Eggesford
Upcott Cross
Sunday 11th April 2010
by Lucy Johnson
Stamina to the fore in four mile Devon National
UPCOTT Cross is the venue for Sunday’s meeting in the Devon and Cornwall area and the track has received plenty of entries to ensure good racing will be the order of the day. More than 140 horses have been entered in seven races which get underway at 1pm.
Feature on the card is the four mile Devon National, a mixed open race where plenty of stamina will be the order of the day. Among the 15 entries is the Richard Barber-trained Brown Cockle who won the race in 2008; Come What Augustus who recorded his fifth win of the season at Trebudannon on Easter Monday and Cothelstone open winner King’s Wood.
The Eggesford members’ race kicks off the card and Meilyr is sure to popular in the market following his maiden win at Ottery St Mary. He’s since run at Kilworthy where he was fifth but it was a hot looking race and he could well be back to his best on a flat track.
The intermediate, a qualifier for the Exeter Racecourse final which is held at the track on ladies’ night on May 4, has a thoroughly competitive look to it and entries include Pendoun, who won the restricted at Kilworthy, the Jackie Du Plessis-trained Jay Jay Valentine who has done nothing nut impress in his two wins this season and Charlotte Budd’s Think On This who’s form has a solid look to it.
Print the Money is entered in the confined race for novice riders and he’s sure to go close. Three starts have yielded three wins for the Becky Kennen-trained seven-year-old and with Joe Tickle riding out of his skin this season they’ll be a warm order in the market.
The restricted has attracted its usual competitive entry including The Stormy Lady Partnership’s My Nicole, a winner at Great Trethew, Ottery St Mary winner Deb’s Dasher, highly regarded by her trainer Richard Woollacott, and her stablemate What Er Say who won on his debut at Cothelstone in March.
The maiden has been divided and entries include Magic Marmalade, a beaten favourite at Black Forest Lodge last month; Jopera and Delta Borget who both look progressive.
Two pony races precede the point to point, the first off at noon. There are nine entries in both, with several new 138cm ponies having their first run of the season.
The course is situated 2m south of Halwill Junction off the A3079 postcode EX21 5AE. Fill your car for £20, go on your own for £10 and enjoy an array of tradestands, catering, a licensed bar and of course the racing.
