Racegoers will be spoilt for choice again this weekend, with Flete Park Races and the Stevenstone Foxhounds hosting their point-to-point meetings.
Kicking off the latest leg of amateur jump racing in Devon and Cornwall will be the Flete Park Races team, with spectators expected to line the hillside at the course of the same name on Saturday (April 29).
A brace of fast and furious pony races will get the crowd geared up for the main six-race card, which has received 57 entries and is set to get underway at 2pm.
Racing at Flete Park, located near Ivybridge, will be headed by the Francis Clark-sponsored Maiden in which Templier D’Habert (Les Jefford) could improve on his second at this track two weeks ago. Our Dylan (Josh Newman) catches the eye with decent place form including a third at Cothelstone, together with Stopbeatinyourgums (Luke Price) who finished second at Lydstep.
Olympus Plant and Tool Hire sponsor the Restricted and of the 10 entries, Jubertilee (Dean Summersby) and Donny’s Fortune (Josh Newman) look the most progressive. Jubertilee was a winner at Kilworthy and has since finished second at Dunsmore and Trebudannon, whilst Donny’s Fortune won at Bratton Down last season and was unlucky to fall four from home at the recent Cotley meeting.
The Totnes & Bridgetown Racing Company Ladies Open will be the day’s feature race at 3.10pm. From The Heart (Laura Jones) will be bidding for a repeat victory, having won the four-mile Mixed Open at the Dartmoor Hunt meeting here under Natalie Parker; whilst the locally-trained Broadclyst (Lee Glanville) and Minimalistic (Sue Darke) were also winners that day.
In the Marchand Petit-sponsored Conditions, Ellipsism (Jack Veysey) won at this track last time, following up on their success at Dunsmore. They could however come up against Stratton Oakmont (Josh Newman), another previous course winner in the colours of the Kayley Woollacott Racing Club.
RBC Brewin Dolphin sponsor the Veteran Conditions, specifically for horses aged 10 years and over. Luke Price could make the trip down from Wales to run Spencer Moon, the highly-rated mount of reigning champion jockey James King; whilst connections of Minimalistic (Sue Darke) could choose this race over the earlier Ladies Open.
The last race of the day will be the Hassall Law-sponsored Maiden and Walk In The Valley (Ian Chanin), Our Dylan (Josh Newman) and Fire Squadron (Helen Bament) all look progressive.
Rounding off the Bank Holiday weekend will be the Stevenstone Foxhounds meeting on Monday, May 1, taking place at the Vauterhill track near High Bickington in North Devon. A total of 71 entries have been received for the six-race card, due to come under starters’ orders at 2pm.
The feature Mixed Open at 3.10pm, sponsored by Hembury Castle Estate and Brewer Harding & Rowe Solicitors, looks very competitive with Sixteen Letters (Josh Newman), an unlucky faller in the Aintree Foxhunters Chase; Humaniste (Danielle Kenealy), a winner of two Mixed Opens this season; and three-time winner Bingo D’Olivate (Gordon Chambers) among the 10 entries.
Kicking off the action will be the Lomas Helicopters Conditions in which Southfield Harvest (Will Biddick) catches the eye, having had some success under rules whilst with Paul Nicholls. Welsh entrants Frisco Bay and Los Alamos are another two to note, both trained by Luke Price.
In the Jenkin Potts Construction Restricted, Great Colewood (Ed Walker) looks to set the standard after winning at Larkhill and finishing second at Bishops Court, whilst Melvyn (Dean Summersby) was a comfortable winner at Stafford Cross last weekend.
The Totnes & Bridgetown Racing Company and Wades of Bradworthy have sponsored the following Conditions and of the 12 entries, Clever Des Assence (Laura Jones) appears well placed to follow up on his win at Bishops Court last month under Laura’s sister, Natalie Parker. The 10-year-old Buck’s Boum gelding was also a restricted winner at Vauterhill in 2022, beating Golly It’s Molly by five lengths.
Ellipsism (Jack Veysey) could be one of their main dangers, if not running at Flete Park on Saturday. Call Simon (Robert Chanin) is another to note after his early season wins at Great Trethew and Dunsmore.
A total of 12 entries have been received for the Jockey Club Mares Maiden with Tangos Tangerine (Les Jefford) and Summerleaze (Jill Dennis) both showing decent place form, whilst Sweetlikechocolate is an interesting debutant for the Chris Barber and Will Biddick combination.
Closing the card will be a Maiden sponsored by Fearnley Lott Architects and at a glance, Politicianspromise (Rob Hawker) looks the pick of the bunch after his recent third at Lockinge. Frontieres Lad (Hannah Clarke) was a runner-up at Cothelstone and Carry On Buddy (Tim Underwood) finished second at Peper Harow, Kingston Blount and Trecoed last season.
Flete Park (PL21 9NX) is located at Ermington near Ivybridge, while Vauterhill (EX37 9BT) will be signed from the A377, A3124 and B3217. Entry to both courses is £15 per person, including a race card, with under sixteens free of charge. Dogs on leads are welcome. On course facilities at Flete and Vauterhill include hot and cold refreshments, bar, bookmakers and trade stands.
