Secretary: Mr George Rendell

Address:  Gillans Head, 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 (Hunt Members £10)

or enter online at: www.pointtopoint.co.uk

Entries Close:  Monday 11th April,  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

The first of two meetings to be held at the picturesque course at Littlewindsor, near Crewkerne on the Somerset/Dorset border is scheduled to take place on Sunday when the Seavington hold their point-to-point. An excellent entry of 115 horses have been received for the seven races and racegoers should be in for a good afternoon’s sport. In addition to the bar, the trade stands and the bookmakers the Seavington Hunt Supporters Club will be cooking hot food and it is recommended that their fare is sampled as part of the day. 

Proceedings start with the Hunt Members race where Sobre Tresor looks the standout entry. He was a well beaten second last week at Cotley in the Open race but did make a bad mistake five fences from home which did not help his chances. He is likely to be the debut ride for 16 year old Ben Godfrey who has ridden 10 pony race winners and is scheduled to ride his last pony race prior to the Hunt race. His likely opposition is headed by stablemate Sea Bear, the winner of an Intermediate race at Buckfastleigh and Driftwood Pride who was staying on late at Badbury Rings on his last outing. 

The young Maiden race has attracted 23 entries and of those with form Culverwell was a promising third on his debut at Great Trethew and should come on for that race and Sporting Anna finished fourth in that race. Fishy Story was fourth at Buckfastleigh and is another to consider. Of the newcomers Jack Barber has 3 entries with Black Valentine owned by Paul Nicholls of particular interest. Classic Edition trained by Marie McGuinness is of interest as well as Silver Bear the son of Silver Sister, the winner of two hurdle races for Jimmy Frost. Culverwell is chosen to step up on his debut. 

The Open Maiden has also attracted 23 entries with Rainbow Stripes the likely favourite. Only just beaten at Milborne St Andrew he was then third at Badbury Rings and he could be the one for this race. Of the others that have run Faraway Star ran a good race at Milborne before pulling up at Cothelstone, Sir des Pres was an encouraging fifth at Great Trethew and Village Whispers who was third for Chloe Emsley at Cothelstone. A potential newcomer is Vards trained by Jack Barber who is out of a mare called Bank on Lady who was placed in five point to points. 

The Mens Open looks a quality race with Chapoturgeon the class entry. A faller in the Cheltenham Foxhunters he does also hold an entry in the Lady Dudley Cup so if he misses the race the progressive Jepeck might be able to continue his winning streak. Others to consider would be Champagne Rosie who is on a hat trick, Join Together if this race is chosen ahead of the Ladies race and the ultra-consistent mare Whenharrymetsally. 

The Ladies Open looks the more likely race for Join Together who has won two races this season including a Wincanton Hunter Chase although Aikideau, Ohio Gold and Otis Tarda might prove the best of his rivals. The last named who will be making his seasonal debut has run well in the past at Littlewindsor and might be a sporting each way choice. 

The Restricted to be run over two and a half miles has drawn 21 entries with Jack Barber having the choice from Athreeothree or Captain Probus both already winners this season. However if David Brace decides to travel his Cothelstone winner Colorado Doc from Wales the hint should be taken as this looked a promising debut. Our Chief won at Great Trethew and is not discounted as should be Tempestatefloresco who won his maiden at this meeting over two and a half miles a year ago. 

Premier Portrait the leading horse in the country with six wins to his name is entered in the Novice Riders race but he holds other entries nearer to his base so if he is absent Triangular might give his novice rider Mick Boyce a good opportunity to break his duck. Successful for his other novice partner Naomi Sims at Ston Easton the gelding is in good form and is trained within sight of the course. Of his potential rivals Kostaquarta will improve from his debut at Badbury Rings, Louis Pasteur has been running well for Ryan Withey, Swallowshide has been consistent this season and Up to Ollie has won both his starts this season albeit in lesser company.

Hunt Members (5 ran)

1 Sobre Tresor 5/4F B Godfrey; 2 Driftwood Pride 7/4 D Andrews; 3 Seero 20/1 Miss A Goschen. 6min 56s. 1½l, dist. (Chloe Newman)

Open Maiden 2m4f (9 ran)

1 Black Valentine evensF W Biddick; 2 Dennis Our Menace 10/1 T Chanin; 3 Sporting Anna 8/1 Miss V Wade. 5min 58s. 12l, 12l. (Jack Barber)

Open Maiden (16 ran)

1 Vards evensF W Biddick; 2 Faraway Star 10/1 R Withey; 3 Sir Des Pres 10/1 Philip Thomas. 7min 15s. 1½l, 1½l. (Jack Barber)

Mens Open (1 ran)

1 Chapoturgeon W Biddick. Walked over. (Jack Barber)

Ladies Open (7 ran)

1 Aikideau evensF Miss B Frost; 2 Ohio Gold 4/1 Miss N Parker; 3 Goodnight Vienna 7/4 Miss T Worsley. 7min 05s. 10l, 2l. (Jack Barber)

Restricted (12 ran)

1 Captain Probus 4/5F W Biddick; 2 Sammy Blade 33/1 Miss N Parker; 3 Our Chief 7/4 M McIntyre. 5min 58s. 5l, 2l. (Jack Barber)

PPORA Club Members (6 ran)

1 Triangular 6/4 M Boyce; 2 Louis Pasteur 6/1 R Withey; 3 Virginia Ash 8/1 E Doggrell. 7min 11s. 1l, 12l. (Ciara Fry)

Prior to the point-to-point races Churchill ridden by Olive Nicholls narrowly defeated Wee Anthony in the 138cm pony race and Don’t Tell Dai ridden by 14 year old Connor Brace grandson of David Brace comfortably justified the trip from South Wales when easily winning the 148cm pony race from Calypso ridden by Ben Godfrey on his last ever pony ride. 

Sunshine bathed the picturesque Littlewindsor course with the Dorset/Somerset countryside looking its best as the Seavington held their point-to-point. Two riders in particular will remember the day as Ben Godfrey and Mick Boyce rode their first ever winners and sandwiched in between their victories was a first five timer for local trainer Jack Barber and a four timer for champion rider Will Biddick. 

Ben, 16, from Lopen Nr Crewkerne, who has had a successful time as a pony rider latterly on Calypso, started proceedings by winning the Hunt Race aboard the ultra- consistent Sobre Tresor owned by Ros Newman and trained by Chloe Newman at Woolminstone. This was Ben’s first ever ride having finished second on the final pony race of his career in the preceding race. Ben who is sponsored by RaceTech had a willing partner in Sobre Tresor who was initially held up and then joined the leader Driftwood Pride at the final ditch before staying on well to win by a length and a half. Describing the experience as ‘brilliant’ Ben added that ‘he jumped superbly for me’. Ros was delighted to have given Ben his first ride and he follows in the footsteps of Josh Newman (who rode his first winner on the gelding), Taylor Pook and Tom Hawke who all started their riding careers aboard Sobre Tresor. 

Jack Barber’s quintet of winners started with the good looking Black Valentine comfortably winning on his debut the young horse maiden for Will Biddick. Although his cause was assisted by his nearest rival Culverwell unseating Martin McIntyre at the last he was already in command. Jack explained that due to his size he had not been able to get him to the course last season and that he ‘ is a horse for the future’ Based on the evidence of this run he looks an exciting prospect for his owner Paul Nicholls.

Jack immediately followed up when the appropriately named Vards collared the long- time leader Faraway Star and her nearest pursuer Sir Des Pres at the last fence to win the Open Maiden race. Bought for Richard Barber and now running in the colours of the Axe Valley Racing Club the six year old Tamure gelding who like the previous winner was making his debut is named after one of the fields overlooking the course at Littlewindsor. 

After Chapoturgeon had walked over for the Men’s Open race Aikideau continued the success for Jack’s stable when comfortably winning the Ladies Race with Bryony Frost on board. Bryony waited before producing her mount at the second last fence and then drew away from her six rivals with the winning margin being ten lengths. Bryony who explained that her mount likes better ground than the soft ground he found today was notching up her fourth Ladies victory in the Wessex area and has won the Wincanton Racecourse Ladies Championship for the leading lady in Ladies races across the season. 

Jack’s five timer and Will’s fourth victory came courtesy of Captain Probus in the Restricted race. Looking held at the second last fence Will conjured an effort from his partner and stayed on to beat the long- time leader Sammy Blade ridden by Natalie Parker. Wearing a first time hood and reappearing since last being seen at Larkhill in early January Jack explained that ‘he picked up an injury which has taken a while to get over and the hood was to get him more settled’. It certainly seemed to work with the gelding winning by five lengths at the line. 

Mick Boyce, 19, from Limerick had his first winner aboard Triangular in the Novice Riders race owned and trained by Ciara Fry the wife of his employer Harry Fry who trains at Seaborough. Mick ,who did not ride in Ireland, was having only his second ever ride in public and described the experience as ‘ I loved it’. He did not think that he was going to win as his partner would not take up the bit but once he passed a rival he quickly made up ground and headed the leader Louis Pasteur as the last and won by a length. Triangular has now won for both his novice pilots this season and he is proving a real star in that role. 

Prior to the point-to-point races Churchill ridden by Olive Nicholls narrowly defeated Wee Anthony in the 138cm pony race and Don’t Tell Dai ridden by 14 year old Connor Brace grandson of David Brace comfortably justified the trip from South Wales when easily winning the 148cm pony race from Calypso ridden by Ben Godfrey on his last ever pony ride.