AFTER a COVID enforced gap of three years, racing returned to Kilworthy on the edge of Dartmoor, a course where point-to-point racing first took place in 1925. It was a nice touch to see a large Ukranian flag fluttering in the strong breeze on the top of the winning post.

The Lamerton fixture featured a riding treble for Darren Andrews, a training double for Charlotte Rowe and another success for the veteran pointer Sykes. 

Darren Andrews brought 10-1 chance Quintin's Man from well off the pace to beat his eight rivals in the Equafleece sponsored Open Maiden for colts and geldings. After two non completions at Wadebridge and Great Trethew, the five-year-old was content to lob along in last place at half way, but came with a storming run to beat the luckless Gunner Vic with Rock D'Ete finishing a promising third.

The winner is home bred by the German Derby winner Schiaparelli out of seven times winner Roll On Rose, who was trained by John Heard to win the Restricted on this track in 2011. "The dam was quite compact but he is a massive 18 hands and quite buzzy. He was ready to run last year but the ground went", said the Okehampton trainer, who shares ownership of Quintin's Man with David Willis. Quintin's Man could be the ideal replacement for the yard's recently retired stalwart Navanman. 

Darren Andrews teamed up with the promising His Own Star to win the A C Worth Area Conditions race. Trained by Stuart Sampson for owner Ron Alford, this progressive five-year-old headed Bingo D'Olivate at the third last and stayed on readily to win for the third time this season. "He travelled strongly and jumped well," reported the jockey who went on to secure his treble on The Dartmoor Rose in the Restricted sponsored by Tinhay Building Supplies Ltd.

Okehampton based trainer Charlotte Rowe shares ownership of this good looking mare with Lizzie Luxton, Brendon Vaughan, Beverley Beaver and Mike Baker.  "She was too keen at Cocklebarrow where she fell when leading and I have waited for this better ground," remarked the trainer. The mare showed plenty of determination here to hold the strong challenge of Transition Period to give her jockey his eighth winner of the season during which he has reached his half century of pointing winners. "This is my second treble.  I had the first at Trebudannon three years ago," said the successful jockey. 

It was a first training double for Charlotte Rowe who had earlier sent out Highland Legend to defeat eight opponents in the Jockey Club and White Hart Bridestowe sponsored Mares Maiden in the colours of her owner/breeder Margaret Granger. Vinnie Webster was enjoying his third career success on the six-year-old who stayed on strongly to beat Oyster Perch and Teesdale in a blanket finish. "She jumped impeccably and quickened well from two out," reported the rider. " She has taken a long time to mature. I have had her for four or five months. I knew she would jump well and we have waited for better ground," said the trainer,  confirming  that The Dartmoor Rose and Highland Legend had worked well together at home.

Sykes and Darren Edwards denied Darren Andrews a four-timer as the Nicky Martin trained 13-year-old collared front running Eric The Third at the final fence in the Condy Mathias Mixed Open. "I thought the ground was a bit quick for him today," said the trainer adding, "He is a schoolmaster for my three-year-olds. I would like to run him at the new Devon & Somerset Staghounds course in May which is near my home".

Footloose is one of the most consistent pointers in training and won for the third time this season under Arron Butterfield in the Exeter Racecourse Intermediate. He had to fight hard to see off Jabbea (Rob Hawker), who was upsides at the last, but responded well to his young rider to score by a neck. Frome based 18-year-old Arron Butterfield works in the Colin Tizzard yard, and has teamed up with Footloose for each of his victories this season. The winner is likely to be aimed at the Exeter Intermediate final. He is certainly a tough sort because connections reported a nine days box rest with an abscess on his foot prior to running third in the Quantock Members' last weekend.