Tedworth Point-to-Point: two trainers go home from Barbury Racecourse as double winners
Barbury Racecourse - a specialist venue for point-to-pointsThere were two doubles on the card at the Tedworth Point-to-Point held at a bright and breezy Barbury Racecourse (April 12) where a large crowd gathered to watch the feature race of the day. The Tedworth Gold Cup (the JM Finn & Co Mixed Open Race) is a stayers test over 3 miles 6 furlongs.
Patiently ridden by Charlie Dando, the Michael Hawker trained mare, Cecile De Volanges, was tucked in behind the leaders for much of the race. Dando made his move five fences from home. Although Turtle Boys was not going to go down without a fight, the mare eventually got up to win by two and a half lengths.
"She travelled well although she made a couple of mistakes early which knocked her confidence," explained Dando. "But as the race progressed she became more fluent, winging everything down the back straight and running on well."
Hawker dashed off to saddle Bobble Mist in the next race, who duly obliged when finishing alone in the Simpsons Subaru and Jockey Club Mares Open Maiden, giving her trainer his second win of the day.
Trouble Digger, partnered by Joe Drinkwater gave elder brother and trainer Sam Drinkwater his first win in a tightly fought finish to beat Joe the Trucker by a neck in the William Bartholomew Party Organisers Club Members Race for Veteran & Novice Riders.
John Wills, who owned and bred the winner, is no stranger to the saddle himself having taken part in the Grand National - back in 1969! Drinkwater's second win came in the 2 mile 4 furlong Open Maiden Race with Breath of Blighty - having run out in his previous race - firmly anchored by jockey, Charlie Deutsch to beat Deal Of the Day, who has now been placed five times in Maidens this season.
Sent to post the 1-5 favourite, the Sally Alner trained Garstin under Luke Kilgarriff led for much of the way and stayed on well to hold off a challenge from Getyouractogether and Amelia Glass and take the Prestat Chocolates Confined Race.
Coeur Brûlée, owned, trained and ridden by David Turner won the Pheasant Inn at Lambourn Restricted Race cosily from Daves Venture. "He's kept and trained from a field belonging to Paul Coombes - my farrier", smiled Turner. "So I have him to thank."
In the Haddon Training sponsored pony races that preceded the main card, Harriet Godfrey, one of the leading pony race riders in the country won Division 2 of the 14.2hh race on Goldwell's Gucci, just ahead of the fast finishing Alfie Martindale and Otterburn Lady. Poppy Scott won the 13.2hh pony race aboard Coveham Generation followed by Division 1 of the 14.2hh race won by Ben Sutton riding Scribblin.
The day concluded with the Tedworth Hunt Charity Race, run in good humour in aid of the Wiltshire Air Ambulance and won by Michelle Williamson and Spider.