REPORT – DART VALE AND HALDON HARRIERS (SUNDAY 15TH MARCH)

Sundays Point-to-Point meeting was held at the popular historic Buckfastleigh
venue by kind permission of landowners the Cooper family. With weather
conditions testing not just for the Dedicated Dart Vale and Haldon Harriers
organising team, but also for trainers, owners, their horses and race goers, along
with the Bookies and trade stands all looking to enjoy a Mothers Day family treat.
With seven races on the card along with pony racing the day didn’t disappoint
with one of the pony races seeing Amber Tizzard on Rocket Ronnie coming home
ahead of Little Cheify ridden by Jack Pipe.

The main event started with the Ashburton Motor Works, South and East Devon
Conditions race, with Call Simon for the Robert Chanin team under jockey Aaron
McManus, taking on and beating the favourite Fighter Allen over the last to win
by a length. Trainer Robert Chanin as delighted for owner Andrew and Sue Knox
quoting ‘’He is only my second runner this season. We plan to find him another
race in the mud which he likes.’’

Following on was the Luscombe May and Goffs ‘’GB Pointing Bonus’’ Young horse
Maiden series race with four entries on the day with the bookies being torn
between La Coy for trainer Eamon O’Donnabhain unde jockey Tommie O’Brien,
and the Will Biddick-trained Lascar Collonges under Josh Newman. Lascar
Collonges ended up odds on favourite and didn’t disappoint with Josh having
stylishly ridden a patient race in the testing conditions, coming home the fifteen
length winner giving him 21 wins for the season. Delighted Will Biddick
commented ‘’I was stretching myself whilst race riding and training, I am now
concentrating on the training and really enjoying it. Our plans for Lascar Collonges
will probably be the sales.’’

In the Totnes and Bridgetown-sponsored Mixed Open race of the four entries
another Josh Newman ridden and trained entry Hearts Corner started the odds on
favourite, the Danielle Kenealy-trained Punches Cross under James Shaw set up
a steady pace, but Hearts Corner soon skipped clear after the final back straight winning by eight lengths giving Josh his second winner for the day. Delighted
owner Rebecca Roach, who works as a carer looking after people wit learning
difficulties commented. ‘’We bought Hearts Corner from Kayley, he has his own
way of doing things and can be awkward too. We have a few horses which we
have bred and look forward to running them.’’ Josh added ‘’It was hard work for a
young horse, he was a bit novicy, but went through it well.’’

As the afternoon progressed the ground was becoming more tiring with the last
fence omitted. Three entries in the Exeter Racecourse Intermediate race which is
a qualifier for the seasons final. This was a race to seal both trainer Les Jefford a
previous multiple Pointing champion jockey, and jockey Anna Johnston the first
part of their double for the day with Jeu Gagnant winning for the Here Come The
Girls partnership syndicate run by Lia Jefford. Starting as an odds on favourite.
Entry The Gooner had led most of the way with Jeu Gagnant produced by Anna up
the final hill winning by one and-a-half lengths. Anna is based in Somerset and
rides out for the Jefford family along with Sid Hosie. ‘’ I am very lucky to be
connected with lovely people being able to give the syndicate lady owners some
exciting days racing. We questioned coming here today due to the gound as we
didn’t know how he would act on it.’’

James King had travelled down from Warwickshire to ride the Luke Price-trained
Galuden in the Winston Pincombe sponsored Maiden race. Of the seven entries
Champagne Blue under Josh Newman was sent off favourite, but it was Galuden
who made all to come home the fifteen length winner. Luke Price who is also part
owner stated ‘’He need time off after a leg injury, no plans at the moment but
hopefully we can run him in an Open.’’ Joint owners Mike and Alison Owen
adding ‘’ We have one other in training which we brought today but decided not
to run after the weather and ground deteriorated, our main job is looking after
ponies in the New Forest.’’

The penultimate race was the Stanley Carpets and Jockey Club-sponsored Maiden
race for mares and fillies with seven going to post. Emmas Wish for the John
Heard team headed up the betting, however this was a race which suited Dorset
trainer Harry Ryall who jointly owned the horse with his brother and friends.
Ridden today by jockey Charlie Marshall coming home the 20 length winner,
pleasing the bookies with a starting price of 8-1. Emmas Wish had put up a good fight throughout until the back straight, leaving her in second. Harry Ryall was
delighted quoting ‘Its my fourth year training, we have twelve in at the moment.
We ran her last year at Badbury Rings in ground that was too quick, she is related
to Davids Well trained by Chris Gordon.’’

To close the days event was the Barton Solicitors-sponsored Conditions race in
which only two competed on the heavy going. Clondaw Drake for trainer jockey
Josh Newman were sent off favourite with The Big Breakaway for trainer Les
Jefford under Anna Johnston being offered at 5-1. There was only one bookie left
at that state aptly named Billy No Mates. The jockeys were sensible throughout
the race taking it steady, but a mistake on the final circuit down the back straight
unseated jockey Josh, leaving Anna alone on The Big Breakaway who she steered
home safely. ‘’I was lucky to ride The Big Breakaway when Sid Hosie had him and
when he offered him for sale it seemed like an ideal opportunity for the West
country Breakaway owners syndicate to take him on. He was previously second at
the North Wales National race’’ She added he has give me my first double and
also great for trainer Les Jefford to score a double too.’’