Secretary: Mr George Rendell

Address:  Gillins Head, Shave Cross, Bridport, Dorset DT8 3QU

T:  01308 868332

M: 

E Mail: george@kittysfarm.co.uk 

Entries:  As above

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

or  The Point to Point Racing Co Ltd (www.pointtopointentries.co.uk 

Entries Close:  Monday 10^th April, 12.30 pm

Races:  Restricted – PPORA Conditions (Nov Riders) - 4,5,6 year old Maiden (2m4f) – Mens Open – Ladies Open – Open Maiden

The Seavington hold their point-to-point on Easter Saturday 15^th April at the picturesque course of Littlewindsor near Beaminster which is a great spot to enjoy a picnic and watch some excellent racing. The course is in good order with plenty of grass and if the current dry conditions continue then watering, which has been done very well in the past, will commence to ensure that there will be at least good ground on the day. A respectable entry of 68 horses has been received for the seven scheduled races which are preceded by two pony races which are due to start at 1.00pm.

The meeting begins with the Hunt Members race for which Ben Godfrey will be hoping to follow up last year’s victory in the same race. This time he will be aboard his own Rusty Nail and if he can keep the partnership together then he must have a good chance. He is likely to be opposed by Driftwood Pride who has returned to form with a good third in a recent Taunton Hunter Chase and Minim Mouse who has won two of her three races this season but this will be another step up for her. 

The Open Maiden over two and a half miles sponsored by Mac Builders follows and of the thirteen entries Journey Juice trained by Ed Walker has the best form. Only beaten at Ottery St Mary by a length and a half the five year old gelding must have a good chance of winning his first race. However the most likely dangers may come from one of the newcomers namely Jack Barber’s pair of Captain Cattistock and Darcy Ward, Ian Chanin’s King of the Culm and the Richard Kelvin-Hughes owned My Dance. The last named is out of the mare My Petra who won 7 races under rules including two chases and a hurdle race for Mr and Mrs Kelvin- Hughes and her debut should be noted with interest. 

The Open Maiden over three miles sponsored by Symonds and Sampson also contains an entry for Journey Juice and if this is the chosen race then he would be the selection. Jack Barber has three entries namely Roxy Belle who ran in three bumper races for Mark Rimell and the unraced pair of Doyoumind and Water Meadow. His declared representative may be the biggest threat to Journey Juice. Of the others with form Amis Des Champs was third and Princess Annabelle was fourth at Ston Easton, Tree Sparrow was second at Charlton Horethorne and Veedoubleyou will improve on his debut at Cothelstone. 

The Mens Open race sponsored by Anthony Honeyball Racing may see the reappearance of the progressive Dan McGrue, the winner of a Bumper in Ireland, a Restricted race at Buckfastleigh and the Hunt race at Charlton Horethorne. This will be his first venture into Open company and if he is to win he will need to jump better than he did on his last outing. Ed Walker has the strongest potential opposition with a choice from Before the War, Kernel Victor and Miss Gotaway and his declared runner will be the selection to give Dan McGrue the most to do. 

The Ladies Open race sponsored by Harry Fry Racing could see the return to the course of Aikideau last seen finishing fifth in the Coronation Gold Cup at Larkhill in February but before that he had won his three previous outings under Bryony Frost. Of his opponents Masterleaderman won for Harriet Tucker at Ston Easton, Miss Gotaway won at Buckfastleigh, Otis Tarda was a good second at Cotley and course specialist Sobre Tresor could be the biggest danger under Taylor Pook. If Aikideau adapts to the undulations of Littlewindsor then he may be too good for his rivals. 

The Restricted race sponsored by A J Wakely run over two miles and four furlongs could go to Genermouse who was a good second to Ballyknock Cloud at Milborne St Andrew and the shorter trip may suit him. Clenagh Castle was a winner of the Maiden on the same Milborne St Andrew card and he has obvious chances. Titans Approach won at Cotley last week but it was a two runner Hunt race. Humpback Bridge was still in contention when falling at Larkhill in March and comes into consideration with Micks Lad another who will appreciate the shorter trip. An interesting newcomer is Presiding trained by Harriet Brown who was the winner of an Irish point to point at Curraghmore in April 2015 on good ground and has just had two runs for NH trainer Nick Mitchell during the winter. His performance should be noted. 

The Novice Riders race sponsored by Dodson and Horrell both hold further entries for Before the War and Miss Gotaway and Ed Walker’s representative will be the one to beat. He has also entered Punter Friendly. Ian Chanin has entered The Wealerdealer who has been running under rules since the end of last season and won a Handicap Hurdle at Newton Abbot in June. Dunn’s River for Jack Barber’s stable is another to consider on his local course. 

First Race 2.00pm. Course is at Littlewindsor near Beaminster DT8 3QU. Signposted from A3066 Crewkerne- Bridport road and B3165 Crewkerne to Lyme Regis road. Entry costs £10 per person with a maximum of £40 per car and under 16s free. 

Meeting: Seavington @ Littlewindsor

14^th April 2017

Race 1 – Hunt:

1^st: Rusty Nail (Ire) 2^nd: Minim Mouse 3^rd: Driftwood Pride (Ire)

Runners: 3                       Time: 6min 48s                        Distance: 1.5l 2l

Race 2 – Open Maiden 45&6yo 2m5f:

1^st: My Dance 2^nd: Darcy Ward (Fr) 3^rd: Bob On

Runners: 3                        Time: 5min 39.2s                      Distance: 4l 6l

Race 3 – Open Maiden:

1^st: Journey Juice 2^nd: Karigale 3^rd: Princess Annabelle

Runners: 6                        Time: 6min 45s                        Distance: 4l 20l

Race 4 – Mens Open:

1^st: Dan McGrue (Ire) 2^nd: Kernel Victor 3^rd: Ballydub (Ire)

Runners: 4                        Time: 6min 31.3s                        Distance: 10l 2l

Race 5 – Ladies Open:

1^st: Aikideau (Fr) 2^nd: Sobre Tresor (Fr) 3^rd: Otis Tarda (Ire)

Runners: 6                        Time: 6min 36s                        Distance: 10l 5l

Race 6– Restricted 2m4f:

1^st: Genermouse 2^nd: Clenagh Castle (Ire) 3^rd: Mirs Choice (Ire)

Runners: 3                       Time: 5min 37.3s                        Distance: 1/2l 20l

Race 7– PPORA Conditions (Nov Rdrs):

1^st: Miss Gotaway 2^nd: Dunns River (Fr) 3^rd: Dale Street (Ire)

Runners: 4                       Time: 6min 45s                        Distance: Dist, Dist

N/A

Easter Saturday brought the crowds flocking to Littlewindsor where the Seavington held their point-to-point. Although the day started with a chilly breeze the weather soon warmed up and by the time of the last few races the sun had appeared and spectators were able to enjoy a pleasant spring afternoon. On the course the highlights were a training treble for Ed Walker, riding doubles for Will Biddick and Josh Newman and a breeding double for local owner Audrey Goodwin and compliments from all participants about the excellent watering job done by Jeremy Barber and his team to produce such good ground. 

The Opening Hunt race where all three entries took part became a tactical contest as the two leaders Driftwood Pride ridden by George Hiscock and Minim Mouse ridden by Josh Newman disputed the lead for much of the race until Rusty Nail ridden by 17 year old Ben Godfrey who had been sitting behind them produced his mount at the last and won quite cosily by a length and a half. Bought privately from former owner Katie Bellamy for Ben to ride and his mother Sally to train this season this was their first success together and the sixth career victory for Ben which includes a Bumper winner and a Hunter Chase win at Newbury. 

Will’s first winner of the afternoon came courtesy of My Dance trained by Ed Walker and owned by Richard Kelvin-Hughes in the young Maiden race over two miles and four furlongs. Ridden prominently with the other newcomer in the field Darcy Ward ridden by Martin McIntyre she had too much in hand for her younger rival and had four lengths to spare at the winning post. Bred by her owner out of the seven time winning mare My Petra she has been with Ed and his wife Polly since July last year. Described by Polly as ‘ a bonny mare’ she had taken her team chasing only 5 weeks after having had her second child and has been giving her a varied education before making her racecourse debut. 

Josh’s first winner and Ed’s second winner of the day was Journey Juice in the Open Maiden race. Bred by Audrey Goodwin the five year old chestnut Apple Tree gelding was sold by her to the Otter Club as a replacement for Vila Cova who won for the Club in 2016. Josh bided his time behind long -time leader Karigale ridden by Rilly Goschen for much of the race but ran out a comfortable winner by four lengths at the line. 

The Men’s Open race run in honour of that grand campaigner Southwestern who was put to sleep earlier this year was won in good style by Dan McGrue ridden by Will Biddick and trained by Jack Barber. Setting off in front and determined to ensure his mount saw all his fences Will shook off the attention of nearest pursuer Kernel Victor and despite a bit of a mistake at the last was a comfortable winner. He had done a lot of schooling since his previous run at Charlton Horethorne and his jumping was much better than his last race. Commenting afterwards his joint owner Paul Barber said that ‘he had never jumped a twig in Ireland and that he was still learning about the job’ 

The Ladies Open race was won easily by Aikideau ridden by Bryony Frost and trained by Jack Barber. Recording his third victory at Littlewindsor to the delight of his four lady owners he had had a break after his run in the Coronation Gold Cup and this had freshened him up. Ridden with supreme confidence by Bryony who waited until the third last to produce her mount and quickly put distance between her and the other course specialist Sobre Tresor ridden by Natalie Parker who finished an honourable second. Bryony is riding on the top of her game at present following her success in the Cheltenham Foxhunters and this showed with this performance. 

The Restricted race had a dramatic finish with Josh Newman riding Genermouse and Will Biddick aboard Clenagh Castle. Josh looked to have mastered his rival but after making a terrible mistake at the last he handed the advantage to Will’s mount. However his game partner rallied bravely on the short run in and Josh was able to record a half - length victory. Bred by owner Michael Dare his trainer Chloe Newman described him as a ‘want to win horse’ and was not surprised how he had stayed on at the finish. Chloe added that she had run four horses at the meeting including two who had previously had time off for injuries and was surprised how few others had run bearing in mind the superb job done by the Clerk of the Course and his team. 

Audrey Goodwin’s improving mare Miss Gotaway was a very easy winner of the concluding Novice Riders Race when ridden by Abbie Hughes. Bred by her she was much too good for her three rivals and came right away to win by a distance. Recording her second career victory Abbie was quick to praise Will Biddick for his advice on how to ride the mare and to Ed and Polly Walker, for whom she works three mornings a week, for giving her the chance to ride their horses including this useful mare.