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

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

Entries Close:  Monday 8^th April, 12.30 pm

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

The popular scenic course at Littlewindsor holds the first of its two meetings when the Seavington hold their point to point on Sunday. Sadly this will be the last year when the course will be used so the opportunity should be taken to enjoy the setting on the Dorset/Somerset border. First opened in 1993 on land overlooking Richard Barber’s famous point to point stables at Seaborough it is now the home of the highly talented Harry Fry’s National Hunt yard. The going has been helped by the recent rainfall and is currently good to soft and softer going down the hill. A highly respectable entry of 76 horses have been received for the seven scheduled races so there should be some good racing for racegoers to enjoy. There will be a number of tradestands to view as well as the bookmakers and the catering provided by the Hunt’s Supporters Club. 

The principal races, the two Opens, have attracted good quality horses and the first of these the Equine Health Centre Mens Open may see a repeat of the Conditions race at Cothelstone last month when Hello George ridden by his owner Nathan Vergne beat Fly West who was ridden by Josh Newman on that occasion by three lengths. Ramble On is a possible challenger from the Luke Price stable in Wales whereas Imogens Thunder on his best form would come into consideration. Hello George is selected to continue his winning ways. 

The Harry Fry sponsored Ladies Open may see the return to pointing of Southfield Theatre who was last seen finishing down the field in the Cheltenham Foxhunters. Trained by Sarah Bradstock and to be ridden by her daughter Lily he may be too good for his rivals on the basis of his earlier form. One Big Love formerly trained by Harry Fry may appreciate the change to a Ladies race and on her best form may be the greatest threat to Southfield Theatre. The Flying Doc and Kazuri Kate may fight it out for the minor honours. 

The A J Wakely Restricted race over the shortened trip of two and a half miles has attracted the biggest entry of 21 horses. Deshan made all to win at Cotley two weeks ago and if travelling from Wales should be on the short list. Earth Leader was a very impressive winner of a Maiden at Ston Easton over this trip whereas Gerties Garter was runner up in a similar Restricted race at Ston Easton for owner Audrey Goodwin. Mujadel was narrowly beaten in his Members race at Cothelstone where Oscar Mor was third. Robin Why Not won a Maiden over this trip at Buckfastleigh whereas Bob Along Mahler the winner of a Maiden last season ran prominently at Milborne St Andrew and might appreciate the drop in trip. Earth Leader looks a progressive sort and may be able to secure another victory.

The Novice Riders race may be won by Chosen Lucky who has a good record in these races. Now being partnered by the promising Liam Harrison the partnership have already secured two wins together this season. Chill Factor trained by Rachael Honeyball close by to the course would be a popular winner for novice rider Lauren Reed and would have been placed at Larkhill but for unseating at the second last. The veteran All Great N Theory would come into the reckoning on his best form but Chosen Lucky ought to win this. 

The Hunt race ought to go the way of the Gayle Dare owned Minim Mouse who should be able to beat Niteinshininarmour who is still learning his way. 

The remaining two races, the young horse Maiden and the Open Maiden race, have both attracted some promising horses. In the young horse race sponsored by Mac Building Francesca Nimmo has entered Breaking the Ice a highly encouraging second to Get Prepared at Charlton Horethorne and a repeat of that form may be good enough. Dr Kanaga was second at Great Trethew having won a Bumper at Ffos Las and is progressive. Snakelake Hill ran well in the mud at Ottery St Mary whereas Christopher Barber has the choice of So When for his grandfather Richard who seemed to be travelling well when running out at Cotley and the unraced The Greater Good. 

The Open Maiden sponsored by Symonds and Sampson which has attracted 20 entries also has entries for Dr Kanaga, Snakelake Hill and So When and if any of these to take in this race their chances should be noted. Francesca Nimmo has entered the unraced Switch Hitter and the four year old should be noted if running. Where’s Wilma has been placed in numerous Maidens and Taken by Force has been third in both his outings this season. Tagine ran well at Ottery St Mary but was rather disappointing at Cothelstone. If Snaklelake Hill decides to opt for this he is a tentative selection. 

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 and under 16s free.

 Race 1:                        Members 

1^st             Minim Mouse

2^nd             Niteinshininarmour (Ire)

3^rd             

Runners:            2                        Distances:            10l, l                                    Time: 6m 53s

Race2 :                        Open Maiden 4,5,6yrs 2m4f 

1^st             The Greater Good

2^nd             Snakelake Hill (Ire)

3^rd             Taken By Force (Ire) 

Runners:            6                        Distances:            25l, 8l                                    Time: 5m 23s

Race 3:                        Open Maiden 

1^st             Could Be Better (Ire)

2^nd             Ichifoot (USA)

3^rd             Where’s Wilma 

Runners:            15                        Distances:            4l, 2l                                    Time: 6m 37s

Race 4:                        Mens Open 

1^st             Ramble On (Ire)

2^nd             Imogens Thunder (Ire)

3^rd             

Runners:            5                        Distances:            3 ½ l, l                                    Time: 6m 26s

Race 5:                        Ladies Open 

1^st             Kazuri Kate

2^nd             One Big Love

3^rd             The Flying Doc (Ire) 

Runners:            5                        Distances:            ½ l, 3l                                    Time: 6m 33s

Race 6:                        Restricted 2m4f 

1^st             Earth Leader (Ire)

2^nd             Oscar Mor (Ire)

3^rd             Mujadel (Fr) 

Runners:            13                        Distances:            2l, 2l                                    Time: 5m 25s

Race 7:                        Conditions for Novice Rider 

1^st             Chosen Lucky (Ire)

2^nd             Chill Factor(Ire)

3^rd             

Runners:            3                        Distances:            hd, l                                    Time: 6m 28s

N/A

The last renewal of the Seavington point to point at the popular Littlewindsor course was held on a chilly afternoon where the need for several layers of clothing was paramount but the racing kept racegoers warm with some competitive racing and some close finishes. 49 horses took part in the seven scheduled races with both Open races being won by horses that had travelled some distance to Dorset but closer to home there was an impressive debut by the Christopher Barber owned and trained The Greater Good in the young Maiden race and a competitive Restricted race fought out by three local horses and won by the Rose Loxton trained Earth Leader.

Ramble On, trained in Wales by Luke Price, was a game winner of the Men’s Open race from his principal market rival Imogens Thunder ridden by Will Biddick. Always prominent the winner ridden by Byron Moorcroft kept finding more when chased by Imogens Thunder and had three and a half lengths at the line. Explaining his decision to come to the course Luke said ‘he has to go right handed to be effective and this seemed an ideal opportunity for him.’ 

Claire Hardwick travelled Kazuri Kate from her Moreton-in –Marsh base to earn a hard fought victory in the Ladies Open race over One Big Love ridden by Lucy Mager. Always in front Kazuri Kate held off the challenge from One Big Love but there was only half a length between them at the winning post. Owned in partnership by Janet Bartlett, her daughter Julia and Simon Hart she has now secured 8 victories in her career and seemed to relish the slightly softer going on the course. Reminiscing about his previous visit to the course in 2012 Simon Hart said ‘we brought Power Shared to win this race for Claire as part of her challenge for the Aga award so we have a 100% record here!’ 

There was a welcome winner for owner Gail Dare and trainer Chloe Newman when their mare Minim Mouse made all under Josh Newman to win the Hunt race. Bred by Michael and Gail she readily beat her rival Niteinshinarmour by ten lengths and Chloe hopes that this will now give the mare some confidence for the rest of the season. Michael who is a real supporter of point to point racing has two others in training with Chloe at Woolminstone but they have had only limited opportunities this season. 

The Greater Good certainly created a striking impression when easily winning the young Maiden race for Christopher Barber and rider Martin McIntyre by twenty five lengths from nearest rival Snakelake Hill ridden by Harriet Tucker. Only a four year old the Tiger Groom gelding is out of a mare called Our Kes who won 10 flat races of which 9 were on the all -weather. Bought by bloodstock agent Ed Bailey he recounted the strange tale of buying him as a two year old on a foray to Cornwall from a Mark Lamey and meeting up with him at the ninth green of a golf course surrounded by 15 cobs. The Greater Good looks like one to follow as his career progresses hopefully into the National Hunt circuit. 

The competitive Open Maiden for which a field of 15 went to post looked like it was going to be won by outsider Ichifoot ridden by Merv Woodward who made most of the running until being caught by Could Be Better ridden by Darren Andrews who drew away to win by four lengths. Owned by Michael Sweetland and trained by Stuart Sampson the seven year old Carlo Bank gelding had been a runner up on two occasions in Ireland before being bought by Michael at Ascot last July. Explaining that his purchase was ‘more money that he is used to paying ‘he hoped that after his last run behind a Tom Lacey owned gelding at Charlton Horethorne there was still more improvement and so this proved to be the case. 

The Restricted race was another very competitive race which George Hiscock riding the Jade Barber trained Oscar Mor looked like the winner approaching the second last but Matt Hampton had other ideas. Riding the Roger Penny owned/Rose Loxton trained Earth Leader he timed his challenge to perfection and recorded a two length victory. Supplementing a very easy win at Ston Easton Rose commented that she thought that her charge had now ‘grown up’ and ‘appreciated the different regime at her yard compared to Ditcheat’. Matt who rode the gelding at Ston Easton as well was involved with the early stages of training him when he was at Paul Nicholls stable. 

The final race, the Novice Riders, produced the closest finish of the day with only a head separating Chosen Lucky and Chill Factor. Lauren Reed looked to have taken a winning advantage aboard the Rachael Honeyball trained Chill Factor but Liam Harrison galvanised his mount Chosen Lucky to just prevail near the winning post. Trained by Dean Summersby for the Little Acres Racing Club he has now provided Liam with three of his victories this season and keeps him in the lead for the leading Novice rider in the country.