Secretary: Mrs Nickty Atkinson

Address:  Holway Farm, Cattistock, Dorchester, Dorset, DT2 0HH

T:  01300 320246

E: njatkinson10@gmail.com

Entries:  Mrs Helen Rees

Address:  Distant Hills, Chalmington, Dorchester, Dorset, DT2 0HB

T: 01300 320683

E:  cattistockp2p@hotmail.co.uk

Entry Fee: £30 per horse per race, £15 per additional entry same horse

Entries Close:  Monday 28th April 2014, 12 noon

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

Stable companions Round Tom and Bellsinni Ron can fight out the finish of the Cattistock Men’s Open at Littlewindsor on Bank Holiday Monday. The former came right back to his best with an emphatic win at Kingston St Mary on Easter Monday, while Bellsinni Ron, winner of three of his six outings this season, was not disgraced when runner-up to Lucette Annie in the Eggesford’s 4-mile Devon National. The pair could face a challenge from John Meaden’s Champagne Rosie, who waltzed home at Cothelstone, course specialist Sobre Tresor, and the progressive Posh Totty, already the winner of her Maiden, Restricted and Intermediate this season. Hameldown Tor, who finished strongly when third in an Exeter hunter chase, will be suited by the uphill finish and looks the one to give the principals most to do.

Champagne Rosie is among the 10 entries for a quality Ladies Open contest. Contenders include Byerley Bear, already the winner of six points this season, Dashing John, a comfortable winner here in April and former top chaser Gone To Lunch, who ground down Hameldown Tor to win Treborough Hill’s 4-mile Mixed Open in March. Megan Nicholls can choose between Paxford faller Current Event and five-time 2014 winner Gwanako and her chosen runner should contest the finish with Byerley Bear.

The Parkers’ Aiteen Thirtythree can complete his pointing hat-trick in the Novice Riders race. The 10-year-old won a Kilworthy confined before hacking up at Badbury Rings. Dashing John holds an entry, along with consistent 14-year-old Barneys Mate, who chased up three-time winner Join Together at Stafford Cross on Sunday. Megan Nicholls can choose between Current Event and Join Together, but Aiteen Thirtythree gets the vote.

Round Tom and Bellsinni Ron dominate the Hunt Members’ race entry, so the “R Barber selected” is the suggestion. The Jack Barber-trained pair Mangans Turn and Posh Totty look the ones to complete the placings.

Seavington winners Dancing Solo and The Cat’s Away are two to consider in the Restricted. In the likely absence of facile Axe Vale winner The Eaglehaslanded, Milborne St Andrew winner Sparkling Miss, a subsequent good third to Posh Totty at Badbury Rings, is the selection.

Two Maiden races complete the card. Kilda’s Rock and Rock On Oscar are two suggestions for the 2m4f contest. The Copper Jug and Walker Ridge can fight out the 3 mile event.

Two pony races, the 2014 Wessex Area Open Finals, open proceedings at 1.00pm, prior to the first of seven races between the flags from 2.00pm.

The course lies off the A3066 between Beaminster and Crewkerne (DT8 3QU). Admission is £20 per car for up to 4 adults (extra adults £5 each), single occupants £10; under 16s free.

Hunt Members (1 ran)

1. Posh Totty (J Barber) walked over. (Jack Barber)

Open Maiden 456&7yo, 2m4f (4 ran)

1. Rock On Oscar (IRE) (W Biddick, 2-5F); 2. Letham Cottage (D Andrews, 4-1); 3. Kilda’s Rock (A Doyle, 3-1). 5min 29. Dist, 10l. (Jack Barber)

Restricted (7 ran)

1. Otis Tarda (IRE) (R Henderson, 12-1); 2. Dancing Solo (W Biddick, 5-2); 3. The Cat’s Away (IRE) (A Doyle, 2-1JF). 6min 32. 3l, ½l. (Suzy Berry)

Ladies Open (2 ran)

1. Gwanako (FR) (Miss M Nicholls, 1-6F); 2. Civil Servant (Miss E Kelly, 5-1). 6min 34. 20l. (Rose Loxton)

Mens Open (4 ran)

1. Champagne Rosie (M Legg, 7-2); 2. Round Tom (FR) (W Biddick, 4-7F); 3. Posh Totty (J Barber, 2-1). 6min 29. 3l, 2l. (Charlotte Davis)

CA Club Members (Nov Rdrs) (3 ran)

1. Current Event (FR) (Miss M Nicholls, evensF); 2. Dashing John (Miss N Parker, 7-4); 3. Baily Bridge (Miss P Skipper, 3-1). 6min 31. 10l, dist. (Rose Loxton)

Open Maiden (4 ran)

1. Madam Be (R Henderson, 4-7F); 2. The Copper Jug (IRE) (W Biddick, 5-2); 3. Walker Ridge (IRE) (Miss C Atkinson, 5-2). 6min 29. 1l, 3l. (Ed Walker)

N/A

Megan Nicholls took the outright lead in the National Lady Novice Riders list with a double at Littlewindsor. The Rose Loxton-trained pair Gwanako (Ladies Open) and Current Event (Novice Riders’ race) provided the 16-year-old’s two successes.

Gwanako recorded his sixth consecutive win to stay in contention for the National Leading Horse Award. “We’ll keep him ticking over for the rest of the season to aid their title challenges,” said Rose. “He’ll run at Chaddesley Corbett on Sunday and Cothelstone next Wednesday. His job this season was to be a schoolmaster and he’s been awfully good at it.”

Current Event barely broke sweat despite some hesitant jumps on the first circuit. “He lost his confidence in the Grand Sefton over the Aintree fences in December, then stood off too far, panicked and took a purler with Megan at Paxford on Easter Monday,” revealed Megan’s father, Paul, who jointly owns the seven-year-old with John Gane and Ian Fogg. “He’ll run in a couple more points this season then may be one for hunter chases over shorter distances next season. Rose has done a great job with these horses. They look superb and she’s given them a new lease of life.”

Trainer Jack Barber was in double form with Posh Totty, who walked over in the Hunt race, and the impressive Rock On Oscar, who quickened clear of his three rivals to take the 2m-4f Maiden under Will Biddick. “It’s the first horse we’ve sent to Jack, he’s done a good job, and it will be the first of many,” said Paul Nicholls, joint-owner with Chris Barber, Dave Bennett and Ian Fogg. Bought for €34,000 at Tattersalls Ireland Derby June 2013 Sales, Rock On Oscar may contest one more point-to-point before joining the champion trainer to pursue a career under Rules in the autumn.

John Meaden’s Champagne Rosie (Michael Legg) overcame a recent injury scare to defeat Round Tom and Posh Totty in the Men’s Open. “She would have run at Cheltenham last Wednesday but suffered from pus on a foot and wasn’t 100%,” revealed trainer Charlotte Davis, whose mother, Angela, had been taken to Yeovil Hospital after dislocating a shoulder while plaiting Champagne Rosie at the racecourse two hours earlier. “I’m so chuffed for John, who wanted her to win an Open to prove how good she is” beamed Charlotte. “She’s a fabulous mare. When she’s on it, she’s on it!”

Robbie Henderson pulled one back on Will Biddick by taking the two remaining races on the card. He led off aboard Restricted winner Otis Tarda, who led in the straight to record his first win for almost exactly two years. “I won on him at Badbury Rings myself,” recalled North Petherton trainer Suzy Berry. “I was given him as a project after he broke down at Trebudannon and Robbie has given him a peach of a ride. When he came in, I said I couldn’t have ridden him better myself.”

Robbie doubled up on 3-mile Maiden winner Madam Be, who caught long-time leader The Copper Jug (Will Biddick) on the flat. The winner is trained by Ed Walker for John Burbidge, who bred the four-year-old out of his top-class Horse & Hound Cup winner Mrs B. “She should have won when falling at the last at Wadebridge and was second to a subsequent winner [Ambitious Pursuit] at Flete Park, so was sure to win sooner or later,” smiled Robbie.

Angelic (Tamby Welch) and She’s A Lady (Jamie Perrett) took the 2014 Wessex Area Open Pony Race Finals