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  1. The Grafton point-to-point at Edgcote on Sunday 14th May has attracted an entry of 104, the highest of the weekend fixtures, for the seven races on the card, which start at 2.00pm, writes Jake Exelby. Clerk of the Course Graham Tawell reported on Sunday that the going is now Good, Good to Soft in places. Rain is expected between now and Sunday week, but the course will be watered if necessary to achieve Good going on race day. The bends will be moved following the previous meeting to ensure racing takes place on fresh ground.

    Centrepiece of the card is the PPORA Novice Riders Championship Final, with £1,000 total prize money and £500 to the winner. 15 have been entered, including Chenery, who has won his last two at Paxford and Tabley and Cobra De Mai, two out of three this season for Ricky and Chloe East. Sum It Up beat a subsequent winner last time at Garthorpe, Give Us A Swig was an unlucky loser before a Mollington second, The Composeur has been runner-up on both his pointing starts and Largy Mountain has been consistent this season without getting his head in front, and will have the services of leading female novice Amber Jackson-Fennell for the first time. Another leading novice, Molly Landau, will ride the enigmatic Captain Buck’s, who has loads of ability but his own ideas!

    Verity Taylor will ride her mother’s Rizzardo, looking to follow-up their Paxford win. “It’s not ideal as he’ll be carrying lots of lead with his penalty, but he needs to run as there’s nothing else for him. I’d prefer it if the ground were good.” Amber is looking forward to riding Largy Mountain for her employers Station Yard Racing, saying, “It’s the perfect race for him. He’s been running in better company recently and the race should suit, because they’re likely to go a good gallop and he stays well.”

    The highest quality contest of the day is likely to be the John White Funeral Directors Mixed Open. It has attracted 12 entries, the vast majority of whom look to have claims. Nine of the 12 have won at least one race this season and, of those who have yet to score, Hunter Chase form is represented by Solomon Grey’s third at Cheltenham last week and Red Maple’s Kempton second. Clara Sorrento has won three on the bounce for David Kemp. Alan Hill’s Getting Closer has won his last two, as has the improving Prairie Town, Tom Ellis’ Dundrum Wood has won three this year plus a walkover here and Thegallantway tops them all with four successes this campaign. If all the leading contenders turn up, it promises to be a cracking race.

    “He’s come out of his last race well,” said Alan of Getting Closer. “He’s an intended runner as he proved at both High Easter and Mollington that he’s got to have a hill to finish up.” Charlie Poste advised that Muckamore is also entered at Dingley, although likely to run here, where he won his penultimate start. “The track seems to suit him, and he could be competitive if he and Harry Arkwright get into a rhythm.”

    10 entries have been received for the Savills Owner-Trainer Conditions Race, which looks a tight contest. Although the aforementioned Chenery stands out on ratings, several others are in with a shout, including Aldington winner Padjoes Legacy for Nigel Padfield, who has a good record here and The Wonky Tonk (also entered in the Novice Riders final) if reproducing his Paxford Open third. Amber Jackson-Fennell’s consistent Heaven Scent is another but is unlikely to run.

    The Towcester Vets Restricted Race has 20 entries, an impressive total for a race of this nature, and – with most of them closely matched on ratings, this could be the tightest contest of the day alongside the Mixed Open. Five won last time out – highest-rated Best Friend Barnaby, Ultra Viers, who was probably the best maiden in the country on form before breaking his duck, Politicianspromise, Gamalou D’Alene (albeit last season) and All The Ammunition, at the last meeting here. Another to score that day was Super Dawn, while others worthy of consideration are Alan Hill’s Fakenham second Tres Francais, the consistent Marton Abbey and Black Aphrodisiac, a good runner-up at Witton Castle on his seasonal reappearance.

    “That was a good comeback run,” Alan told me about Tres Francais. “We’ll know more about it after the winner runs in a Hunter Chase this week and he’ll run as long as there’s some cut in the ground. Phillippa Taylor runs Garthorpe winner Ultra Viers and daughter Verity confirmed, “Charlie Case will ride as Joe Stevenson broke his wrist team chasing the day after they won! The aim is the Stratford Restricted Final, so Edgcote will be a good stepping stone.” “Secret Scripture came to us with problems,” said Charlie Poste, “But he’s run two solid races recently and, although three miles isn’t his best trip, he should have a chance if Harry can drop him in.”

    The card opens with the Heygates & Sons Members Race, which has attracted seven entries including In Our Dreams for last year’s winning stable, Station Yard Racing and Champagne Noir for champion trainer Tom Ellis. The latter is the form choice, with three wins and a good second last time out, while the former is on the upgrade, having won his last two starts. Creaden Grey has a chance on his rules form and a Larkhill third, while the others look to have improvement to find. “Champagne Noir is going to be difficult to beat on form,” admitted Charlie Poste, but In Our Dreams is owned by a real Grafton partnership and they’re keen to run if the ground is on the softer side of good. We’ve got nothing to lose as it’ll be his last run this season.”

    The NFU Mutual Open Maiden Race has 24 entries, the highest of the day and several are interesting newcomers and lightly-raced types from top stables, namely Badger’s Hill, pulled-up on his only start for Station Yard Racing, newcomers Don’t Mind It and Hugh De Lacy for Tom Ellis and Phil Rowley respectively and two “No mores” – Alan Hill’s No More No, who was pulled-up at Kimble and Bradley Gibbs’ Nomoreblackjack, third on his debut. Several possess placed form this season that could bring them into contention, most notably Equus Flight, Gentleman Sam, Horizon Dove, Queenhill and Quickly Now Please (owned by Christian and Geri Horner).

    “No More No ran green on his debut,” admitted Alan. “He’s come on a serious amount for that run, and we hope to build on that, though he’s a longer-term project, not a sales horse.” Novice title chasing Amber Jackson-Fennell rides Dennis El Menace for Andrew and Alice Campbell and told me, “They like him, he goes well at home, and I’ve done a lot of schooling on him. I rode against him last time and hopefully he’ll come on for that run.” “Badger’s Hill never went a yard when pulled up at Dingley,” said Charlie Poste. We were hopeful of a decent performance but didn’t get one – I’m not sure if it was ground-related. We hope he’ll run a lot better on Sunday – he’ll need to!”

    The final race of the day – with 16 entries – is the Framptons Planning Conditions Race, for veteran horses ten years old and over. Master Sunrise won this in 2021 and is in with a chance again for in-form jockey Freddie Philipson-Stow. Aintree-placed Clondaw Westie is potentially the classiest horse in the race, but Alan Hill is more likely to run Craigmor rather than take on his Dingley conqueror Pass The Glass again. Buster Edwards won at Bitterley, but has changed hands since, Hidden Charmer and It’s For Alan have been admirably consistent this season, the latter winning at Paxford, while Touch Tight has scored twice this year before a Mollington second for veteran Phil York, one short of his 400th career victory.

    In addition to the seven point-to-point races, there will be two pony races sponsored by Ben Case Racing, starting at 12.45pm. There will be a big screen to watch the racing, hosted by Charlie Poste. A parade of hounds will take place between the third and fourth races. Other attractions include vintage cars, plenty of trade stands and a children’s area.

  2. Bradley Gibbs took centre stage once again at Cheltenham on Friday during HQ's season swansong for the Hunters' evening fixture. Premier Magic, successful in the St James' Place Cheltenham Foxhunter, returned to the scene of his greatest triumph for an assured 17l victory over Rebel Dawn Rising in the Ineos Grenadier Final.

     

    The race turned into a match from 4 out with David Kemp's Rebel Dawn Rising, whose win in a Garthorpe qualifier for this £10,000 Final has been interspersed with BD and UR figures. In truth, Premier Magic always had the upper hand and had the race won before the last.

     
     
     

    For good measure, Gibbs added to his score in the opening John Wyke aka Mr Guinness Memorial Hunters Chase over 2m with Fier Jaguen, last seen leading the field in the Aintree Foxhunter, where he unseated Gibbs at the seventh. Fier Jaguen came here with a mighty reputation on the back of wins at Chaddesley, Revesby Park and Ston Easton, but his jumping left much to be desired over these stiffer obstacles. Although blessed with a turn of foot, he looks something of a tricky ride.

     
     
     

    David Kemp didn't head back to the east of England empty-handed however, as Law of Gold went one better than his second in this race 12 months previously to win the four miler. This attritional race always attracts a large field, but it needs to. Of the 12 starts, just 4 finished. Law of Gold is a model of consistency, with three victories from his last 7 runs, the other four efforts being runner-up. He sensibly avoided the Foxhunter here a month ago, and that decision was vindicated. He looks a likely candidate for the Stratford Foxhunter in 3 weeks' time.

     
     
     

    Another with sound claims to Stratford is Quintin's Man, who stayed on resolutely to pass several others and win the Lycetts Insurance Brokers Intermediate Chase under Darren Andrews for John Heard. The John Corbett Cup, the season's highest accolade for novices, is a potential target.

     
     
     

    Champion Point-to-Point trainer Tom Ellis has carried all before him this season, reaching a personal career best. Winning at Cheltenham however still means plenty, and Fairly Famous put him and rider Gina Andrews in the winner's enclosure with a ready 15l winner over locally-trained Marcle Ridge in the 3m2f Kdta Hunters Chase.

     
     
     

    The shortest distance of the night occurred in the Barrie Wells Trust Box4kids Mares Hunters Chase, a relatively recent addition to this programme. There were three in a line approaching the second last. Tom Broughton on Miss Seagreen was first to go for his stick, and looked to have the worst of the tussle, but the 10 year old mare stuck to her task after the last to get up in the final 75 yards to beat Sine Nomine and Singapore Saga in the best finish of the evening. Sine Nomine, brought down from Catterick by Fiona Needham, could be fairly adjudged to be an unlucky loser; there'll be other races for the game grey mare. The winner was trained by Lucy Smith, a welcome reversal of Marcle Ridge's defeat.

     
     
     

    The evening concluded with another close contest in the Royal Gloucestershire Hussars open race over 2m4f. Paloma Blue looked to have the race in safe keeping two out, but had to rebuff a persistent late challenge from Fix It All, under J J Murphy-Knight, winner of two hunters' races at Ludlow. Josh Newman had something left in the tank, however, and ran on again to win by 3/4l with last year's winner Solomon Grey back in third.

  3. TOM Ellis broke his own record for number of winners in a season in the trainers' championship when Master Templar triumphed at the Warwickshire meeting at Mollington, near Banbury, in front of a big Bank Holiday Monday crowd.

    Ellis had eclipsed last year's tally of 62 for the campaign when Pass The Glass won at Dingley on Sunday.

    But with Dundrum Wood's walkover at Edgcote last month not counting towards the championship, it was Master Templar's victory in a match for the Butler Sherborn Warwickshire Hunt Members, Subscribers & Farmers Race which saw him set a new mark in the trainers' standings.

    With Jack Andrews taking over the reins on the eight-year-old from his sister, Gina, as he chases the men's riders' championship, the Jenny Hayward-owned eight-year-old made the running before Largy Mountain jumped ahead at the fourth-last under James King. However, Andrews galvanised his mount on the run-in to claim the spoils by two-and-a-quarter lengths.

    Ellis, who is based at Marton, near Rugby, said: "I was dreading today. This meeting has been very good to us and very bad. I broke my leg here in 2015 and that was the end of my riding career. I view that as the record. It is nice to do it here on home soil."

    Master Templar has contributed four wins this term, and the trainer added: "He keeps plenty back for himself and is not an easy ride, so I am lucky with the two pilots we have and some brilliant novices coming through behind them."

    Ellis had trained and ridden Stormy Pass to take this contest at Ashorne in 2006 for Hayward, who commented: "When we were younger to win the hunt race was the highlight of the year and it's still the same."

  4. ANNABEL Burton made a dream debut between the flags when Earlshill gave her a winner on her first ride at the Bicester Hunt with Whaddon Chase meeting at Edgcote on Sunday's rescheduled Bicester fixture.

    Burton was overjoyed to strike on the 12-year-old, owned and trained by her mother, Jane Burton, at Wormleighton, near Southam, in a match for the Bicester with Whaddon Chase Hunt Members, Subscribers & Farmers Race, sponsored by Gade Homes.

    Encouraged to take the reins by her older sister, Lucy, who also broke her duck on Earlshill when he was with Tom Ellis, Annabel tracked 1-4 favourite Kilbrew Boy and Charlie Case before producing her mount to challenge at the second-last and he held on gamely to win by a neck.

    Annabel, 18, who works as a nanny, said: "It was absolutely brilliant. It was like going hunting, but not like hunting. It was so exhilarating. We train the horse from home. Lucy is normally the point-to-point rider and she said have a go on Earlshill. I have an old cob and I show and hunt him."

    Proud mum Jane added: "It's fantastic to win the hunt race. We have been trying for a while. Lucy was second here last year on him. It's a bit of a dream."

    Harry Arkwright was thrilled to be back in the winner's enclosure for the first time in four years after Muckamore took the PPORA Club Members Conditions Race (Level 1), for Novice Riders, sponsored by Bentley, High Wycombe.

    His last success had come at this track on Susquehanna River in 2019, but a recent second at Higham on Muckamore, who was completing a double for Francesca and Charlie Poste's Ettington yard, near Stratford, suggested his time may be near again.

    Taking the initiative from Shoal Bay at the sixth-last, Arkwright kept up the gallop on the nine-year-old and although Oliver Boyden's mount rallied up the straight a mistake at the second-last put paid to his chance.

    Arkwright, who drove out the gelding - owned by his parents Johnnie and Arabella Arkwright - to score by two lengths, said: "He went up that hill so well, but you don't remember how long the run in is, so it was a bit of a heart in mouth moment. It's been a long time. Charlie puts so much effort in and Fran even more. I thought I had to put in more and to get a result is a dream. It's awesome to be back here."

    Charlie commented: "It has taken time for Harry and the horse to gel as a partnership. A return to a more galloping track suited him well and it's nice to see him get the job done. It's been a while between drinks for Harry."

    The Postes' double had been initiated by Royal Infantry, who pulled victory out of the fire in the Tattersalls Cheltenham Four and Five Years Old Maiden to give Zac Baker a winner on his 29th birthday.

    Having made much of the running on the son of Solider of Fortune in the 2m 5f contest, Baker looked booked for minor honours when Busby Way and Ballynaheer swept past coming up the home straight.

    But Royal Infantry stayed on powerfully up the hill to collar the pair and score by a length and a half from Ballynaheer, with Busby Way, whose chance was compromised by a mistake at the second-last, a head back in third.

    Baker said: "When they quickened past me, I thought they would come back to me because I had a target and he stayed on best. He is a big, raw baby. He is more a potato than a chip!"

    Bought for £40,000 at the Goffs UK Doncaster Spring Store Sale last May, Royal Infantry has a wildcard entry at the Tattersalls Cheltenham April Sale on Thursday.

    Francesca, who owns the four-year-old with her husband, added: "We have always loved the horse and we were gutted he got beat first time out and then he was brought down at the first last weekend."

    Dale Peters took the day's riding honours with a double on All The Ammunition in the Six Years Old and Over Maiden, sponsored by Spratt Endicott, and Urban Grit in the Restricted, sponsored by Savills.

    He appeared to have ridden a confident race on All The Ammunition for owner-trainer David Kemp with the 1-2 favourite picking off his rivals on the final circuit before taking it up going to the last to score by two-and-a-half lengths from The Borobudur and James Jeavons.

    However, Peters revealed that was far from the case. "The horse got himself a bit worked up," he said. "He was never really going and when he was coming up the hill I was not as cool as it probably looked."

    All The Ammunition had been second on his three previous starts - including on this card last year - since joining Kemp's Kilverstone yard, near Thetford, from Sean Doyle's Monbeg Stables in County Wexford.

    Kemp said: "I think he ran really flat because he had a bad journey here. He came on his own and he shook all the way here and sweated up badly. He didn't give Dale any sort of feel on the racecourse, but his class came through."

    Peters found things more straightforward aboard Urban Grit in the Restricted over 2m 5f with Alan Hill's six-year-old taking up the running at the second-last before easing clear to beat Secret Scripture and Harry Arkwright by four lengths.

    Peters said: "He is a nice little horse. He liked it where it was better ground and will like good ground. He is a fun horse."

    Urban Grit, winner of a Didmarton maiden on his debut, was continuing the recent revival of Hill's Aston Rowant stables following a tough season.

    The owner-trainer commented: "It was basically the most experienced jockey riding the best race. He is for sale to stay in the yard."

    Jack Andrews announced he's up for the battle in the men's championship after reducing Will Biddick's lead to one with victory on Super Dawn in a match for the Jockey Club Maiden for Mares and Fillies.

    The former champion tracked Gotadance on Nigel Padfield's six-year-old before breezing home by four lengths after joining Huw Edwards's mount at the second-last.

    Commenting on the title race, Andrews said: "It is going to be tough. Will is very strong at this time of year. The meetings in the west country keep going while they wind down in the Midlands, so I am up against it, but I won't be backing down."

    Padfield, who is based at Abridge, near Epping, was delighted to see Super Dawn make it third time lucky since acquiring the daughter of Rule of Law through David Phelan out of Sam Curling's Skehanagh Stables in County Tipperary.

    "I'm very pleased," he said. "She has been a little disappointing but has done it nicely today."

    With the meeting having been rearranged and many of the horses which were intended runners having ran in the interim, the seven races attracted just 23 runners.

    Unfortunately, the Edgcote Gold Cup Mixed Open, sponsored by Equine Bio Genie, produced a walkover with Dundrum Wood the only declaration for the 3m 5f contest, which was in memory of John O'Neill, the chairman of the meeting's point-to-point committee, who died last August aged 75.

    The nine-year-old, trained by Tom Ellis and owned by Shona Westrope, provided Jemma Justice, 19, from Everdon, near Daventry, with a first career winner.

    The meeting also saw a special presentation to secretary Kate Dalton, who is retiring from the role after 34 years.