Point-to-point racing returns at last!
POINT-TO-POINT racing returned to the Devon and Cornwall area last weekend after a frustrating 11-week gap, due to a plethora of waterlogged courses during this rain-sodden winter.
The Lamerton fixture, held at Kilworthy near Tavistock, had been put back for one week, but the organisers were well rewarded this time when a total of 49 runners lined up for their seven races run on soft ground.
Sunday’s highlights included riding trebles for both Darren Edwards and Josh Newman, with Lifton trainer Dean Summersby going even better when a quartet of the runners he saddled reached the winner’s enclosure.
Liberty Rock started the ball rolling for the Summersby / Edwards team by sharing a dead heat in the Hunt race. The eight-year-old had won at this track last season and battled well as Takeabid’s late thrust put her on terms reaching the judge. Dean reported: Liberty Rock really needs better ground and will be aimed at the Exeter Intermediate Final if the ground dries up.”
Takeabid’s rider, 20-year-old Chad Bament, works for the Anthony Honeyball yard and was partnering his ninth career winner as the John Heard trained mare put in a fluent round of jumping.
Takeabid carries the colours of John Gardener and Terry Hamlin, and the former was in the winner’s circle again when five-year-old mare Liwah , owned in partnership with his wife Sonia, became the first leg of Josh Newman’s treble when winning the Mares Maiden. Newman’s patient ride paid off as the small ex-French mare just had enough in hand to hold Chloe Emsley’s challenge on the odds-on favourite Moon Lady. “They had gone off quickly so I just kept sitting,” remarked the winning rider, who also trains the mare.
It became the Dean Summersby show for the next three races, these successes in stark contrast to the yard’s virus hit early season form. Sixyear-old Jet Smart stretched clear from three out to take the horses and geldings Maiden under Darren Edwards to draw some generous praise from the trainer: “He was quite expensive when he joined David Pipe from Ireland. He jumps like an open horse although he would prefer better ground. When he gets his conditions he could flourish.”
Dean’s 20-year-old daughter Charlotte took over in the saddle to land her sixth career success as Young Buck held on to a fast diminishing lead over runner up Makety to take the Mixed Open. “I kept asking and he kept giving,” reported the young rider who works in her father’s yard. One of the area’s favourite mares, Singapore Saga, was pulled up lame in this race and trainer John Heard confirmed afterwards that she would be retired with a breeding future in mind.
Jubertilee became the fourth winner of the afternoon for the Summersby yard when winning the Area Conditions race. Mike Bickell’s sevenyear-old was given a vintage Darren Edwards ride, glued to the inside rails and cutting every corner before holding Arv Way There in a driving finish. “I was a bit surprised but this is his track and he was given a peach of a ride. This is my first four-timer,” said a much relieved trainer.
The remaining two races went to jockey / trainer combination Josh Newman, whose weekend had been further enhanced when he sent out two winners from his Woolminstone yard at the Cotley meeting, also held on Sunday, after a successful riding foray at Garthorpe, Leicestershire the previous day.
Terry Hamlin’s consistent mare Lucky Lara proved just too strong for front-running stable companion Whitsand Bay in the Restricted, in a reversal of their Charlton Horethorne form before the progressive Hearts Corner, in the colours of Becky Kealey, held the late thrust of Harbour Queen to win the Intermediate and set up a tilt at the Exeter Racecourse Final.