REPORT – CATTISTOCK – SATURDAY 29TH APRIL

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 beforehand 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 Maiden 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.