Will Biddick took a few prizes home to Somerset from the Eggesford fixture at Upcott Cross. After a riding double which put him in a strong position for his eighth national jockeys title, he turned to his training job to saddle Southfield Harvest to win the latest of the local Grass Roots Conditions series which leads up to the final day at Umberleigh.
The meeting, held near Okehampton last Sunday (May 7) and run on rain-soaked ground, also featured a double for North Devon jockey Jake Bament, plus a training double for Dean Summersby.
Rock D’Ete initiated a good day for Will Biddick by holding Josh Newman’s late thrust on Our Dylan to win the Waie Inn sponsored Maiden Conditions race. French-bred Rock D’Ete had shown ability behind Quintin’s Man at Kilworthy last season but had been off the track since a run at Cothelstone last April. “He is for sale,” said Biddick, who also owns and trains the gelding.
Fusionice completed Biddick’s double in the saddle with an eye-catching front running performance in the Ashgrove and Rangemoor-sponsored Restricted. The eight-year-old was sent out by Matt Hampton in the colours of his wife Fliss and could feature in the final of the Restricted series at Stratford next month.
Biddick’s good day continued as he saddled Angela Yeoman’s Southfield Harvest to beat Champions Hill in the Totnes & Bridgetown Races Company Conditions. The former Paul Nicholls-trained gelding was once rated 138 under rules and became the third career winner for his tall 22-year-old novice rider Lawrence Jordan, who works at the Alhampton yard.
The progressive six-year-old mare Walkin Out initiated a double for Jake Bament, strolling home at odds-on with 25 lengths to spare over her four rivals in the Area Conditions race sponsored by Chris Hodgson Engineering. The mare is trained at Payhembury for owners Liz and John Dorse by Leslie Jefford, who said: “She has learnt how to settle now and will make a nice open horse next season. She will go for the Exmoor hunt race next to finish this season.”
Bament’s double was completed as Daisy Yeats took the five-runner C & R Construction Maiden. This event changed shape when Bees And Honey fell with a circuit to go, bringing down the favourite Miss Ghillie. Her other opponents each pulled up so the homebred Yeats mare came home in splendid isolation to give the Prowse family a popular success.
“She had the flu after Buckfastleigh and had a reaction to an injection. We have done loads at home recently to get her fit, including a three-mile gallop the other day,” smiled Caroline Prowse.
Lakota Warrior had been a bit unlucky in his last three runs this year but showed his class to take the Simpkins Edwards Mixed Open under Darren Edwards, at the main expense of dual hunter chase winner Salvatore (Darren Andrews). The winner is trained by Dean Summersby for owners John Gardener and Torben Hughes.
“He was one of the sickest in the yard when we had a bug after Christmas. He was 90% fit at the Axe Vale where he was second to Singapore Saga but he has been in the sea at Bude twice and was spot on today. He could go to Newton Abbot next,” reported the trainer.
Dean reached a landmark of training 100 point-to-point winners when he saddled Liberty Rock to win the day’s final Gilbert Stephens Hunt Members race. Vinny Webster rode his third winner of the season as they made all the running to beat Kimarelli (John Heard).
The sturdy seven-year-old is owned by Nicholas Banks, John Gardener and Torben Hughes and was scoring his third course victory. “He needs to go left handed so will probably run at Bratton. He is better on good ground,” remarked the century maker.
