Secretary: Mrs Linda Pugsley

Address:  Zeal Farm, Hawridge, Dulverton, Somerset TA22 9QL

T:  01398 341317

M: 07890 662817

E:  lindapugsley@live.co.uk

Entries:  Mrs J Cumings

Address:  Eastwood Bishops Nympton South Molton Devon EX36 4PB

T/F:  01769 550528

M: 07815 888625 

E:  cumings.eastwood@gmail.com

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

Entries Close:  Monday 25th April 2022 12.30 pm

Races:  Members - Restricted - Club Conditions  (Level 2) 8yo+ - 4,5,6 year old Maiden (2m4f) – Conditions (Level 1) Nov Rdrs - Maiden - Mixed Open

This Sunday sees the unveiling of the new Devon & Somerset Point to Point course at South Hill near Dulverton.  Located close to an earlier course at Mounsey Hill Gate which closed in 2007, the new right-handed course on the opposite side of the road offers much improved viewing and should be a nice addition to the roster of courses within the Wessex Area.  Tickets are £15 per person to include a race card (under 16s are admitted free) on the gate. The first race is at 2pm with a bar and refreshments available and trade stands on site.  The course is situated 2 miles north of Dulverton off the B3223. Cars can access the course off this road but lorries must NOT go through Dulverton and instead are directed via Winsford. 

The Members race sponsored by Exmoor Luxury Loos has attracted two from the Keith Cumings yard including Dr Rhythm who won early in the season at Badbury Rings and was then just beaten by The Big Sting before a heavy fall at Exeter in a Hunter Chase.  The second entry from the yard, Don’t Ask Us beat Reflex Action (who re-opposes here) at Milborne St Andrew in March and was then beaten by The Big Sting at Dunsmore. On a form line Dr Rhythm should narrowly confirm superiority over his stable mate and also Reflex Action who subsequently took a match race at Cherrybrook before pulling up at Trebudannon. 

The Tom Malone Bloodstock Maiden race has attracted the highest number of entries and includes the only entry all day for trainer Chris Barber who has Meditur in here.  A good looking son of Turgeon, he ran well at Cothelstone when finishing fourth and it looked like the run would bring him on considerably.  Wise Garden was in the process of running a good race that day before ducking out.  Prior to that he was only just denied at Ston Easton (Roc The Boat back in 5^th) and could make amends.  Dean Summersby has acquired Catch the Monarch from Ireland where he ran three times failing to complete. However that was on soft ground and this son of a winning pointing dam may improve for a quicker surface.  Myles Osborne too has an ex-Irish pointer entered in Mr Craftsman who ran showing some promise in Ireland. Cloucerna has finished third in his last two outings and should again run well. 

A fascinating PFG Fabrication sponsored Mixed Open entry includes the evergreen Southfield Theatre who has produced some stunning front-running displays this season under Lily Bradstock and thoroughly earned the right to be the current leading horse nationally with six wins to remain unbeaten this term. His opponents include Sykes who has also been in good form scoring three times under Darren Edwards with wins at Wadebridge, Great Trethew and Kilworthy. Another prolific winning veteran, Spencer Moon has won twice this year while Beau du Brizais has won three this season coming here off the back of a cosy win at Cothelstone.  Hat-trick seeking Captain Buck’s narrowly denied Monsieur Gibraltar at Larkhill before following up in a Men’s Open at Penshurst. The fly in the ointment however may be Welsh youngster Foreign Secretary for trainer Luke Price. Bred in the purple by Champion sire, Galileo out of a Champion two year old in Finsceal Beo, his three pointing outings have resulted in three wins. 

The Novice Rider’s Conditions race is sponsored by Stag Environmental for the first time and they are the meeting’s main sponsor.  The entry includes Commanche Red who won five times under rules and could prove a useful recruit for young Freddie Gordon who has himself ridden 6 winners this season. Trained by Jenny Gordon, Commanche Red last won at Plumpton in April 2021, with the first time fitting of a visor. The headgear was left off for his pointing debut but it should be noted if re-applied today. Aheadfullofdreams ran well under today’s rider at Trebudannon and the Summersby yard is in top form at present. Ed Walker’s Field Exhibition was going well until coming down at the 12^th at Cothelstone. Daisy White wasn’t beaten far last time on her own Dan’s Wee Man at Flete Park and could be one for the placings. 

The Amhurst & Shapland Conditions race for horses 8 years and over has attracted 9 entries.  This may be the preferred option for Arcal Fifty instead of the Open while several entered in other races also appear here.  Arcal Fifty took a Restricted race at Larkhill in February before finishing a fair fourth back at that track the same month and would have a chance.  Of those not already mentioned elsewhere, Mister Dick won nicely at Cotley for the Warner family before failing to peg back his rival at Andoversford and he too could prove worth following. 

There are 6 entries in the finale, the James Rowe sponsored Restricted race, including two from Dean Sumersby’s yard.  Ask The Lady was only just beaten at Trebudannon last time following her walkover at Kilworthy. Dean’s other entry, Jetmeoutofhere finished alone last weekend following his rival’s fall at Stafford Cross. Prior to that he won a maiden nicely at Dunsmore.  Spike’s Princess departed mid-race at Cothelstone on Easter Monday while Broomfield’s Cave survived being chased by an unruly dog when winning his maiden on debut at Bonvilston. Roy Smith’s Say About It opened his account at Great Trethew and was recently second at Stafford Cross. 

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A damp and drizzly day did not deter either a decent crowd or those trainers keen to run on the new course at South Hill, just outside Dulverton.  Organisers had done a great job getting the course ready in time and were rewarded with some excellent racing, trebles for jockey Darren Edwards and trainer Dean Summersby and a first win for young Jack Instance on the aptly named Aheadfullofdreams. 

The standout moment of the day came in the Novice Riders race when Aheadfullofdreams won by a wide margin to give his young pilot a first win.  Always dictating the race, the gelding thoroughly relished his front running role and the result was never in doubt.  Sixteen year old Jack had long dreamt of being a jockey having been so obsessed with horses he used to make his non-horsey parents drive past the local Lloyds Bank so he could look at the black sign.  Eighteen months ago he posted a request on Facebook that he was looking to ride out at a yard and trainer Dean Summersby was tagged.  Dean found a horse for Jack in Aheadfullofdreams purchased from the Skelton yard as a suitable schoolmaster and while his parents, Harvey and Claire, had owned horses before this was their first winner and it was proved a very emotional one.  Currently doing his GCSEs, Jack will be attending the British Racing School in August and will then go to David Pipe’s. 

The first race of the day, the Hunt Members, proved to be a welcome tonic for trainer Keith Cummings whose daughter Jo had been in hospital and was due to be allowed home today.  His Dr Rhythm had suffered a heavy fall last time at Exeter but apart from disagreeing with jockey Josh Newman at the open ditch put in a more confident round to beat sole rival McNamara’s Band. Josh allowed Dr Rhythm to lead throughout and although Kiana James-Thomas tried to make a race of it, the winner was always going better. 

The Maiden race attracted 6 runners but despite favourite Meditur looking menacing at one point, the final half mile found him out and he faded into third behind Catch the Monarch under Darren Edwards and Flash Gorcombe who had been held up under Josh Newman as the rain started to open up the ground.  The winner had been purchased by trainer Dean Summersby a few weeks previously from Ireland where he had run three times failing to complete on much softer ground.  Darren explained that the ex-Irish gelding was very straightforward and with Dean wishing to sell him on now privately, he could prove a nice pointer to get involved with. 

The Mixed Open had attracted some quality not least the season’s current leading horse, Southfield Theatre who had been pulled out the day before at Chilfrome.  Darren Edwards however riding Sykes for trainer Nicky Martin was determined to spoil the party and stalked the favourite as he bowled along in front.  Sitting quietly in his slipstream, Darren waited until the home straight until he pounced and drew just over 3 lengths clear at the line.  A disappointed Lily Bradstock on the second explained that he had not handled the undulations well and preferred a more galloping track.  Sykes’ trainer Nicky Martin has a huge soft spot for the winner who she trains less than three miles from the course.  “He is a wonderful horse to have in the yard. I have retired him from Rules racing but he just so enthusiastic and loves pointing so we will combine this with continuing to lead the babies out at home.”  She added that he may go to Bratton Down next. 

Darren completed his treble and also one for trainer Dean Summersby in the final race, a Restricted, when Ask the Lady won by the widest margin of the day for owners Tony and Eileen Worth.  Always wanting to get on with things, this improving mare who was purchased by Dean from Fergal O’Brien, pulled further and further away from her rivals and never came under any pressure.  Darren felt it would have given her plenty of confidence winning easily and she should win again.  Dean was quick to compliment the organisers at South Hill on the course and the ground. 

The Men’s title race has been neck and neck all season and so it continued yesterday with James King and Will Biddick arriving on 39 winners a piece and faced each other as first and second favourite in the Conditions race.  The 5 runners went a decent pace and James King got some good jumps out of veteran Spencer Moon setting him up for a duel from the open ditch on the last circuit with Beau du Brizais under Will Biddick.  Eventually it was the Luke Price trained Spencer Moon who stayed on the stronger to win by 12 lengths and put James back in front.  Although 14 years old, Spencer Moon is clearly rejuvenated this season winning for the third time and connections explained they had discovered a haematoma in his groin area which had probably caused him some discomfort.