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Post Info TOPIC: Cattistock at Chilfrome on Saturday 30th April 2022 by Bob Bracher


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Date: May 2, 2022
Cattistock at Chilfrome on Saturday 30th April 2022 by Bob Bracher
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After a wait of three years the Cattistock were delighted to finally hold their point to point meeting at their new course at Chilfrome near Maiden Newton. Sited not very far away from their former course at Toller Down Gate which closed in 1992 the course is a most welcome addition to the Wessex point to point courses. Easily accessible from the A356 the course provided excellent viewing from the hillside and on a bright warm April day a good crowd attended the meeting. Like all new courses there are lessons to be learned from actually running the meeting and it is certain that the Committee will look at both the positives and any negatives before the next meeting in 2023. On the course the highlights were a riding treble for Will Biddick, a third career victory for Alice Procter and a strong front running performance from Rufio.

The meeting opened with a ten strong field for the 2 mile 5 furlongs Maiden race. From flag fall Rufio and his rider Lucy Brown dictated the pace and as his rivals dropped away he was able to come home an easy winner from Cherokees Prayer. Previously trained under Rules by Harry Fry he has been running well for his owner/rider although he is clearly not easy as he was led in to the start. Lucy who works for trainer Peter Mason in Gloucestershire was recording her seventh career win and is also in her second year at the Royal Agricultural College at Cirencester where she is studying Bloodstock. Lucy who hails from the Scottish Borders is the granddaughter of the late well-known trainer Ken Oliver who won 5 Scottish Grand National in the 70's and 80's and was responsible for setting up the Doncaster Bloodstock sales.

Will recorded his first of his treble aboard the Myles Osborne trained Broomfields Cave in the Restricted race. Bought from Ireland after three races he had already won a three runner race at Bonvilston Wales and easily accounted for his three rivals. Determined to make it a strong run race he set off in front and with market rival Balinesker Beach matching him until quickly tiring after the third last he finished virtually solo. Myles who works for trainer Ben Pauling thought that he would be better still on a more galloping course and add that ‘ since arriving a couple of months ago he has been the nicest young horse I have trained'. He added that if he came out of this race well he might consider an entry in the Aintree point to point Bumper in May.

Alice Procter recorded her victory in the Ladies race when Golden Poet stayed on well to beat market rival Moscow Prices ridden by Lucy Mager by four lengths. All of Alice's three career victories have come aboard the ten year old gelding owned and trained by Keiran Burke for whom Alice works. Held up until passing the judge going out on the final circuit Keiran said ‘ I left it to Alice and she used her head to decide when she should go into the lead and it paid off well' Still hoping to ride under Rules as an Amateur she is still looking for rides to achieve the minimum requirement.

Will walked over in the Mens Open race aboard the Charlotte Hawker owned and trained Kilbricken Storm. The winner of the Albert Bartlett Hurdle in 2018 when trained by Colin Tizzard he has rather lost his way and it is to be hoped that running in point to points might reignite his enthusiasm. Charlotte's mother Sarah did add that he would be eligible for a Hunter Chase at the Stratford meeting and this might be an option. Havana River last seen pulling up in a Restricted at Cotley in March made it a good day for the Hawker family when that mare won a Handicap Chase at Uttoxeter ridden by former point to point rider Sean Houlihan.

Halloween Harry followed up his victory at Cothelstone on Easter Monday when beating sole rival Drumlee Getaway in the Conditions race. Held up behind the Tommie O'Brien ridden mare Lucy Mager bided her time until taking it up after the second last and holding on by two lengths at the winning post. Lucy said with a smile ‘He likes going home and when I asked him to take it up he responded well' Owned by Jeff Fear and Paul Brace he might be seen again at Colthelstone later this month. Only Jeff was present to watch the victory and thought that Paul was probably on his way back from Punchestown. The Director of a Holiday Letting Company Paul is a keen supporter of the Weston and Banwell Hunt.

Will secured the final leg of his treble aboard the Ed Bailey owned and Chris Barber trained Young William in the concluding Maiden race. That does not adequately describe the requirement to get the Yeats gelding to set off in the race with the rest of his rivals. Left walking in the paddock whilst the others went to the start he was eventually walked to the start where Will was immediately legged up and the starter's flag was dropped. Settled behind the longtime leader Kates Lane ridden by Ella Herbison he and main rival Mr Craftsman ridden by Martin McIntyre dueled after the second last with Young William prevailing by three quarters of a length at the winning post. Bought by Ed at the Ascot Sales in March for £4000 he was found to be suffering from chronic ulcers and this has been treated. He may have one further point to point race before going to the sales at Doncaster later this month.



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