Secretary: Mr George Rendell

Address:  Kittys Farm, Shave Cross, Bridport, Dorset, DT6 6HW

T:  01308 868332

E:  george@kittysfarm.co.uk

Entry Fee: £30 for a single race, £15 per additional race same horse

Entries Close:  Monday 31st March,  10.00 am

Races:  4,5,6 & 7 years Open Maiden (2m4f) - PPORA Club Members Novice Riders - Open Maiden - Mens Open - Ladies Open - Members - Restricted

Picturesque Littlewindsor stages the Seavington Hunt’s point-to-point this Saturday, 5 April. The Grand National will be shown on a big screen mid-afternoon, along with the seven scheduled point-to-point races from 1.30pm.

Gone To Lunch is fancied to follow up his recent Treborough Hill success in the Ladies’ Open. The former top class chaser stayed on strongly to lead close home in the 4-mile contest. Opponents include Civil Servant and Lion On The Prowl – first and second at the Wilton on 23 March – and Joker Choker, the winner of four races under Rules for the Nicky Henderson stable. Dashing Fred and John Daniell are two more for the shortlist. The fascinating runner is Tugboat, caught close home when making his pointing debut at Kilworthy, but Gone To Lunch is fancied to get the better of Joker Choker.

Course winner Bellsinni Ron is selected to make it eight wins from 13 outings in the Men’s contest. The seven-year-old stayed on strongly to win Charlton Horethorne and Ston Easton Men’s Opens since chasing up Theatre Queen, with prolific winner Rumbavu back in third, in Larkhill’s classic Coronation Gold Cup. Crank Hill and 2010 winner Gunner Be Quick, who would both be suited by a stamina test, are two contenders, but Cinaman may pose the biggest threat if travelling from Wales.

There are nine entries for the Novice Riders’ race, including Power Pack Jack, who got Stan Sheppard off the mark at Bangor-on-Dee in March. 2013 runner-up Dashing Fred and Gypsy Jack have chances, while The Snail would be a leading fancy if at his best. Barneys Mate was bang in contention when falling at the last at Larkhill on Saturday and can make amends here.

Champagne Rosie is one of six entries for a competitive looking Hunt Members and will be supported to follow up her 2013 win. Sobre Tresor, the winner of the 2011 and 2012 corresponding contests, and Badbury Rings winner Driftwood Pride look the dangers.

Cothelstone winner Third Chance and Parham runner-up Marlpit Oak are among the 12 entries for the Restricted. Ex-Irish Donpierre is interesting, but Ruddy Article won comfortably at Larkhill on Saturday and can follow up.

Two Maiden races also feature on the card. Dizzy Delights and Setters Gift can fight out the 2m4f contest. The Cat’s Away and Wivannie are two for the longer event.

The course is on the Dorset/Somerset border, 3 miles south of Crewkerne off the A3066 (DT8 3QU). Admission: £20 per car with up to 4 adults; £5 per additional adult; £10 single occupancy; £5 pedestrians.

Open Maiden 456&7yo, 2m4f (7 ran)

1. Dancing Solo (W Biddick, 7-2); 2. Setters Gift (Miss A Goschen, 7-2); 3. Madam Be (R Henderson, evensF). 5min 49. 1¼l, 4l. (Richard Barber)

Dodson & Horrell PPORA Club Members (Nov Rdrs) (5 ran)

Open Maiden (5 ran)

1. The Cat’s Away (IRE) (W Biddick, 1-2F); 2. Walker Ridge (IRE) (Miss C Atkinson, 12-1); 3. Wivannie (IRE) (Miss B Frost, 5-2). 7min 13. ½l, 10l (Richenda Ford)

Mens Open (4 ran)

1. Bellsinni Ron (IRE) (W Biddick, 1-3F); 2. Before The War (USA) (R Henderson, 7-1); 3. Teri D Trixter (IRE) (D Edwards, 25-1). 1½l, dist. (Richard Barber)

Ladies Open (3 ran)

1. Tugboat (IRE) (Miss L Tickle, 1-3F); 2. Yufo (IRE) (Miss V Wade, 5-2); 3. Jewellery (IRE) (Miss E Greenslade, 3-1). 7min 06. 10l, 1½l. (Leslie Jefford)

*Subsequent racing abandoned due to fog*

N/A

Will Biddick rode a Littlewindsor treble to reach the 20-winner mark and establish a three-winner advantage over Robbie Henderson in the national table The reigning champion led off with the Richard Barber-trained 2m-4f Maiden winner Dancing Solo, who opened her account after two previous non-completions. “It was too competitive for her [when pulled up by Bryony Frost] at Didmarton and lack of experience made her fall with me at Cotley,” explained Will. “She’s quite small – I probably make her look even smaller – but her half-sister Dancingtilmidnight went from pointing to win two hurdle races and she’s going the right way.”

The Cat’s Away made all for a hard-fought victory in the 3-mile Maiden. “We bought him at Brightwells Cheltenham Sale [for £10,000] in December, but never discovered the basis of his name,” revealed Okeford Fitzpaine’s Richenda Ford, who trains the six-year-old for her parents, Kevin and Marina Snook. “My agent Gerry Hogan recommended five or six, but I fell in love with this one straight away due to his marvellous temperament. I see him as a 3-mile plus horse under Rules in the future.”

Will completed his treble and a double for Richard Barber and the Axe Valley Racing Club when Bellsinni Ron stayed on dourly in the Men’s Open, which was run in deteriorating visibility. “We made all in a hack canter going as fast as his nearest pursuer – I want him available to run next weekend,” confirmed Will, who regards the seven-year-old as a stalwart of his bid for a third consecutive national title.

Natalie Parker rode her sixth career winner, but her first in novice riders’ races, aboard Dashing John. The combination was never in danger after taking the lead entering the final straight. “Natalie has won restricted, intermediate, and confined races aboard Dashing John, a mixed open aboard Aiteen Thirtythree and a Newton Abbot hurdle race, but this is her first-ever novice riders’ race win,” confirmed Natalie’s mother, Tracy, joint owner with Audrey Manners. Dashing John is a real family horse, as he is trained at Bilbrook by Natalie’s father, Kevin, and normally led up by her sister, Laura. “We’re at half strength today, though,” smiled Tracy. ”Kevin has driven Paul Nicholls’ Grand National runners to Aintree where Laura is leading up [subsequent Grand National sixth] Chance de Roy.”

Former flat racer and hurdler Tugboat is for sale after opening his pointing account in the Ladies’ Open. Nick Pike’s six-year-old emerged from the fog with a clear lead before easing home under Leanda Tickle. The choicely-bred six-year-old, bought for 300,000gns as a yearling, had previously won an 18-runner Navan flat race, ridden by Johnny Murtagh, and two hurdle races, including one at the 2012 Galway Festival, under Barry Geraghty. “This is his first win over fences after finishing second at Kilworthy a fortnight ago but he’s more than capable of going back over hurdles and winning races,” felt Tugboat’s trainer, 2000 national champion rider Leslie Jefford, greeting a ‘welcome winner’ following the recent death of his mother, Jo, aged 71. “Hopefully people will show an interest in him after today.”

The remainder of the meeting was abandoned due to poor visibility.