sargent owned and trained L’Air du Vent. Formerly a winner under rules for Brocade Racing, the 10-year-old was acquired out of Joe Tizzard’s yard where Jemma rides out. “He prefers a short course and loves quick ground,” she remarked. Megan Bevan, who works for the Harry Fry yard, was partnering her third winner of the season and produced a decisive race winning move going to the final ditch.
Boys Will Be Boys gained a deserved victory under Will Biddick in the colours of Charlotte and James Townshend in the Restricted sponsored by Heddon Mill Construction. The five-year-old made all the running and survived a blunder at the last to hold the sustained challenge of Liwah. Trainer Michael Felton explained, “He was bought at Doncaster last year after his Maiden win in Ireland. I was a bit easy on him and he wasn’t fully fit early in the season. He likes the sun on his back and prefers top of the ground.”
Josh Newman finished a head second on Liwah, but had little difficulty in steering Dr Rhythm to an easy victory over sole rival Manofmanywords in the Riverside Caravan & Camping Park Men’s Open. Owned by Tina Dunsford and Peter Clarke, and stabled at Bishops Nympton with Keith Cumings, the 11 –year-old is a West Country legend and was enjoying his 14th pointing victory.
Newman went on to finish the afternoon in the runner up spot again as five-year-old Holiday Fund went under to Max Comley’s Killard Point (Darren Andrews) in the Maiden sponsored by Risdons Solicitors. The six-year-old had finished runner up twice, but the owner/trainer was adamant that “He didn’t get the run of the race when beaten at Cothelstone recently.”
Dorrells Pierji followed up last week’s course win with a comfortable success under Darren Edwards in the older horses Conditions race which has been sponsored by the Kingdon family in memory of Donna Kingdon for several years. “He is in such good form and we might come back here next Sunday,” said trainer Dean Summersby.
The odds-on favourite Cuzzicombe looked the winner of the RSM Beares & Brian Thorne & Son sponsored Hunt race until folding up on the stiff uphill climb to the judge. Emberscombe, running in the colours of the Exmoor Partners made famous by Southwestern a few years ago, was driven past to take the honours. Stoodleigh based trainer Danielle Kenealy reported, “She came to us from Jeremy Scott in January after a few runs under rules. She has had a few niggly problems but ran a lovely race.”
21-year-old James Shaw was riding his third career winner and said of his mount, “She was so brave. She slipped on the last bend but winged the last.”