Organisers of this Kimblewick point-to-point fixture – normally held at Kingston Blount in May – were rewarded for their bold decision to run the meeting in November at Kimble with a highly competitive card, the eight races featuring a total of 80 runners from the 105 entries. While Covid-19 restrictions meant that entry was restricted to participants, owners and officials, the meeting was live streamed* – hosted by ITV Racing’s Luke Harvey – and viewers were treated to doubles for trainers Joe O’Shea and Alan Hill and jockeys Gina Andrews and Will Biddick.
Highlight of the card was the eight-runner Skinners Ladies Open, a qualifier for the series final at Stratford on Friday 28st May 2021. Beforehand, it looked a contest between Sara Bradstock’s Southfield Theatre and Joe O’Shea’s Ravished - the former had come out on top when they met at Larkhill last December but the latter was backed in to odds-on favouritism here and the betting proved right as the 12-year-old made all. Jumping better than his market rival, Ravished always looked in control in the hands of Gina Andrews and scored by an easy 12 lengths, with Changeofluck a never dangerous 20 lengths third.
“Yes, I was expecting that!” confirmed Ravished’s always-bullish trainer Joe O’Shea afterwards. “He’s a hell of a horse and I wish I’d had him when he was younger. We backed him at 200/1 for the Cheltenham Foxhunters after he’d won first time out last year but he was balloted out – Cheltenham and Aintree will be the plan again. Gina said he was always travelling and jumping well and Huw Edwards – who’s my stable jockey – is also looking forward to riding him.”
Huw Edwards had initiated Joe O’Shea’s double in the previous race – the second heat of the divided on the day Duhallow Hunt Club Ireland Maiden, for which 14 went to post. Their ex-Irish Ballymac Boy, who disputed favouritism with the well-bred Wykham (out of Topham Trophy winner Liberthine) was always prominent, jumped well in the main – one bad mistake at notwithstanding – and had enough in the tank to repel persistent challenger Banana Joe by three and three-quarter lengths. Ringa Ding Ding was well held a further ten lengths behind.
With Joe O’Shea saddling up for the next, I spoke to winning owner David Heys – who has bred horses of the calibre of Ida’s Delight and Sikera Spy, but whose first horse with Joe this is. “I farm sheep next to where Joe trains and met him one day on his bicycle!” explained David of how the association came about. “I ride Ballymac Boy every day on the gallops and, while you can’t predict anything, hopefully he’ll go through the grades.” Successful rider Huw Edwards said, “He kicked on over the far side, jumped well and kept on, although he was looking round at the final fence.” Joe was paying a first visit to Kimble, which he described as a “fantastic track”, and received just reward for the long trip from Cheshire, having been unable to run his two winners last weekend due to Covid-19 restrictions.
Ladies champion Gina Andrews had kicked off her own double in the first division of the Maiden – which had 12 runners – on husband Tom Ellis’ Killinkere, another recruit from Ireland and a new horse for the Ice And A Slice Racing Club, who enjoyed so much success with Fumet D’Oudairies last season. Held up early, the favourite moved into a prominent position going out on the final circuit before taking the lead four out. Maitree Express looked a danger coming to the last, but a blunder put paid to his chances and Killinkere held on by five lengths. One More Life finished fast and late for third, 20 lengths back.
“We bought the horse at Doncaster in September and he wasn’t expensive,” winning trainer Tom Ellis confirmed. “Gordon Elliott steered us towards him. He’s done everything right at home and – while he may have needed the race – it’s not a shock that he’s won. He jumped OK, especially for a horse who’s spent so much time over hurdles. We obviously can’t make plans at the moment, but I think the Club will have fun with him.” Gina Andrews told me after weighing-in, “That was very good. I thought the second was going best two out, but he kept going and picked up with company.”
The second jockey to notch up a brace on the day was former champion – and all-time winningmost rider – Will Biddick. Will was both trainer and rider of Porlock Bay (no relation to race day compere Luke Harvey’s multiple pointing winner of the same name), who was possibly the most impressive winner of the day in the ten-runner Mens Open. The nine-year-old was held up early before making smooth progress into second five out. He jumped past leader undisputed at the penultimate fence, soared over the last and scored by an easy 20 lengths. Fixe Le Kap made late progress into third, a further 14 lengths away.
“He took a while to warm up,” were Will’s post-race comments, “But when I turned on the ignition after a while, he really started jumping. He looked a picture and was a thrill to ride – he’s got a lot of scope for a little horse.” Porlock Bay is owner-bred by John Studd, whose son Charlie used to ride in points and who used to have horses with John Dufosee before moving his racing and breeding interests to France. “He was with Francois Nicolle, where he won over hurdles,” confirmed John. “I gave him a year and a half off because he’d had a lot of racing in France, but I was hopeful today. The plan is to go hunter chasing with him – let’s see how far he can go.”
Local trainer Alan Hill – who, with wife Lawney, sponsored the Mens Open – provided Will Biddick with his first victory of the day, in the opening contest, the Baileys and Old Rectory Stud Conditions race, which saw ten face the starter. Hawkhurst was not only the first winner Will had ridden for the powerful Aston Rowant yard, but a first ever ride between the flags for the stable. Another Biddick hold-up ride who took the lead two out, he was unchallenged to score by ten lengths from Fixe Le Kap. Midnight King took eight lengths third after the early leaders had faded.
With Alan Hill racing off to saddle the next of his ten runners on the day, son Joe explained afterwards how they’d transformed Hawkhurst after a disappointing 2019/2020 campaign. “He wasn’t right last year, so he’s had a wind operation and we’ve jabbed his hocks. He needed to get his confidence back and Will gave him a fantastic ride – I knew he’d suit the horse by dropping him in and telling him he’s a good horse! Hopefully he’s back to his best now. But I feel sorry for Tommie O’Brien (who would have ridden Hawkhurst but for injury).” Winning jockey Will Biddick confirmed, “I know he can be quirky at times, but Alan and his team have got him in serious order.” Will was another first time visitor to praise Kimble, saying, “The ground’s lovely and it’s a fair track.”
Fellow trainers Tom and Gina Ellis and Fran and Charlie Poste were sponsors of the Novice Riders race that completed Alan Hill’s double, Sir Mangan beating his eight rivals as an odds-on shot should for Ben Sutton, who was celebrating his 21st birthday on Sunday. Always prominent, he took the lead with a circuit to run and was never headed thereafter, jumping well and scoring by a comfortable eight lengths from Spanish Arch, with stable mate Mahlers Star a never-nearer four lengths third.
“That’s a great birthday present,” laughed successful owner, Ben’s father Nick Sutton. “That’s his second winner and he’s grafted for it – he’s been working for the Hills over the summer and riding out four or five lots a day has helped him.” Joe Hill confirmed that Sir Mangan – who had only run once for the yard, a second in a Ffos Las hunter chase, having been ineligible for point-to-point last season – can be a bit of a handful. “He’s not the easiest horse,” Joe admitted, “And he can be a right old character. But he’s come back happier this year and has been loving his work.”
Mel Rowley has enjoyed a great start to her first season as named trainer of the pointers in the Bridgnorth yard she shares with husband Phil, and moved further ahead at the top of the trainers standings when Ahoy Senor – backed from 5/1 to 2/1 favourite – took the eight-runner Tattersalls Cheltenham young horse Maiden with Alex Edwards. Always at the head of affairs, the five-year-old drew clear in the last half mile and scored unchallenged by 30 lengths – the largest winning margin of the day – from Salute The King, who held on to second by a short-head from Hop ‘N Skip. Mel has now taken all four Tattersalls sponsored young horse Maidens that have been run this season.
Winning owner Don Constable, who also bred Ahoy Senor, is a well-known figure on the pointing scene and told me afterwards, “I raced his dam, Dara Supreme, and he’s a half-brother to Snuff Box, who’s won for Venetia Williams. I had to wait 20 years for my first winner but I’m not far off 50 now – rules and pointing.” Don then admitted, “I couldn’t see him being beaten – he was the best maiden in Mel’s yard – and I’ve known he was a top horse since he was three. He’s for sale… and you’ll hear a lot more of him!” Jockey Alex Edwards leads the rider standings at this early stage with six winners from the first three fixtures (Will Biddick has five) and said afterwards, “I’ll have a good go at regaining the title (which he won in 2018) – Mel and Phil have got a lot of nice horses.”
Nine went to post for the closing event, the Gade Property Developments Intermediate, which saw the closest finish of the day, and one of only two in which the outcome was in doubt at the final fence. Dale Peters and The Unmentionable were always to the fore, although the long-time leader looked like being reeled in by The Galloping Bear at the last. However, the former produced a great leap, while the latter ploughed through the birch and The Unmentionable kept on to win by three lengths. Normofthenorth never threatened and was 12-lengths third.
“He’s so tough – he wanted it so much and jumped immaculately,” said Dale Peters of the seven-year-old, who he also trains, on dismounting. Jubilant winning joint-owner Thomas Hunter, who had made the long journey down from Yorkshire, confirmed he’d been hopeful beforehand by saying, “We didn’t just come for the day out! We bought him as a four-year-old from Ireland and he’s been unlucky – he slipped up twice in 2019 when he would have won. The plan for the season is the Heart of all England Hunter Chase at Hexham.”
* Anyone who enjoyed the live streaming with Luke Harvey and Gareth Topham is invited to make a contribution (£5 is the recommended amount) via the Kimblewick Races bank account, for which details are below:
Account Name: Kimble Point to Point
Sort Code: 23-05-80
Account Number: 38479652
Branch Name: Metro Bank Aylesbury