The cold weather didn’t dampen down the spirits of racegoers at the re-arranged Tiverton Foxhounds Point-to-Point meeting which was held at Chipley Park on Saturday 8th February. It was a memorable day for trainer/ jockey Josh Newman who was triumphant, after riding an impressive four-timer at the meeting.
His epic result started in the opening race of the day, being the GRE Ltd Hunt Members race, which was run in memory of John Pearcey and Marion and Brian Summers. Of the five runners, Soldier of Destiny was sent off favourite and set the pace, however a patient ride by Josh on Lucky Lara, who stayed on well up the hill, running into the lead over the last, coming home the three-length winner. Owners Terry and Rachel Hamlin had bought the mare two years ago from Kayley Newman (nee Woollacott) and were thrilled with her run, improving on her second in this race last season. The mare gave Josh his thirteenth winner of the season extending his lead in the gentleman’s championship. Josh quoted “They went quite quick early on, but she stayed on strongly up the hill, and knuckled down well.”
The second part of Josh’s four-timer came in the Agrii & Tozers three-mile Maiden race, when he partnered Ted The Thief, another which he trained, this time for the Blackmore Racing Club. Ted The Thief was sent off favourite, and didn’t disappoint his backers, having extended up the final hill taking on Goosey Lucy, who made a blunder at the last, leaving Ted The Thief to run home a four-length winner with Goosey Lucy under Charlie Sprake in second. Josh quoted “I needed something to aim at and he stayed on well up the hill.”
Important Notice, the odds-on favourite, gave Josh Newman his third winner of the day, in the Exeter Racecourse Intermediate Series Qualifier. Again Newman rode a patient race tucked in behind until two fences out, taking the lead over Arv Way There and Liberty Rock, coming home the six-length winner, defying the 5lb penalty he was given for winning the Intermediate at Chaddesley Corbett. Owners Tom and Sally Dalley, who own and run the Stables Business Park at Burnham on Sea, were thrilled having bought Important Notice from Kayley & Josh after the Cothelstone win, “He will run either in the Hunter Chase at Exeter or Cheltenham depending on ground,”
Josh Newman’s fourth winner of the day was also sent off odds-on favourite in the Greenslade Taylor Hunt & Mount Pleasant Inn-sponsored Restricted Race. This race resulted with the Newman trained and ridden El Capitaine, another held up tactically during the race, and produced up the hill three out, winning by eight-lengths, leaving Royal Defender under Martin MacIntyre, six-lengths back in second, and Le Vega Moon under Harry Brown in third. Delighted owner Ian Thompson, who runs his own Sausage Shed Business, quoted “I bought him out of Goffs Ireland sale last May privately, and hopefully he is good enough to go under rules”.
Earlier in the day in The jockey Club & Clarke Willmott Maiden race for Mares and Fillies run over three miles, it was Star Of Honour who was sent off the odds on favourite for the Alan Hill team, with daughter-in-law Izzie who took the ride. The horse didn’t disappoint, following up on her good place form in Ireland. Of the nine runners, Star Of Honour was kept handy throughout the race gradually fending off her rivals, coming home by five -lengths, with outsider Walking It Off running keenly, but staying on well finishing second, with African Lady back in third. After the race Assistant trainer Joe Hill quoted “She is owned by the Middleton family and bought out of Ireland, we always planned to come here”. With jockey quoting “They went a good clip and she kept galloping, everything we hoped for, can’t fault her, but may look for left handed track next.”
The Mixed Open which was sponsored by vets Dilloway and Bosley, only attracted two runners, with other entries having run the previous weekend. Fighter Allen for the David Pipe team was sent off odds-on favourite under Rian Corcoran, with Call Simon for the Robert Chanin team heading off at 2-1 under Arun McManus. A tactical race, with Fighter Allen two lengths ahead trying to head away on final circuit, however Call Simons jockey Arun McManus wasn’t giving up and knew he had petrol still left in the tank, provided a thrilling battle up the final hill, resulting in a photo finish and a Dead heat declared by the judges. David Pipe, owner and trainer of Fighter Allen quoted “You don’t always need ten runners in a race to make it a good one, we may run him again next week.” With jockey Arun McManus delighted with his first winner on Call Simon added “I work for Robert Chanin and also Patrick Cooney, previously having work ridden in Virginia, America, Call Simon gave me a lovely trip around and got up when needed.
It wasn’t the only dead heat of the day, with the last race being the Friends of the late Geoff White & PPORA Club members Conditions race for Novice riders also producing one. It also gave trainer David Pipe and jockey Rian Corcoran their double on the day with odds-on favourite Sidi Ismael, giving a thrilling battle three fences from home, and up the final hill with Doc Carver joining in on the line under young Rebecca Pugh producing another dead heat, with The Kings Writ under Hannah Morgan staying on for third. Pipe quoted “Sidi Ismael is a good horse for our young jockeys to ride and we plan to keep him pointing”. Doc Carver’s jockey Rebecca Pugh “Dad owns and trains him, he is a brilliant horse, so brave, his third win here in a row”. With Rian Corcoran adding “I work three days a week at David Pipes’, and three days at Dean Summersby’s it’s my first double, Sidi Ismael is a good tough proper stayer”.