Secretary: Mrs J Rawle

Address:  Twin Oaks Farm, Bampton, Tiverton, Devon, EX16 9DT

T/F: 01398 332157

M: 07838 148017

E: fordmill@hotmail.co.uk

Entries:  Mrs Janet Cummings

Address:  Eastwood, Bishops Nympton, South Molton, Devon, EX36 4PB

T/F:  01769 550528

M: 07815 888625

E:  janetcumings@fsmail.net

Entry Fee: £30 per horse per race, £10 per additional entry same horse

Entries Close: Sunday 26th April 2015, 10.00 pm

Races:  Charity Race - Members - Open Maiden - Ladies Open - Mens Open - PPORA Novice Riders - Confined - Restricted

Ghizao is fancied to provide another winner for the Jack Barber/Will Biddick combination in the 13-entry Devon & Somerset Staghounds Mixed Open at Holnicote near Minehead this Sunday, 3 May. The former top chaser returned to his best with a brilliant display at Kingston St Mary after six wayward efforts earlier in the season. Opposition may include Lake Legend, who is unbeaten in his seven races between the flags to date, including a course win in 2012, Hameldown Tor, who may seek a retrieving mission after losing his rider when sent off 1-5F for Sunday’s Axe Vale Hunt race, Chipley Park winner Parkam Jack and Moscow Blaze, who was caught on the flat in the Kimblewick’s recent 4-mile marathon. Certain Flight, who hacked up on last season’s corresponding card, is another for the shortlist, but Ghizao is a confident selection.

Lara Mahon may seek to consolidate her lead in the National Novice Lady Riders table aboard Awesome George or The Magherally Man in the PPORA Club Members (Novice Riders) race. The former is unbeaten in two outings this season, including a March Howick Conditions contest when returning from a 40-month absence. The Magherally Man, a Holnicote winner in 2012, is unbeaten in five 2015 outings for trainer Tim Eades, familiar to West Country pointing fans as a stalwart of David Pipe’s pointing yard in the early 2000s. Dangers include the prolific Barneys Mate and Hedley Webb’s Loose Preformer, denied a four-timer when caught on the flat by Maxi Chop in Sunday’s high class Axe Vale contest. Lara Mahon’s selected runner is fancied to get the better of Loose Preformer.

Certain Flight is a confident selection to repeat his 2012 win in the Hunt race if connections take this option. Keith Cumings could also be represented by Kingston St Mary winner Steel Brush and Go On Henry. Upcott Cross winner Cinevator and Littlewindsor winner Tempestatefloresco are two more for the shortlist, but Sarah Tickle’s dual 2015 winner Way Before Dawn may give Certain Flight most to do.

The Confined race has attracted 12 entries, including Cinevator, six-time winner Whenharrymetsally and Pasternak Jack, who provided Heidi Lewis’ first-ever success at Flete Park. Jepeck can continue owner Jon Pike’s marvellous run by landing his fifth win of the season.

Earthpower, who ejected Will Biddick at the last when clear at Chaddesley Corbett, and Hackwood Park winner Porlock Bay look the two for the Restricted. Doyen Dynamo was runner-up to Siege Of Troy at Kingston St Mary and can complete the placings.

Two Maiden contests complete the card. Kingston St Mary runner-up Athreeothree looks the one for the 2m-4f event. Littlewindsor second Wotzizname can go on better in the 3-mile contest.

The course is off the A39, 3 miles W of Minehead and 2 miles E of Porlock. First race: 2.00pm. 

Hunt Members (3 ran)

1. Cinevator (IRE) (Miss H Skinner, 2-1); 2. Steel Brush (IRE) (M Hampton, 2-5F); 3. Lord Lescribaa (FR) (Miss B Childs, 7-1). 6min 33s. 10l, dist. (Kayley Woollacott)

Open Maiden 456&7yo, 2m4f (6 ran)

1. Katie’s Massini (IRE) (D Andrews, 2-1); 2. Overland Flyer (IRE) (W Biddick, 1-2F); 3. Darkgesture (IRE) (J Newman, 4-1). 5min 40s. 3l, 5l. (Elizabeth Scott)

Mixed Open (3 ran)

1. Ghizao (GER) (W Biddick, 1-6F); 2. Eslin Bridge (IRE) (G Hiscock, 5-1); 3. Overclear (Miss V Gravett, 8-1). 6min 47s. 10l, 12l. (Jack Barber)

Open Maiden (7 ran)

1. Crackacan (D Edwards, 6-4); 2. Athreeothree (IRE) (W Biddick, 4-7F); 3. Derniere Dance (FR) (D Noonan, 25-1). 6min 54s. 1l, 3l. (Julie Pocock)

PPORA Club Members (Nov Rdrs) (2 ran)

1. Took My Eye (IRE) (S Ellicott, 1-2F); 2. Beside The Fire (E Doggrell, 6-4). 7min 32s. ½l. (Elizabeth Scott)

Confined (6 ran)

1. Bathwick Scanno (IRE) (W Biddick, 5-1); 2. Infamous Grouse (IRE) (D Edwards, 2-1); 3. Whenharrymetsally (IRE) (M Hampton, 1-2F). 6min 35s. Dist, 3l. (Teresa Clark)

Restricted (6 ran)

1. Cracking Habit (D Edwards, 5-2); 2. Golden Squirell (IRE) (Robert Hawker, 5-2); 3. Earthpower (IRE) (W Biddick, 4-7F). 6min 43s. Hd, ½l. (Sarah Prouse)

N/A

Will Biddick rode a Holnicote double aboard Ghizao and Bathwick Scanno to reach his half-century of winners for the season. He is the fifth man ever to achieve the feat. Ghizao made virtually all the running and easily outpointed his two rivals in the Mixed Open, which was run in a cloudburst. On this form the 11-year-old, now unbeaten in his last two starts after a wayward start to the season, will be an impressive flagbearer for his owner-trainer’s inaugural Jack Barber Racing Club in 2015/16.

Will stole the Confined on the Teresa Clark-trained Bathwick Scanno, who was never in danger after scooting clear of his toiling rivals with a circuit to race. “I expected to reach 50 winners today, but I wasn’t sure it would be aboard Bathwick Scanno,” smiled the three-time national champion, whose mixed afternoon included riding three odds-on beaten favourites.

Darren Edwards also achieved a major milestone by reaching the 200 career winner mark, including 23 wins under Rules, with a double aboard Crackacan and Cracking Habit. The former held off Barber-Biddick hotpot Athreeothree after leading over the last. “He’s finished in the frame in all of his seven previous completions, including a Larkhill race where we felt he should have got the verdict, so he deserved this,” said Julie Pocock, who trains Crackacan for her partner, Andrew Pope, sister-in-law Wendy Pocock, Sue Knox and Eva Davis. Cracking Habit benefited from Earthpower’s last fence blunder before holding off Golden Squirell on the flat. The winner is owned and trained by Sarah Prouse, whose familiar yellow and black colours have long been a feature of local point-to-pointing.

Nettlecombe owner-trainer Liz Scott enjoyed a double – her first – with Katie’s Massini (2m-4f Maiden) and Took My Eye (PPORA Club Members for Novice Riders). Katie’s Massini, a private purchase via Michael Oliver, led over the last under Darren Andrews before readily holding off four-year-old debutant Overland Flyer. Sam Ellicott, 21, who works for Bilbrook trainer Philip Hobbs, opened his account aboard Took My Eye, who led sole rival Beside The Fire throughout to double his Holnicote tally after his 2014 Minehead Harriers & West Somerset Hunt race success.

Cinevator and Harriet Skinner set a furious pace throughout the Hunt race and easily held off 2-5F Steel Brush who never threatened to get on terms.