REPORT – AXE VALE – SUNDAY 27TH APRIL

The sun shone down on the course, and the racegoers flooded in. The organisers of the meeting at the Axe Vale meeting at Stafford Cross on Sunday, seemed pleased it looked to be another record day, with all their combined hard work paying off, and conditions looked to be safe.

The day was competitive and started with the WBW Solicitors Members race. With only two runners, with Impakt St Georges being sent off favourite under jockey Darren Andrews, for trainer Josh Newman, up against Templier D’Habert under Maia Ramasamy. It was a steady run race, with young jockey Maia Ramasamy who is studying as a medic student at Exeter gave Templier D’Habert a competitive run around the course, alongside Darren Andrews on Impakt St Georges, before Darren then lead over the final fence, and going on to win. Owners John and Floss Symes, with John stating, “We bought him from Ireland in November, and plan to run in a Restricted next.” Darren was delighted with his win “Kept it as simple as possible, Josh who normally rides him is out of Hunt members races, so I was offered the ride.”

The next race up was the J. & F.J.Baker Intermediate race, in which there were three runners. Whitsand Bay under jockey Josh Newman, was sent off odds on favourite. However this race went the way of runner Funky Sensation starting at 11/4, having taken on the favourite over the last fence, going onto win under jockey Henry Moore. Owned and trained by Barnstaple trainer Helen Bament, with jockey Henry Moore aboard, taking the ride after Helen Bament’s son Jake unable to ride due to an injury. After the race jockey Henry Moore stated “It’s great for Helen and Peter to give me the opportunity, I am delighted.” with Helen who currently has eight in training, and being well chuffed with the win adding, “I’ve been riding him all the time, and with Jake injured, good boy jockey Henry schooled for us last week.”

The third race on the day ended up in drama, with the Lee Clifford Engineering-sponsored Mixed Open race ending up in a dead heat. With only three runners this was a very tactical race between entries His Own Star under Jo Supple setting the pace, but soon to be Quintin’s Man under Josh Newman taking on Lakota Warrior, under young jockey Rian Cocoran, battling out a head-to-head fence for fence, and the judges unable to split them over the final line. With trainer of Lakota Warrior Emma Summersby quoting “He likes sunshine on his back, doesn’t do anything until the good weather.” and jockey Rian adding, “He seems to be in form of his life, we just missed a stride over the last fence.” with the trainer of Quintin’s Man, John Heard adding “He has come back to form, wasn’t staying previously, had health issues, but is gutsy and run a blinder today.” and jockey Josh Newman stating “Just game, winged the last, and stuck his neck out.”

Next up was the Totnes & Bridgetown-sponsored Grass Roots Conditions race, which went the way of odds-on favourite Midnight Midge for trainer Robert Chanin, under jockey James Shaw. With four entered this was another exciting race, heading into the final straight neck and neck, with Midnight Midge and outsider Canastero under Ashley Dascombe, battling over the final fence, with Midnight Midge going onto win. Trainer Robert Chanin, who was supporting an injury himself sustained whilst farming, quoted “We will up him now into Hunter Chases, maybe at Newton Abbot.” Joint owner Ron Hodges, who himself has previously trained 1000 winners was pleased with the outcome “He is home-bred, and won six races under rules when I trained him.”

In the following Lentells Restricted race, produced another favourite winning, with the Chris Barber trained Jewell In The Park following up on his consistent form, under jockey Ed Doggrell. This was a moving day for the owners, the Always Broke Partnership, with joint owner Lucy Doggrell, mother of jockey Ed Doggrel, who was wearing his grandfather’s silk colours, and the family mourning the death of their grandfather last week. With Ed Doggrell quoting. “We changed our game plan with him, and he winged his way around, I knew I had more in hand, this race win means a lot to me.” Lucy wanted to add “This is a fabulous racecourse, well done to the organisers and the lovely secretary.”

The first Maiden race, which was sponsored by The Jockey Club & Hammet Associates for mares and fillies, Lucarne had been sent off favourite under jockey Josh Newman, but it was All Walks Of Life under Ed Vaughan, who had been kept handy throughout and took the advantage over the second last going onto win nicely. Trainer/Owner of All Walks Of Life, Jonathan Phillips, was thrilled saying “We bought him from Doncaster last July, we plan to run in another point-to-point before heading back under rules.” with 17 year-old jockey Ed Vaughan adding “I’ve only sat on him twice before, he’s not the biggest, but went into race in second gear.”

Finally up was the Maiden race for horses and geldings sponsored by The Scott Rowe Solicitors, with five entries. This was another thrilling race with favourite Bennettsbridge tanking off in front with jockey Tom Hutsby for trainer/father Fred Hutsby. The young jockey did well to hold the horse, fending off the opposition around the track, and came home the distant winner. After the race Tom Hutsby was truly exhausted, having ridden a second in the previous race, and needed a while to recover himself before the presentation. With his proud father quoting “Bennettsbridge has been knocking on the door, we are just learning about him, he’s keen and done it nicely.” adding “Tom has been feeling unwell for a few days, he did well.” with owner Marcine Marshall, previously a flat rider herself, explaining “We bought him from Olly Murphy after he ran at Taunton in January, we will probably finish now for the season after that win.”