NEW VENUE CHILFROME

Secretary:   Mrs Nicky Atkinson

Address:   Inpark Farm Cattistock Dorchester Dorset DT2 0HJ

Contact Details Tel: 01935 83892   Mob: 07870 630474

E Mail: - njatkinson10@gmail.com

Entries Secretary:         Mrs Helen Rees

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

Tel: - 01300 320683

M:         07715 558289

E Mail: - helen-rees@live.co.uk

or

Entries to:   The Secretary or The Point to Point Racing Co Ltd

Entries close:   Monday 25th April 2022 12.30pm

Races:   CA Members Conditions Level 3, Ladies Open, Conditiond Maiden, Mens Open, Restricted (2m4f), Maiden (2m4f)

First Race:   2.00pm

After more than 25 years of racing at Littlewindsor the Cattistock will be racing this coming Saturday at their new course at Chilfrome near Maiden Newton. After the problems of the last two years the planning and thought that has gone into the course will finally bear fruit and it is sincerely hoped that they will be rewarded with a good day’s racing and a supportive crowd. There should be excellent viewing from the slope overlooking the course where the cars will be parked having come off the A356 just out of Maiden Newton DT2 0EL. All horseboxes will be signed to the course from Maiden Newton itself and has a separate postcode of DT2 0HA. The course is left handed with 7 individual fences and 18 jumps in the 3 mile races and 15 jumps in the 2 mile 5 furlongs races. Etickets are available at £12.50 per person until noon Friday via www.pointingwessex.co.uk with Reserved parking (unreturnable) providing the best view and close to the facilities for £75 per car including all passengers also via the website. On the day it will be £15 per person with Under 16’s free. Watering started last Friday and will continue as necessary to maintain good going on Saturday. Pony racing starts at 1.00pm with the first Point to Point race at 2.00pm. 

The feature races, the two Opens, look to be potentially strong races. The Ladies Open sponsored by Bradfords Building Supplies contains an entry for the evergreen Southfield Theatre who is seeking his seventh consecutive victory. Trained by Sara Bradstock and ridden by her daughter Lily he has enjoyed the faster conditions he has found this spring and his front running tactics have paid off in all of his races this season. Of his rivals Olive Nicholls has the option of either Rhythm is a Dancer or the veteran Virak who won the 4 miler at Flete Park but neither might stop Southfield Theatre. Tom Barton did not enjoy his last run at Wincanton but on his best form would come into calculations. Summer Sounds won a Conditions race at Edgcote last time and Golden Poet won two races at the final Larkhill meeting in March but this is much stronger contest for both of them. Moscow Prices has only had one outing this season at Milborne St Andrew behind Tom Barton and ought to come on from that race. Dry Ol’Party has been runner up in both her races this season but a place position is probably the best the mare can achieve in this company. 

The Mens Open sponsored by Battens Solicitors may see a victory for the rejuvenated Captain Buck’s. The winner of his last two races wearing a visor he is very good form for his promising rider Freddie Gordon and trainer Jenny Gordon. His biggest threat may come from The Big Sting who will be stepping into Open company for the first time. Already the winner of four races this season and placed in the other two he is still on the upgrade and may give owner Phil Fry another victory. Danseur du Large has had some jumping issues recently but the switch to a Mens Open race might bring about a change in fortune. Finisher was no match for Caid du Berlais at Cothelstone but may come on for that run. Who’s My Jockey won gamely at Parham and then walked over on his return to that same course last weekend. Kilbricken Storm won the Albert Bartlett Hurdle at Cheltenham in March 2018 but his form in point to points to date has been disappointing.

The Conditions race sponsored by Clancy Group (Construction Contractors) also holds entries for The Big Sting and KIlbricken Storm and if the former is declared for this race he will take some beating. Rivals include Drumlee Getaway trained by Fran Poste who was runner up in a similar race at Bitterley. Halloween Harry won a Restricted race at Cothelstone on Easter Monday where Tomb Storme finished a well beaten second in a match for the Intermediate race. Bistouri d’Honore ran disappointingly at Cothelstone but a repetition of his second at MIlborne St Andrew behind Country Legend might give him the chance to threaten The Big Sting the most.

The Kitson and Trotman (Solicitors) Restricted race may see a second victory for the Jill Awdry owned Balinesker Beach trained by Stuart Penny. Successful over the shorter trip of 2 miles 4 furlongs at Cothelstone  this strapping son of Fame and Glory looks like he is coming into peak form and may be too good for his rivals. Broomfields Cave won a three runner Maiden at Bonvilston whereas Midnight Jitterbug won at Knightwick in November before pulling up at Cothelstone in March. The other entries all have questions marks and do not look likely to threaten the principals.

The meeting opens with an impressive 17 entries for the Walter Wall (Carpets) Maiden race over 2miles 4 furlongs. Of those with form Fine Investment was fourth in an Intermediate at Flete Park and was third in two Restricted races prior to that. This drop in class ought to suit him. Rufio has been gradually improving and his second at Milborne St Andrew was a fine effort. Kates Lane was second at Dunsmore and should come on for that run. Bellamy Express from the powerful Fran Nimmo stable is a half -sister to Rajdhani Express who won six races for Robert Waley Cohen should be noted in the paddock. Arctic Stream placed at Ston Easton is another for consideration as is the Maurice Linehan trained Lisnasallagh Ruby. 

The final race on the card is the Harry Fry Racing sponsored Open Maiden who horses who must have run at least twice in point to points. Ed Walker holds a strong hand for this race with both Aunt Lily and Hold Me Tight who were runners up in their last appearances. Hold Me Tight was a closing second at Flete Park and a repeat of that form may be good enough. Young William could not match Balinesker Beach at Cothelstone but if he is successful in the Restricted race then that form should be followed. Kesa Great is another who should be winning soon having finished runner up at Trebudannon.  Bb Kiddo finished behind Aunt Lily at Cothelstone and is unlikely to reverse the form. Mention should also be made of April Pip returning from a two year absence at Cothelstone on Easter Monday and who was still leading at the third last until the lack of race fitness told. Owned by Robert Atkinson who has been doing most of the watering on the course she could be in the shake up with a repetition of that run. 

Chilfrome is situated off the A356 1 mile north of Maiden Newton DT2 0EL. First race 2.00pm

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After a wait of three years the Cattistock were delighted to finally hold their point to point meeting at their new course at Chilfrome near Maiden Newton. Sited not very far away from their former course at Toller Down Gate which closed in 1992 the course is a most welcome addition to the Wessex point to point courses. Easily accessible from the A356 the course provided excellent viewing from the hillside and on a bright warm April day a good crowd attended the meeting. Like all new courses there are lessons to be learned from actually running the meeting and it is certain that the Committee will look at both the positives and any negatives before the next meeting in 2023. On the course the highlights were a riding treble for Will Biddick, a third career victory for Alice Procter and a strong front running performance from Rufio.

The meeting opened with a ten strong field for the 2 mile 5 furlongs Maiden race. From flag fall Rufio and his rider Lucy Brown dictated the pace and as his rivals dropped away he was able to come home an easy winner from Cherokees Prayer. Previously trained under Rules by Harry Fry he has been running well for his owner/rider although he is clearly not easy as he was led in to the start. Lucy who works for trainer Peter Mason in Gloucestershire was recording her seventh career win and is also in her second year at the Royal Agricultural College at Cirencester where she is studying Bloodstock. Lucy who hails from the Scottish Borders is the granddaughter of the late well-known trainer Ken Oliver who won 5 Scottish Grand National in the 70’s and 80’s and was responsible for setting up the Doncaster Bloodstock sales.

Will recorded his first of his treble aboard the Myles Osborne trained Broomfields Cave in the Restricted race. Bought from Ireland after three races he had already won a three runner race at Bonvilston Wales and easily accounted for his three rivals. Determined to make it a strong run race he set off in front and with market rival Balinesker Beach matching him until quickly tiring after the third last he finished virtually solo. Myles who works for trainer Ben Pauling thought that he would be better still on a more galloping course and add that ‘ since arriving a couple of months ago he has been the nicest young horse I have trained’. He added that if he came out of this race well he might consider an entry in the Aintree point to point Bumper in May.

Alice Procter recorded her victory in the Ladies race when Golden Poet stayed on well to beat market rival Moscow Prices ridden by Lucy Mager by four lengths. All of Alice’s three career victories have come aboard the ten year old gelding owned and trained by Keiran Burke for whom Alice works. Held up until passing the judge going out on the final circuit Keiran said ‘ I left it to Alice and she used her head to decide when she should go into the lead and it paid off well’ Still hoping to ride under Rules as an Amateur she is still looking for rides to achieve the minimum requirement.

Will walked over in the Mens Open race aboard the Charlotte Hawker owned and trained Kilbricken Storm. The winner of the Albert Bartlett Hurdle in 2018 when trained by Colin Tizzard he has rather lost his way and it is to be hoped that running in point to points might reignite his enthusiasm. Charlotte’s mother Sarah did add that he would be eligible for a Hunter Chase at the Stratford meeting and this might be an option. Havana River last seen pulling up in a Restricted at Cotley in March made it a good day for the Hawker family when that mare won a Handicap Chase at Uttoxeter ridden by former point to point rider Sean Houlihan.

Halloween Harry followed up his victory at Cothelstone on Easter Monday when beating sole rival Drumlee Getaway in the Conditions race. Held up behind the Tommie O’Brien ridden mare Lucy Mager bided her time until taking it up after the second last and holding on by two lengths at the winning post. Lucy said with a smile ‘He likes going home and when I asked him to take it up he responded well’ Owned by Jeff Fear and Paul Brace he might be seen again at Colthelstone later this month. Only Jeff was present to watch the victory and thought that Paul was probably on his way back from Punchestown. The Director of a Holiday Letting Company Paul is a keen supporter of the Weston and Banwell Hunt.

Will secured the final leg of his treble aboard the Ed Bailey owned and Chris Barber trained Young William in the concluding Maiden race. That does not adequately describe the requirement to get the Yeats gelding to set off in the race with the rest of his rivals. Left walking in the paddock whilst the others went to the start he was eventually walked to the start where Will was immediately legged up and the starter’s flag was dropped. Settled behind the longtime leader Kates Lane ridden by Ella Herbison he and main rival Mr Craftsman ridden by Martin McIntyre dueled after the second last with Young William prevailing by three quarters of a length at the winning post. Bought by Ed at the Ascot Sales in March for £4000 he was found to be suffering from chronic ulcers and this has been treated. He may have one further point to point race before going to the sales at Doncaster later this month.