ecretary:   Mrs Nicky Atkinson

Contact Details   Mob: 07870 630474

E Mail: - njatkinson10@gmail.com

Entries to:   The Point to Point Racing Co Ltd

Entries close:   Monday 27th April 2025 12.30pm

Races:  Conditions Level 3, Mixed Open (2m5F), Conditions (Level 1 Grass Roots) Maiden, Restricted, Maiden (2m5f)

First Race:   2.00pm

ENTRY FEES  £50 per entry per race,  2nd entry same horse £15

The Wessex season moves on to the newest course in the area namely Chilfrome near Maiden Newton situated just off the A356 when the Cattistock hold their point to point. Despite the very dry conditions at present watering at the course has been ongoing since last Thursday and this will continue to ensure that there will be at least good going for the racing on Saturday.  – Tickets (£12.50) are available on line at pointingwessex.co.uk until 12 noon on Friday 11^th April, admission on the day £15.00, under 16 Free. Prior to the point-to-point races there will be two pony races commencing at 1.00pm.

There will be trade stands to browse, food outlets and bar and the bookmakers to have a wager or two with during the afternoon. With the weather settled at present and viewing excellent from the bank above the course so do come racing!

The meeting begins with a Conditions race sponsored by Chedington Court Estate Limited and this may see a return to the winners enclosure for the Emma Summersby trained Dorrells Pierji who showed that he still retains good form after finishing second to Humaniste at Kilworthy. The winner of four of his last five races at the end of last season he did not have a very successful spell under Rules but this is his time of year and he will be the one to beat. Scoresby would have had a win against his name this season save for the last fence blunder at Badbury and may be the main danger. Move With The Beat won a similar race at Milborne St Andrew but this looks a stronger race. Powerstown Park also won at Milborne St Andrew but he may opt for the Grass Roots race. Divilskin was placed at Wadebridge but has disappointed since and similar comments apply to Holiday Fund who also won at Wadebridge  but has been a beaten favourite of his last two outings.

The Restricted race sponsored by Kitson and Trotman has attracted a strong looking entry of twelve horses. Posh Chick won on debut at Buckfastleigh and this daughter of the prolific Posh Totty is definitely one for the short list. She does come up against a number of more seasoned campaigners such as the Chris Barber pair of City Silk and Tennessee Orange both winners at Milborne St Andrew and the Will Biddick trained  Southfield Scope the winner of a Maiden at Larkhill. Up Killoughey  won at the first Milborne St Andrew meeting but was pulled at Badbury Rings. Noble Blue made a good impression when winning his first two races before being placed at Charlton Horethorne and he may return to the winner’s enclosure in this race.

The Maiden Conditions race sponsored by Harry Fry Racing may provide Lucarne with her first victory. Owned and bred by local owner Audrey Goodwin the dam Carrie On was a prolific winner and this would be a popular winner. Miss Ghillie was placed at Wadebridge in December but has not finished since. Callaghy was placed at Kilworthy and this ex Irish pointer trained by Luke Price will come into calculations. Nelson Criq was pulled up last week at Cherrybrook but if he shows his placed form from earlier then he will be fancied.

The Conditions race for Grass Roots Riders also holds an entry for Dorrells Perji but his rider Rian Corcoran in his pursuit of the leading Novice Rider in the country may decide to stick with the Welsh trained Powerstown Park who won well for him at Milborne St Andrew. Punches Cross has been in good form this season and it would be no surprise if he won this race. Acey Milan now trained by Harry Ryall and to be ridden by Will Higgs is the class horse and was not disgraced when coming up against Famous Clermont at Cothelstone. Soldier of Destiny was third in his Hunt race at Chipley  and this twice winning chaser for Jamie Snowden would come into the reckoning on his best form. Powerstown Park is the selection.

The Mixed Open race sponsored by Battens Solicitors is the feature race and a good quality entry of eleven horses has been made. Dalamoi is unbeaten in two races this season having last won at Didmarton for father/son combination of Tim and Ed Vaughan. Switch Hitter is another in good form having won his last three races but unseated Olive Nicholls before the race on his intended Hunter Chase outing  at Exeter and these antics are of concern. Hell Red is another who brings good form from last season but has not run since last August. Another Furlough has not been seen since pulling up in a Hunter Chase at Wetherby but on his best form he comes into calculations. The unbeaten Southfield Lily has won her last four races but these have all been small fields and she was fortunate to win at Badbury Rings. Dalamoi looks the most likely winner.

The meeting concludes with a Maiden over the shorter trip of 2 miles and five furlongs sponsored by Walter Wall. Gig in the Park ran well on his seasonal debut at Milborne St Andrew and a repeat of that outing may be good enough. Luke Price has entered Scoro already placed three times this season and he may appreciate the shorter trip. Chris Barber has the ex-Irish Chief O’Hara who has shown little form but Chris is known for improving horses from Ireland. Easy Rider is another who has been placed in three Maidens already and has each way possibilities.  Gig in the Park is the selection.  

Race 1:            Conditions (Level 3) 

1^st         Move With the Beat

2^nd        Scoresby

3^rd        

Runners:          2                      Distances:        21/2l, l                         Time: 8m 37s

Race 2:            Restricted 

1^st         Up Killoughey

2^nd        Boys Will Be Boys

3^rd        Comonilean 

Runners:          7                      Distances:        3l, 30l                          Time: 7m 08s

Race 3:            Maiden Conditions 

1^st         Callaghy

2^nd        What A Pleasure

3^rd        Kalipso His 

Runners:          5                      Distances:        8l, hd                           Time: 7m 28s

Race 4:            Conditions (Level 1) Grass Roots 

1^st         Punches Cross

2^nd        Dorrells Pierji

3^rd        Gateau de Miel 

Runners:          4                      Distances:        sh, 15l                          Time: 6m 56s

Race 5:            Mixed Open 2m4f 

1^st         Another Furlough

2^nd        Joly Maker

3^rd        

Runners:          3                      Distances:        1l, l                              Time: 5m 51s

Race 6:            Maiden 2m4f 

1^st         Scoro

2^nd        Gig In The Park

3^rd        Fourneux d’Isanka 

Runners:          4                      Distances:        5l, Dist                         Time:5 m 56s

N/A

A decent crowd enjoyed a full days racing at the Cattistock point to point where the weather was dry and pleasantly warm. Despite the continuing dry spell the efforts of Robert Atkinson and his team to produce a good safe racing surface were rewarded following continuous watering for over a week and there was much praise from owners, trainers and jockeys over the time that had been spent in preparing the course. James King continues in a rich vein of form and secured another riding treble with one of his leading supporters, Luke Price training two of those winners and a winner each for two of our best leading young riders in the South West namely Rian Corcoran and James Shaw.

The opening Conditions race was run at a crawl with neither of the two runners Move With The Beat ridden by James King and Scoresby partnered by Josh Newman wanting to play their hand until the latest moment. As a result when James asked his mount to quicken from the second last his pace was decisive and his rival never got within challenging distance. James described him as ‘ a speedy sort with an excellent turn of foot in these conditions’ Owned by James Drummond and trained by Chris Barber he was winning his fourth point to point in total after a difficult spell under Rules. Bought by James and his wife Ferelith after his Maiden success at Ston Easton in 2022 he is showing a much higher level of confidence and is likely to remain in the point to point circuit.

Rian Corcoran secured another winner on his quest to be the leading Novice rider in the country when putting up an impressive victory aboard Up Killoughey in the Restricted race. Owned by Mike Tozer and trained by Rian’s father Liam he was following up his win at MIlborne St Andrew but then disappointed at Badbury Rings. Explaining that run Liam said ‘ we found that he had a virus after that race so have given him time to recover and we thought we had him back to his best form’ Liam’s wife Clare had been schooling him in the week and reported that he had been working well. Rian sat quietly at the rear of the field until making his move after the third last and drew away with Boys Will Be Boys ridden by Will Biddick chasing him vainly. Explaining his tactics Rian said that ‘once he starts passing horses he does get lit up and wants to race so it is a matter of trying to restrain him for as long as possible’ He does look a real progressive sort to follow.

James recorded his second victory of the day aboard Callaghy trained by Luke Price in the Maiden Conditions race. Part owned by Luke and Mike Lovell for whom this was a first winner as an owner James took up the running at the third last and was soon in command. Found by Luke and James in Ireland the five-year-old Elusive Pimpernel gelding boasted some useful form in Irish pointing and was unlucky on his UK debut when his saddle slipped at Howick. Luke added that ‘ he appreciated the staying nature of Chilfrome as he found the bends at Kilworthy too sharp’ Explaining his involvement with Luke Mike who hails from Exbury in the New Forest he said that he contacted Luke via a Welsh friend living in the New Forest and was thrilled with his first winner. Mike explained that ‘ I am  an agister in the New Forest responsible for looking after the welfare of livestock there and am also involved with the New Forest traditional point to point run over natural country on Boxing Day.’ James’s comment was ‘ another piece of excellent training from the Welsh Wizard!’

The closest finish of the day came in Conditions race for Grass Roots Riders. After Acey Milan had slipped up on the bend after the twelfth fence the race appeared to be heading for another victory for Dorrells Pierji ridden  by Rian Corcoran who took up the running approaching the last. However James Shaw on board Punches Cross  who had been hard at work from the fourth last had a willing partner and in the shadow of the post led in the final strides and won by a short head. Owned by Michael and Heather Sweetland and trained by Danielle Kenealy he was recording his third success this season and was providing James with his fifth winner this term. James who works for Sue and Lucy Gardner recorded his first double at Kilworthy last month and then added another at Dunsmore on Sunday.

The Mixed Open race was won by Another Furlough ridden by his usual pilot Robbie David. Setting off in front and jumping left he was never headed and despite idling on the flat he still had a length in hand over main rival Joly Maker ridden by Will Biddick. Recording his seventh career win for his proud trainer Harry Ryall he explained that ‘ he is not a natural front runner and would be much happier in a larger field when he could be held up’. Future plans have yet to be decided but he is unlikely to go to Cheltenham but might be given an entry at Stratford.

Scoro brought up James’s treble and Luke’s double when comfortably winning the closing Maiden race. Tracking the front running Gig In The Park ridden by Fionn Summers James took up the running from the second last and had five lengths in hand at the winning post. Another sourced by Luke and James from Ireland Luke commented that ‘ he is one paced but does stay all day and we thought he would outstay the runner up’ James added that ‘ he has his own way of jumping but all credit must go to Luke for his training of this gelding’