Event reports

REPORT - NORTH COTSWOLD - Easter Monday 21st April

  • Posted: Wednesday, 23rd April 2025
  • Author: Andrew King

Pointings version of The Generation Game took centre stage at Paxford on Sunday after Eve Hobbs steered comeback kid Kauto Riko to a snug all the way victory in the Members Race.

Hobbs followed in the footsteps of her father Jamie and grandfather Peter by partnering the winner of this coveted prize and emotions were, not surprisingly, high when she returned to unsaddle.

The rider said: "It obviously means so much to win the race with my families connection and I could not have asked for a better partner than this horse as he is still a star even at the age of 14

"He was actually retired a couple of years ago and he has been acting as a schoolmaster to our younger horses at home but he was so well in himself that we decided to have a crack at this race - for once it has all worked out so nicely."

In the race itself, Hobbs soon had Kauto Riko dictating matters from the front and the pair were never in any danger at any stage. The 14-year-old had six lengths to spare from Well Mushelle.

The trainer of the runner-up, Harriet Jeffreys, soon went one better when Dr Lockdown finished alone in the 5yo and over Maiden to provide jockey James King with the first leg of a treble on the afternoon as he and Josh Newman continue their duel for the riders' title.

Jeffreys' husband David commented: "He had found life a bit difficult under Rules but ran much better on his first run in Britain in a point at Maisemore Park and built on that to score here."

King's other two victories came via successes for the Luke Price-trained Inchidaly Robin, and On Springs, who kept his unbeaten record intact since teaming up with the Luca Morgan yard.

Inchidaly Robin only joined Price at the beginning of March but has already racked up a hat-trick of wins and completed the three-timer with a comfortable call over Sforza Castle for the Intermediate.

Price said: "He appeared to be getting a bit lonely out in front as he was pricking his ears and looking about himself, but James had matters under control and knew what he was doing in the closing stages

"While the horse is in such good heart we will keep him on the go as he seems to like this type of faster spring ground rather than the testing conditions he was facing when racing in Ireland."

Despite diving to his left at most of the fences in the PPORA Members Veterans Conditions contest, On Springs still had enough in hand to readily land the prize at the expense of Top Of The Charts.

Morgan immediately ruled his charge out of running at any other right handed circuits in future as a result of the horse's errant ways, exclaiming: "I thought he was going to run off the course - so it will be left handed tracks from now on

"He was a favourite horse of mine when I was riding for Ben Pauling as I won on him several times and when he came up for sale we bought him as a fun horse for pointing. I suspect the likes of Cothelstone and Bratton Down are where he will go next."

The Mixed Open went the way of Drakes Well after he readily followed up his Shelfield Park victory the previous weekend. This time around success was clear cut as there was only daylight between him and second placed Ryans Fancy.

Winning rider Tom Hutsby reported: "He takes his racing really well and it was always the plan to make the running as that is what he is happiest doing because he jumps really well

"He likes these conditions so we will keep him on the go until the end of the season and his next outing is likely to be at Mollington at the beginning of next month."

Hutsby and his trainer father Fred doubled up after Joe Kidd got the better of a prolonged tussle with long-time leader Bobbarelli in the closing stages for a length verdict in the PPORA Restricted race.