Secretary:   Mrs Nicky Atkinson

Contact Details   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 24th April 2023 12.30pm

Races:  PPORA Members Conditions Level 3, Ladies Open, Conditions Maiden, Mens Open, Restricted, Maiden (2m5f)

First Race:   2.00pm

After having to postpone their planned meeting at the beginning of the month due to heavy rainfall the Cattistock  have rearranged their meeting for this coming Saturday and it is to be hoped that the weather gods will be kinder to them on this occasion at their new course at Chilfrome, near Maiden Newton. There is 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. E-tickets 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. Pony racing takes place at 1.00pm with the first horse race at 2.00pm. The Clerk of the Course currently reports the going as Good, Good to Soft in Places.

The first race is a Conditions Race sponsored by Chedington Court Estate and has attracted an entry of eleven horses. Fiston des Issards has come up against Dr Rhythm on his last two outings but does not have to face that rival and provided he has recovered from his run at Holnicote last Saturday he may be the one to beat. Palmaria ran her best race for some time when runner up at Cothelstone to the prolific Southfield Theatre and if in the same vein of form, she must have every chance. Sake of Secrecy has been a model of consistency for his owners and deserves another victory this season. You Know The Story had Glancing Glory behind him when runner up at Flete and this lightly raced mare from Luke Price’s stable should not be discounted. Ninth Wave won a two runner Novice Riders race at Holnicote and may hold each way chances.

The Kitson and Trotman sponsored Restricted race may give Ping Pong Paddy the chance to supplement his impressive Maiden victory at Cothelstone. The application of cheek pieces produced a transformation, and a repeat of that form may be good enough to beat his main rival Marton Abbey, the winner of a Maiden at Kingston Blount and subsequently placed in a Hunter Chase at Stratford. Vermillion Cliffs looked under pressure when falling at Cotley while Mad for Action was runner up in his Hunt Race at Holnicote whereas Highway Hero who also ran at Holnicote will be trying the three-mile trip for the first time.

Harry Fry Racing sponsor the Maiden Conditions race and this gives another chance to Itsnotcosiownhim to break his duck. Placed in a competitive Maiden at Charlton Horethorne he was fourth in a shorter Maiden at Cotley and might appreciate the return to the full three-mile trip. Luke Price has entered both Goldwin Magic and Stopbeatinyourgums and his selection would be worth considering. The last named was placed at Larkhill on his debut and then runner up at Lydstep. Ribo A Irep was a good second at KIlworthy and was then pulled up on very soft ground at Trebudannon. Breffni Brave was second when falling at the last at Lydstep and if making the trip from Wales he would come into the reckoning.

The Bradfords Building Supplies sponsored Ladies Open may see victory from one of the entries from outside the Wessex area. The Welsh pair of Frisco Bay and Sunset Showdown have their chances with the second named being runner up to the prolific Voodoo Doll at Lydstep having the better form. However, if Ryans Fancy makes the long trip from his base his form to date may give Immy Robinson a first winner at Chilfrome. Monsieur Gibraltar has yet to reproduce any of his good form from last season whereas Golden Poet who won at this meeting last year may need faster ground to show his best form.

The Battens Solicitors sponsored Mens Open race contains an entry for Macklin who has been impressive in his three victories to date and if opting for this race would be a warm favourite. However, he does hold an entry at South Hill the following day and in his absence the race may turn into a match between the choice of Luke Price’s three entries Captain Mc, Los Alamos and Spencer Moon and Teresa Clark’s game grey Beau du Brizais. Both Captain Mc and Spencer Moon have won both their outings this season whereas Los Alamos has not run since June 2021 and may need the race. Beau du Brizais won his Hunt race at Holnicote and might be able to thwart the challenge from Wales now he has got his head in front. 

The Walter Wall sponsored Maiden race brings the meeting to a close and of the twelve entries over the shorter trip of two miles five furlongs Our Dylan placed behind Ping Pong Paddy at Cothelstone looks to have a good chance. Bollin Twinkle was placed at Cotley and this mare trained by Chloe Roddick is on the upgrade. Johnny Me Boy was third at Cothelstone and was another showing the first piece of form pointing. Am I Wrong placed in a Bumper will be making his point-to-point debut and this Luke Price trained grey gelding formerly in the ownership of Andrew Cohen and trained by Olly Murphy is one to bear in mind. Ianthus Mome made a lot of the running at Cothelstone and if he can be restrained over the shorter trip, he might provide the value as he was placed over fences in France. 

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The rearranged Cattistock meeting held last Saturday at Chilfrome took place in very sunny conditions for the good crowd to enjoy. The course had been lengthened since its initial meeting and the improvements made seemed to receive a positive response. The course had received heavy rainfall a couple of days before hand and this had considerably eased the going. The highlights of the meeting were a double for jockey Will Biddick and trainer Chris Barber, a first winner for Sean Clarke and a family treble for Kieran Burke. There was also a parade of Famous Clermont the Dorset trained winner of the Aintree Foxhunters which was well received by all racegoers present.

Palmaria was a good winner of the opening Conditions race by three lengths from Sake of Secrecy . Ridden by Chad Bament who was recording his third victory this season, trained by Caroline Keevil and owned by Lady Sutton the mare has returned to racing after some abortive attempts to produce a foal from her. Sadly, she had lost two foals during pregnancies but as her owner advised ‘she just wants to be a racehorse’ and ‘is not happy being out in the field’ She had previously put in a good run behind the prolific Southfield Theatre at Cothelstone and this form entitled her to a great chance in this company. Happy to bide his time Chad reported that ‘I waited for the race to fall apart as I thought they had gone off too quickly and I wanted to use my mare’s staying ability to the best’ Lady Sutton who lives in Newbury bought her just broken as a four-year-old and was thrilled that she has now won four point to points and a Hunter Chase in her long career.

Will secured the first of his two wins when Ping Pong Paddy held off the challenge of Highway Hero ridden by Rob David by two and a half lengths in the Restricted race. Not as impressive as when he won his Maiden at Cothelstone, Chris explained that ‘The small field was not in his favour and we did not really want to make the running but there was little choice’. He is a strong stayer, and he used this ability when his main rival who was held up to get the trip tried to close on him approaching the last. Much stronger now than when he arrived from Ireland last year, he runs in the name of The Christopher Barber Racing Club one of whom is Margaret Barber and Chris commented with a smile that ‘it was good to keep grandmother happy.’ 

The Maidens Conditions race looked as if this would provide Will Biddick with his second winner of the day but favourite Itsnotcosiownhim could only finish third behind Breffni Brave ridden by Sean Clarke and Millstone partnered by Rob Hawker. Breffni Brave trained by Gareth Moore near Bridgend and owned by Scott Dougal, who missed the victory as he was at Punchestown, was giving connections their first winner of the season. Bought by Gareth for £1000 from a Tattersalls online sale in September last year out of Gordon Elliott’s stable he is a scopey individual by Shirocco out of a Milan mare and looks a promising sort. Ridden by Sean, 23, he was recommended to Gareth by licensed trainer Robbie Llewellyn now based near Marlborough but previously in South Wales. Sean was registering his first career victory from a total of eight rides, three of which have been for his boss Robbie under rules. Delighted to have picked up this ride Sean has been race riding for about a year and is due to go on a Conditionals course in June to further his career. 

Will did manage to secure his second winner of the day when winning the last race the Maiden over the shorter trip of Two Miles Five furlongs aboard Ideal Vert. This was a very popular success for local owner Malcolm White who lives at Hardington Mandeville and has had many horses in the past when Michael Miller and Nick Mitchell used to ride for him, most notably Highway Oak. Acquired by Chris Barber and Ed Bailey from the Goffs January 2023 sale for £3000 out of Gordon Elliott’s stable Ideal Vert had some good place form in an Irish point to point but did not show that under Rules. Chris explained that ‘he has been one of the hardest horses I have trained in my career and a lot of credit should go to Jamie Thomas who is my leading work rider’. Different tactics were adopted this time compared to his previous outing at Cotley when he was held up and the decision to make all of the running proved the key to success as he settled well in front and jumped soundly for Will. Ianthus Mome ridden by George Hiscock threatened briefly after the third last but he had no more to give after the next fence.

Prior to the Maiden Kieran Burke won both of the two Open races with Golden Poet, the first being a walkover in the Ladies race when partnered by Chloe Emsley and then in a match for the Mens Open when ridden by Charlie Sprake. This was almost a replica of what Golden Poet did last season at Larkhill when winning two races on the same day and then he went on to win at Chilfrome for Alice Procter. Charlie was partnering the gelding for the first time but had no trouble in steering him to a facile victory after sole rival Rectory Oak was pulled up at the second last. Reminiscing that he had acquired him from Justin Landy in 2019 he did not manage to win a race under Rules with him but he has enjoyed his drop back to point to pointing. Kieran added that it had been a great day for the family as his fourteen-year-old son Louis had won the first of the two pony races held before racing aboard Little Replacement.