Promising young jockey Charlie Sprake took the riding honours before a large crowd at the Silverton meeting at Dunsmore. He took his career total of point-to-point winners to six (added to one under rules) when riding  his first double in the shape of that grand stalwart Imogens Thunder and seven-year-old Westhill. 

Owned by Wendy Jarrett and trained by Mary Tory near Blandford Forum,  Imogens Thunder raced stride for stride with Bistouri D'Honore for much of the race before going on to win the Gingerland Livery Ltd sponsored Conditions race for novice riders. The 11-year-old put his head down in determined fashion up the straight to see off a late challenge from Blue N Yellow. Imogens Thunder was winning his sixth point-to-point but was scoring for the first time this season. "He probably needed the race at Milborne but I knew he was right today when he tried to buck Charlie off before the start," said the successful trainer who regularly rides out her sole pointer.

Westhill followed up his recent Cotley Maiden success with an emphatic 30 lengths success in the Jewsons, Tiverton Restricted. Sprake had the Sam Loxton trained Westerner gelding in pole position from flag fall and eased his mount clear of runner up Clever Des Assence from the final ditch. "It was a good performance. and he is improving nicely. It wasn't much of a race at Cotley but he is going the right way," said the Somerset based trainer. 

19-year-old Charlie Sprake is another successful pony racing graduate who seems to have developed his point-to-point acumen from his boss and mentor Will Biddick.  He was absolutely glued to the inside rails for each of his winning rides.

Biddick rode his 34th winner of the season as the giant sized Scorpion gelding The Big Sting, in the colours of Phil Fry, skipped over the obstacles to land the Exeter Racecourse Intermediate qualifier from his two opponents. "He has now won four times this season and the plan is for him to have two more point-to-points then go summer jumping," said trainer Christopher Barber.

The Hunt race was sponsored by Lorraine Kelly in memory of the late Brian Kelly, each keen supporters of the Silverton. It was won by Golly Its Molly, another progeny of Scorpion. In form jockey Jake Bament made stealthy progress on the mare and collared front running Nikki Steel (Anna Hylands) jumping the last. The winner was bred by her owner/trainer Sarah Prouse at Shobrooke out of the family mare Monty's Lass and is regularly ridden out by her daughter Caroline.

Country Legend is a remarkably consistent mare and notched her third win of the season from four runs in the A & S Paving Mixed Open. Riding in the colours of his mother Frances, who trains the mare at Wincanton, Tom Bishop knows the hard pulling mare well. He allowed her to stride on as early as the fifth fence and set up a long lead.  The 10-year-old then found an extra gear as Tuff Nano, Eric The Third and Celtic Joy all tried in vain to reach her in the home straight. "She is in really good form and has got her summer coat. I was comfortable at the pace we were going," related the rider, a true amateur, whose day job is a project management director of a construction firm in London.

A sound front running performance saw Jetmeoutofhere land the Heltor sponsored Maiden race from eight opponents under Darren Edwards. Owned by Nicholas Banks, Torben Hughes and Belinda Fuller, the six-year-old, by Jet Away had shown promise in his first English point at Kilworthy after being sourced in Ireland by trainer Dean Summersby. "He was too keen at Kilworthy but he jumped really well today and we got a soft lead," said the jockey. Dean Summersby had returned to Ireland for the weekend to see his daughter Charlotte ride in an Irish point at Fairyhouse where she finished a creditable fourth.

There was praise all round for the Silverton organisers whose efforts  in watering the Dunsmore track produced safe ground. 

Clerk of the course Norman Chanin explained that watering "Had taken place for five nights prior to racing and a little rain also helped." A total of 36 runners produced competitive racing and rewarded this hard work.