Report – Dulverton West (Sunday 17th May)

Racing returned to Bratton Down on Sunday 17^th May. Organisers had been working flat out to battle the dry weather and provide suitable racing ground and were helped by showers prior to raceday making the going officially good to firm on the day. As always, the racing was competitive at this popular track in North Devon that are also set to host two more meetings this season.

The opening race saw 7 entries come forward for the James Pryce Tractors Restricted which saw the progressive Follow My Order the likely favourite but there were plenty of horses that had form in the book that could go one better. Two horses pulled up before the flags, first Fire Squadron under Walter Barnett which set the tone for his day and Jokers ‘n’ Clowns for James Shaw who was coming back from a spell off the track following a fall. Heading down hill in the final circuit, Fred Philpison-Stow held his lead from Troubleisontheway who had travelled well throughout the race. Fionn Summers and Dancing du Moulin were making headway on the leader before taking a long one at the third last and making an error at the next, sending both horse and rider into a nasty fall. At the second last, both Troubleisontheway and Follow My Order jumped together with One Tree Hill and Rhythm of Life battling it out in 3^rd and 4th. Henry Moore did well to keep Troubleisontheway straight while Follow My Order drifted out wide and paid the price when finishing second to the Dani Kenealy trained Troubleisontheway who took the win. One Tree Hill finished in third at 16/1 and Rhythm of Life couldn’t quicken up the Bratton Down hill, finishing in 4^th. Owner, Keiran Johns was delighted with the win, especially as he enjoyed success with this horse nearly 2 weeks prior at the Vauterhill bank holiday meeting.

Winning owner Keiran Johns, a true Bratton Down supporter, also sponsored the second race of the day, the Ucanstore.com Maiden. 6 runners went to post with the Luke Price trained Lady Bee Great going off clear favourite under leading jockey, James King. The Laura Hurley owned and trained Silent Auction went to post with odds of 7/1 but decided she wasn’t for turning and refused to race. Walter Barnett found himself pulling up his mount again, but this time after just 4 fences when riding Pretty Spontaneous, who also pulled up on her previous start in the Maiden at Vauterhill that Troubleisontheway went onto win. The lead was split by a very keen Lady Bee Great and Bacardi Blue who was ears pricked and enjoying her run when heading out into the final lap. It was at this point, Telexpress and Summer Halo were beginning to weaken and made jumping errors at fence 13, both soon pulled up. James King kept Lady Bee Great tucked in behind but was asked to quicken on the approach to 2 from home when Bacardi Blue made an error under James Shaw, giving away their lead to James King who went onto win by 15 lengths.

Next up was the Moorlands Vets sponsored Conditions race (level 1) which unfortunately only drew 2 runners but the 2 runners provided competitive racing, Boys Will Be Boys who won on the same ground at Bratton Down last year and Inchidaly Robin who was last year’s leading horse in the national leaderboard. Boys Will Be Boys looked a picture in the paddock and was ready to get on with proceedings after pulling up on his previous start at Stafford Cross. Fred Philipson-Stow was determined not to disappoint trainer Michael Felton with another 2^nd on the day and made all, out in front on Boys Will Be Boys. James King wasn’t going down without a fight, and a great jump at the final open ditch saw him edging upside the leader. Again, Fred Philipson-Stow found himself drifting right towards the paddock on the run in, but he managed to hold onto his fractional lead to win by 1 length in a nerve-racking finish.

PJ Hobbs & Johnson White Racing sponsored the Mixed Open and offered a generous prize pot which was the target for trainer, Luke Price, as he hunts down the national leading trainer title for 6-14 horses with strong chances in runners declared in 5 out of 6 races on this day. Dani Kenealy trained Skilful Lord loves winning at Bratton Down with 4 out of his 7 wins resulting in success at the North Devon track. All three of Helen Bament’s runners pulled up on this day and so too did Walter Barnett who was in the saddle when he called it a day on Funky Sensation after fence 6. The other 3 runners were tussling for places throughout the race with Lavorante pushed fiercely into the lead by James King after the 3^rd last. Skilful Lord followed closely but Ryan’s Fancy found himself out paced back in 3^rd. James Shaw was working hard back in 2^nd on Skilful Lord but made a blunder at the last fence which left Lavorante chance to extend his lead and in the end won by a convincing 30 lengths, giving James King and Luke Price a valuable double on the day.

The penultimate race of the day was the James Sherlock Motorbikes sponsored PPORA Conditions race (level 3) for 8yo & up. The book makers sent Eco Pete off favourite for in form duo James King and Luke Price who was last seen finishing 3^rd at Holnicote on his first start between the flags in Britain after being unsuccessful from 15 starts over hurdles in Ireland. Walter Barnett and Elizabeth Scott trained Presenting Point were the back markers for most of the race but did see out the trip to finish a 30-length 5^th. 10-year-old Canastero was ridden along by Ashley Dascombe going into the final circuit behind leader Conor’s Gift. The runners were a tight pack heading into the open ditch for the final time, Conor’s Gift jumping ahead in front, closely followed by Top Button and Eco Pete with Ashley Dascombe losing ground in behind. James King was determined to take his inside line in the approach to the final fence but wobbled on take-off, allowing Conor’s Gift to keep her lead and then extend to win by 5 lengths under Anna Johnston for regular trainer Les Jefford. Canastero held on for 3^rd with the weakening Top Button back in 4^th.

4 runners went to post in the final race of the day, the Totnes & Bridgetown sponsored Conditions Grassroots (level 2). Bruce Vaughan was chasing his 2^nd winner between the flags on his own Ringsend John; the pair were last seen winning at Eyton at their May meeting. Earths Furies was unlucky when unseating at the last at Upcott Cross but pulled up on this occasion after fence 14. Darren McAlinden trained Just Loose Change enjoyed racing in front like he did when winning on his previous start at South Hill. Just Loose Change opened up his lead when jumping downhill into the open country on the final circuit with Ringsend John behind in 2^nd and Investment Manager in 3^rd. Investment Manager tried to get on terms with the leader at the 3^rd fence from home but failed to quicken in the finish and allowed Ringsend John back up into 2^nd. Just Loose Change led from pillar to post under James Shaw giving him his 20^th winner between the flags for the young jockey.

Organisers were delighted with the quality of racing that was produced as a result of hard work to get the course in great condition for their first meeting. The next D&C meeting is back at Bratton Down on Sunday 24^th May, closely followed by Upcott Cross on Monday 25^th May.